RomaniaReligious residence permit

Religious visa D/AR in Romania

A long-stay visa for nationals of countries outside the EU/EEA who represent recognised religious organisations in Romania. It requires approval from the State Secretariat for Religious Affairs. The visa gives the right of residence for the validity of that approval, with permanent residence available after five years and naturalisation after eight.

Source: igi.mai.gov.ro — religious activities

How to obtain the residence permit for religious activity

The route has three stages: preparation and approval, the visa and entry, and then the residence permit in Romania.

Preparation

Make sure the organisation is officially recognised in Romania, or obtain registration
Collect the documents: passport, criminal-record certificate, proof of funds
File the request for approval with the State Secretariat for Religious Affairs

Visa and stay

Once approved, apply for the D/AR visa at the Romanian consulate
Pay the consular fee (EUR 300) and attach all documents
Receive the 90-day visa and enter Romania within the set period

Residence permit

Within 60 days of arrival, apply to the IGI for the residence permit
The permit is valid for the period of the Secretariat's approval and may be renewed
After five years of continuous stay you may apply for permanent residence

Documents for filing

Valid passport with two blank pages and more than 6 months' validity
Approval from the State Secretariat for Religious Affairs (compulsory)
Criminal-record certificate, certified by the consulate of the country of residence

When the programme will not work

You wish to take up employment or paid activity outside the religious organisation

Apply for the work visa (D/AM) or the business visa (D/AC)

You are a national of the EU/EEA or Switzerland

You have freedom of movement and residence under European Union law

You represent a religious organisation not recognised in Romania

First register the organisation or obtain approval from the relevant authorities

What it costs

Consular fee for the visaApplies from 27 April 2026 when filing through the e-Visa portal	300 EUR
Residence permit in RomaniaApproximate cost; paid when applying for the permit after arrival	51 EUR
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	351 EUR

Paid separately

Accommodation — Must be held and documented, but the cost depends on the market
Translation and legalisation of documents — Depends on the number of documents and the country of origin

Documents to gather

All foreign documents must be translated into Romanian and certified with an apostille. Originals are required at the consular interview.

Valid passport (original and copy, at least 2 blank pages, more than 6 months' validity)
Approval from the State Secretariat for Religious Affairs (a compulsory document)
Criminal-record certificate issued by the authorities of your country, translated and certified
Proof of accommodation in Romania (rental agreement, title deed or letter of invitation)
Proof of financial means (bank statements, receipts, employer's certificates)
Health insurance policy with minimum cover of EUR 30,000, valid in Romania
Medical certificate confirming the absence of infectious diseases
Letter from the recognised religious organisation in Romania confirming your role
Document on education or experience in religious activity (depending on the requirements)

How the process runs

The process usually takes two to three months from filing the request for the Secretariat's approval to receiving the visa. Once the visa is issued, you must enter Romania in good time and apply for the residence permit.

1
Preparing the request for the Secretariat's approval
2-4 weeks
Collect all the necessary documents and prepare translations and apostilles. If the organisation is not registered in Romania, complete the registration first.
2
Filing the request with the State Secretariat for Religious Affairs
30 days for processing
Send the application with the annexes to the State Secretariat. The decision usually takes 30 days and may be extended by 15 days where checks are needed.
3
Receiving the Secretariat's approval
1 day
You receive the approval letter, which is valid for a set period (usually 1 to 3 years, depending on the decision).
4
Filing the D/AR visa application
30 days for processing
Submit the complete set of documents, including the Secretariat's approval, to the Romanian consulate in your country. Pay the consular fee of EUR 300. The visa is usually examined within 30 days, extendable by 15 days.
5
Receiving the visa and entering Romania
up to 90 days from issue
Once the visa is issued, enter Romania within its period of validity (90 days).
6
Applying for the residence permit
within 60 days of arrival
Apply to the local office of the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) in your county with the complete set of documents for a residence permit covering the period of the Secretariat's approval.
7
Receiving the residence permit
30 days for processing
Once the application has been examined (30 days, with a possible 15 additional days), you receive the residence permit card, valid for the period of the Secretariat's approval.

Who you can bring with you

The official IGI page on the D/AR visa does not set out separate rules for the family of a religious visa holder — family members join through the general family reunification procedure for relatives of residents of Romania.

Spouse and minor children

They may apply for family reunification under the general IGI procedure once the main applicant holds a residence permit valid for a year or more. A marriage or birth certificate is required, together with proof of the sponsor's income at the level of the minimum net wage for each family member.

Parents and other relatives in the ascending line

They may be included in family reunification only where it is shown that they cannot support themselves in the country of origin and have no other family support.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

A stay counts as continuous if you have been absent for less than 6 consecutive months and no more than 10 months in total.

A residence permit obtained on the D/AR visa is valid for the period of the approval issued by the State Secretariat for Religious Affairs. The renewal application must be filed with the local IGI office no later than 30 days before it expires. The Secretariat's approval must be renewed before the permit is renewed. Renewal usually takes 30 days, extendable by 15 days where checks are needed. After 5 years of continuous stay you may apply for permanent residence, and after 8 years for Romanian citizenship.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

After 5 years of continuous stay you apply for the long-term right of residence. The card is issued for 5 years and the application is examined within 6 months.

Route to citizenship

Citizenship under article 8 of Law 21/1991 is requested after 8 years of lawful residence. The interview tests Romanian, the Constitution and the national anthem.

Frequently asked questions about Religious visa D/AR

What is the approval from the State Secretariat for Religious Affairs and why is it compulsory?

The State Secretariat for Religious Affairs is the body that supervises religious organisations in Romania. The approval confirms that your organisation is officially recognised and that you genuinely represent it. Without it the visa will not be issued. Obtaining the approval takes 30 days and it applies for a specific period (usually 1 to 3 years).

Can I work or receive a salary in Romania on the D/AR visa?

No — the D/AR visa strictly prohibits any paid activity. You may carry out religious work within the recognised organisation only, without remuneration. If you need to work, you must apply for the work visa (D/AM) or the business visa (D/AC). Breaching this condition may lead to cancellation of the visa and deportation.

How long does the D/AR visa allow me to stay in Romania?

The D/AR visa itself is valid for 90 days and allows one or more entries during its validity (up to 1 year). This does not mean, however, that you may stay only 90 days. Within 60 days of entering Romania you must apply for the residence permit, which is valid for the whole period of the Secretariat's approval (usually 1-3 years). That permit can be renewed.

What are the financial requirements for the D/AR visa?

You must prove financial means equal to three average wages in the Romanian economy (roughly EUR 3,000). The evidence takes the form of bank statements, transfer receipts or employer's certificates. Health insurance with minimum cover of EUR 30,000 is also required. You must show that you can support yourself during your stay without taking paid work.

After how many years can I obtain permanent residence and citizenship?

After five years of continuous stay in Romania (with absences of no more than 6 consecutive months) you may apply for permanent residence. Romanian citizenship requires eight years of continuous residence. In some cases this period may be shortened (for example, to 5 years for spouses of Romanian citizens). Knowledge of Romanian and evidence of integration into Romanian society are compulsory.

What happens if I overstay?

If you exceed the time allowed by the visa or residence permit, you face fines (RON 600-1,200), deportation and a possible ban on entering Romania and other Schengen countries for between 6 months and 5 years. Romania has joined the Schengen area, so an overstay affects travel throughout the zone. Always file the renewal request 30 days before the permit expires.

Other ways to move to Romania

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Romania.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.