RomaniaResearch residence permit

Research residence permit in Romania

A long-stay visa for nationals of countries outside the EU/EEA invited by an accredited research organisation to carry out research. It requires approval by the national authority for scientific research. It is issued for up to five years and permits teaching activity at the research institution.

Threshold

Consular fee for the long-stay visa — EUR 300.

Work

Teaching activity is permitted in accordance with the law.

Source: igi.mai.gov.ro — scientific research

How to obtain the D/CS visa for scientific research

The programme is intended for third-country nationals invited by Romanian research organisations. The process involves obtaining approval from the authorities and consular processing.

Who may apply

Nationals of countries outside the EU and EEA
Invited by an accredited research organisation
Approved by the national authority for scientific research

Main stages

The institution concludes the hosting agreement
Approval is obtained from the research authority
Documents are filed at the consulate and the visa is issued

After arrival

File the residence card application before the visa expires
Obtain residence for the term of the agreement (up to five years)
Renew the permit if the work continues

When the programme will not work

You are a national of the EU, the EEA or Switzerland

Use the programme for EU citizens (the requirements and timelines differ)

There is no invitation from a recognised research organisation

Find an institution willing to sponsor your project, or consider other visas

You intend to work outside scientific research

Consider the work visa (type D) or the student visa

You lack funds for living costs and insurance

Draw up a financial plan; the minimum must cover health insurance and accommodation

What it costs

Consular fee for the D/CS visaThe official consular fee for a long-stay type D visa, paid at the consulate in the country of residence when the application is filed	300 EUR
Residence card (if renewed in Romania)About RON 259; paid after arrival in Romania when applying for the residence permit	51 EUR
Family reunification (per family member)Under the single tariff for long-stay type D visas; applies if first-degree relatives join you	300 EUR
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	651 EUR

Paid separately

Health insurance — Part of the requirements; paid separately (depends on the insurer)
Accommodation — Part of the requirements; paid to the owner of the property

Documents to gather

The consulate will need originals and copies of the following documents. Requirements may vary slightly between embassies.

Application for the long-stay visa
Valid passport or travel document (original and copy)
Hosting agreement approved by the national authority for scientific research
Contract between the applicant and the institution (employment agreement or research contract)
Criminal-record certificate (issued by the country of origin or the country of residence)
Proof of health insurance valid for the whole period of stay
Certificate showing that funds are available for living costs
Proof of accommodation in Romania (rental agreement or letter from the institution)
Health certificate (medical certificate)

How the process runs

Obtaining the visa involves several stages. The timelines are those given by official sources.

1
The research institution prepares the hosting agreement and applies for approval
30 days (extendable to 45 days if additional checks are needed)
The research organisation must be accredited. The agreement sets out the project, the timeline and the conditions of stay. Once the national authority for scientific research has approved it, the institution sends its opinion to the applicant.
2
The applicant prepares the documents and files at the consulate
a few days to prepare
All the required documents are collected, including the authority's opinion and the contract. The documents and the application are filed at the Romanian consulate in the applicant's country of residence.
3
The consulate examines the application and issues the visa
up to 30 days
The consulate checks the documents. The D/CS visa is issued for 90 days with one or more entries to the country.
4
The applicant arrives in Romania and registers
immediately on arrival
The D/CS visa gives the right to enter and stay for 90 days.
5
Applying for the residence permit and receiving the residence card
30 days for examination; a few days to produce the card
No later than 30 days before the visa expires, the applicant applies to the local immigration office for the residence card. The stay is extended for the period set out in the agreement, but for no more than five years at a time.
6
Renewing the residence permit where necessary
30 days for examination
The stay may be extended for a further period of up to five years if the applicant still meets the conditions of the programme and the institution extends the agreement.

Who you can bring with you

First-degree family members may be brought to Romania through the family reunification procedure. They receive their own residence permit.

Spouse

May apply for a family reunification visa. The consular fee is EUR 300 under the single tariff for long-stay type D visas. This applies provided the main applicant holds a temporary or permanent residence permit and has documented the ability to support the family member. The IGI examines the application within 90 days.

Minor children

Receive a family reunification visa, at EUR 300 each. Custody and proof of sufficient income of the main applicant are required. IGI examination takes 90 days.

Adult children and parents

Considered in exceptional cases. Evidence of financial dependency on the main applicant and supporting documentation are required.

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.

The residence card must be renewed no later than 30 days before it expires. The application is filed with the local immigration office for the region where the applicant lives. Renewal is possible for up to five years provided the research institution extends the agreement and the applicant meets all the requirements of the programme. Examination takes 30 days (extendable by 15 days if additional checks are needed).

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Research residence permit	Digital nomad	Business residence permit
Visa term	The D/CS visa is valid for 90 days	D-visa for up to 90 days; the first residence permit for 6 months, then 1 year at a time	Usually 1 year, renewable while the company is trading
Money	Consular fee for the long-stay visa — EUR 300	Income of at least three times the Romanian average gross wage over 6 months (about EUR 3,700-4,200 a month)	Minimum capital/investment, funds for living costs; for investors, hundreds of thousands of euros
Work	Teaching activity is permitted in accordance with the law	Only for a foreign employer or one's own business abroad	Yes, managing your own company; employment requires a different basis

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 Research residence permit

Can I teach while holding the D/CS visa?

Yes. Holders of the residence permit for scientific research may carry out teaching activity at the institutions where the research is conducted, provided that such activity is approved by the research authority.

How long does it take to obtain the D/CS visa at the consulate?

The standard examination period at the consulate is up to 30 days from the filing of a complete set of documents. Consulates may, however, ask for additional documents, which can lengthen the process.

What happens once the research project ends?

When the project ends, the applicant may either extend the agreement with the institution for a new project or remain in Romania for up to nine months to look for employment. After eight years of continuous stay, an application for Romanian citizenship is possible.

When can I obtain permanent residence?

A permanent residence permit can be obtained after five years of continuous lawful stay in Romania. You must file an application with the immigration authorities and provide proof of continuous lawful residence.

Can I obtain Romanian citizenship on the D/CS visa?

Yes. After eight years of continuous lawful stay in Romania on this visa you may apply for naturalisation and obtain Romanian citizenship. The period is reduced to five years if you are married to a Romanian citizen.

Is there a minimum income requirement?

When applying for the residence permit you must show that you have sufficient funds to live in Romania (income no lower than the minimum wage is normally required — about RON 4,050 in 2026). Check the exact amounts with the immigration authorities.

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.