Romania · long-stay visa routes and official sources
4 routes tracked · last reviewed · every route links to its official government source
Long-term visa difficulty for Romania: Medium (54/100, lower is easier). Most practical route: Digital nomad / student / work residence.
Common questions
What is the most practical long-term visa route to Romania?
Based on our July 2026 review, the most practical route is usually: Digital nomad / student / work residence. Overall difficulty is rated "Medium" (54/100, lower is easier).
Can I move to Romania without a local job offer?
Yes — 2 of the 4 tracked routes do not require a local employer: Digital nomad long-stay visa; Student residence. Each has its own income, funds, or admission requirements.
Digital Nomad Visa / long-stay visa for remote workers
A remote-income route for applicants working for overseas employers, clients, or businesses.
Typical timeline / duration: Usually long-stay/residence route; often described as 12 months with possible renewal, but exact current duration needs confirmation from official consular checklist.
Romania has a digital nomad framework for foreigners working remotely for employers/clients outside Romania.
Typical requirements include proof of remote work, foreign income, accommodation, insurance and clean record.
Commonly reported threshold: income at least three times Romania's average gross salary for the previous six months; amount changes with salary statistics.
Be accepted and enrolled full-time at an accredited or provisionally authorised Romanian educational institution, with the required ministry acceptance letter for the first application.
Provide a passport, enrolment certificate, proof of legal accommodation, medical certificate, health-insurance evidence, fees, and financial means for the required period.
For an extension, show continued enrolment and the documents required by the Romanian General Inspectorate for Immigration before the current permit expires.
Complete the long-stay visa and temporary-residence-permit process appropriate to the applicant's nationality and study programme.
Secure a Romanian employer willing to hire the applicant and obtain the employment or posting notice from the General Inspectorate for Immigration.
Meet the employer and labour-market conditions, including the employer's genuine activity, the vacancy test, the annual government quota, and the absence of relevant tax or undeclared-work violations.
Meet the role's qualification, experience, medical-fitness, and criminal-record conditions and provide the employment documents requested for the category.
After the employment notice, complete the applicable long-stay visa and temporary-residence-permit process, including passport, accommodation, health-insurance, and fee evidence.
A longer-stay route based on its specific eligibility requirements.
Typical timeline / duration: Successive one-year extensions; up to 3 years for EUR 500,000+ investment or 50+ jobs.
Official IGI page confirms temporary residence for commercial activities and notes extension periods.
Large investments/jobs can affect support-evidence rules and duration: investments of EUR 150,000 or 25 jobs affect proof of means; EUR 500,000 or 50 full-time jobs can allow a 3-year stay.
Visa rules change frequently. Figures and requirements above were reviewed on the dates shown; always confirm against the linked official source before applying.