Romania
Romania visa and residence permit guide
- 15 visa types
- checked 24 October 2026
How visas for Romania work
Romania has applied the Schengen rules in full since 1 January 2025, when checks at its land borders with other Schengen states were lifted (air and sea borders opened on 31 March 2024). Short trips of up to 90 days in any 180-day period therefore use the common Schengen visa, marked C, which the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues for tourism, private visits, business, sport, culture and short medical treatment. The fee is EUR 90 for adults and EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 12, and travellers must show EUR 50 a day for the trip, at least EUR 500 in total.
Stays longer than 90 days start with a national long-stay visa, marked D, issued for a specific purpose: employment (D/AM), posting and intra-corporate transfer (D/DT), studies (D/SD), family reunification (D/VF), commercial activities (D/AC), professional or economic activities (D/AP, D/AE), scientific research (D/CS), religious activities (D/AR) and other purposes (D/AS), which includes digital nomads. Since 27 April 2026 every D visa application costs EUR 300. The D visa is valid for 90 days; before it runs out, the holder applies to the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) for a residence permit, at the county office or through the Portal IGI.
Work visas changed in 2026 under Government Emergency Ordinance 32/2026. Employers now file a single application (cerere unică) on WorkinRomania.gov.ro; it leads to a D/AM1 visa for highly qualified staff and certain other categories, or a D/AM2 visa for permanent, seasonal and cross-border workers in shortage occupations. When checked on 24 October 2026, the platform stated that the D/AM2 flows were switched off after the Bucharest Court of Appeal suspended the ministerial order containing the shortage-occupation list.
Applicants register the visa application on the Romanian e-Visa portal, receive an appointment and then appear in person at the Romanian embassy or consulate responsible for their place of residence; postal and courier applications are not accepted. Nationals of certain countries listed by IGI must first obtain an IGI-approved invitation before applying for a short-stay visa.
Which visa do I need?
Holiday, visiting family or friends, business meetings, fairs, sport or culture for up to 90 days: Schengen C visa (C/TU, C/VV, C/A), EUR 90.
Job offer from a Romanian employer: D/AM1 visa for highly qualified staff, leading to an EU Blue Card or single permit; D/AM2 for permanent, seasonal and cross-border workers once the platform reopens it. Transfer within a multinational group: D/DT visa and ICT permit.
University degree, pupil exchange or unpaid traineeship: D/SD study visa. Research under a hosting agreement: D/CS visa.
Remote work for a foreign employer or your own foreign company: digital nomad visa (D/AS), with income of three times the Romanian average gross salary. Running a Romanian company as shareholder: D/AC visa after an ARICE business-plan opinion. Liberal profession or sole trader: D/AP or D/AE.
Joining a spouse or parent: D/VF family reunification visa; with a Romanian spouse the visa is requested directly at the mission. After five years of continuous legal stay: long-term residence.
Visa types for Romania
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Short-stay Schengen visa for tourism (viză de scurtă ședere, C/TU)
Travellers whose nationality needs a Schengen visa apply for a C visa marked C/TU for a holiday in Romania.
Maximum stay: 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area; it cannot be turned into a residence permit. - Family and friends visit visa Short-stay visa for private visits (C/VV)
The C/VV visa is the Romanian Schengen visa for visiting relatives or friends who are Romanian citizens or foreigners with a valid Romanian residence permit.
Maximum stay: 90 days in any 180-day period.
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Short-stay visa for business trips (C/A)
The C/A visa covers short business trips to Romania: meetings, negotiations, trade fairs and congresses, installing or checking equipment bought under a contract, and training staff for those tasks.
Maximum stay: 90 days in any 180-day period. - Entrepreneur and start-up visa Long-stay visa for commercial activities (D/AC)
Foreigners who are, or will become, shareholders or associates with management duties in a Romanian company can live in Romania on the D/AC visa for commercial activities.
Maximum stay: Visa 90 days; residence permit for 1 year at a time, or 3 years with EUR 500,000 invested or more than 50 full-time jobs. - Self-employed and freelancer visa Long-stay visa for professional activities (D/AP) and economic activities (D/AE)
Romania has two long-stay visas for self-employment.
Maximum stay: Visa 90 days; residence permit renewed in steps, at least 30 days before expiry.
Study and training
- Student visa Long-stay visa for studies (viză de lungă ședere pentru studii, D/SD)
Students admitted to full-time bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral programmes in Romania need a D/SD long-stay visa before travelling, then a study residence permit from IGI.
Maximum stay: Visa: 90 days. Residence permit: the length of studies, renewed yearly or for the programme term. - Researcher visa Long-stay visa for scientific research (D/CS)
Researchers from outside the EU who will work on a project at an accredited Romanian research organisation use the D/CS visa.
Maximum stay: Visa 90 days; residence permit for the duration of the hosting agreement, up to 5 consecutive years.
Work
- Work visa Long-stay visa for employment (D/AM1, D/AM2) and single permit
Since Government Emergency Ordinance 32/2026, hiring a foreign worker in Romania starts with a single application filed by the employer, a placement agency or an authorised employer on WorkinRomania.gov.ro.
Maximum stay: Visa 90 days (seasonal: contract plus 5 days, at most 90); single permit for the contract term, up to 2 years per renewal. - EU Blue Card EU Blue Card (Cartea albastră a UE) via the D/AM1 visa for highly qualified workers
Highly qualified workers hired in Romania enter on a D/AM1 visa requested through the employer’s single application and then receive an EU Blue Card from IGI.
Maximum stay: Contract term plus 3 months, up to 3 years per card; renewable. - Intra-company transfer visa Long-stay visa for posting (D/DT) and ICT permit for intra-corporate transferees
Managers, specialists and trainee employees moved by a non-EU company to its Romanian branch, subsidiary or group company use the D/DT posting visa and then an ICT permit from IGI.
Maximum stay: Up to 3 years for managers and specialists, 1 year for trainee employees, counted from entry. - Digital nomad visa Long-stay visa for other purposes: digital nomads (D/AS)
Romania’s digital nomad visa lets you live in the country while working remotely for a company registered abroad or running your own foreign company through information and communication technology.
Maximum stay: Visa 90 days; first residence permit 6 months; later extensions for up to 1 year each.
Family
- Family reunification visa Long-stay visa for family reunification with a non-EU sponsor (D/VF)
Foreigners living in Romania with a one-year residence permit, an EU Blue Card, an ICT permit, long-term residence or international protection can bring their spouse and minor children.
Maximum stay: Visa 90 days; residence permit generally aligned with the sponsor’s permit. - Spouse and partner visa Long-stay visa for family reunification with a Romanian citizen (D/VF)
Spouses, partners with a common child, children and parents of Romanian citizens apply for the D/VF visa directly at the Romanian mission, without prior IGI approval.
Maximum stay: Visa 90 days; then a residence permit as a family member of a Romanian citizen.
Residence
- Permanent residence Long-term residence (drept de ședere pe termen lung)
Non-EU nationals who have lived in Romania lawfully and continuously for five years can obtain the right of long-term residence.
Maximum stay: Indefinite right of residence; the card is renewed.
Asylum and international protection
- Asylum and international protection International protection in Romania (cerere de azil): refugee status and subsidiary protection
Asylum in Romania can be requested by any foreigner who is on Romanian territory or at a border crossing point; applications made from abroad are not admitted.
Processing time: 30 days from assignment to a decision officer; extendable to a total of 6 months, in some cases 9, plus up to 3 in exceptional situations.
Frequently asked questions
Who needs a visa for Romania?
Nationals of countries on the EU visa list need a Schengen C visa for stays of up to 90 days, and a national D visa is needed for longer stays. A valid uniform visa with two or multiple entries, a D visa or a residence permit issued by another Schengen state also lets you enter Romania within the 90/180-day limit.
Where do I apply for a Romanian visa?
Fill in the application on the e-Visa portal (evisa.mae.ro), choose the Romanian mission responsible for your place of residence and wait for the appointment date, then go in person to that embassy or consulate with the original documents. Posted or couriered files are refused.
How much does a Romanian visa cost in 2026?
A Schengen C visa or airport transit visa costs EUR 90 (EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 12). Every long-stay D visa costs EUR 300 for applications sent for validation on or after 27 April 2026; earlier applications paid EUR 120. The fee is not refunded after a refusal.
What happens after I enter Romania on a D visa?
The D visa allows 90 days. At least 30 days before that right expires you must apply to the IGI county office (or through Portal IGI) for a residence permit. For most purposes you pay a consular fee of EUR 120 in lei and RON 265 for the card; IGI decides within 30 days, extendable by 15.
Which salary figures does Romania use for visa thresholds?
Most conditions refer to the guaranteed minimum gross base salary, RON 4,325 a month from 1 July 2026, or to the average gross earnings set by the social insurance budget law, RON 9,192 a month from 30 March 2026. The digital nomad visa requires three times the average, about RON 27,576 a month.
Can a Romanian visa refusal be challenged?
Yes. You first send a written preliminary complaint to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs within 30 days of receiving the refusal form. After its answer, or if no answer comes in time, you can sue at the administrative section of the competent court of appeal within 6 months, and no later than one year after the refusal.
Embassies and consulates
Last checked 24 October 2026. Each visa page lists the official sources it is based on.