Romania long-term (permanent) residence

You must hold a temporary right of residence or international protection and have lived in Romania continuously for the five years before the application. Residence is continuous if no absence lasted 6 consecutive months and absences total no more than 10 months, and if no removal measure was taken against you. Trips abroad for international transport work, documented as such, are not counted as absences.

Study years count at half value. Time on short-stay visas, diplomatic or service visas, and as a seasonal worker or au pair does not count. Students, asylum seekers and people with temporary protection cannot apply while in that status. For beneficiaries of international protection the period is reduced to four years if they take an active part in Romanian society, for example through integration programmes, and halved if they have been married to a Romanian citizen for at least five years.

You must prove means of at least the guaranteed minimum gross base salary (RON 4,325 a month from 1 July 2026) for at least 12 months, social health insurance, lawful housing, knowledge of Romanian at least at a satisfactory level, and that you are not a threat to national security or public order; the latter is met if you were not sentenced in Romania to more than five years for an intentional offence. Family members of Romanian citizens do not need to prove means.

Exceptions apply: people of Romanian origin and those whose stay is in the interest of the Romanian state need only the security and public-order conditions. Foreigners who invested at least EUR 1,000,000 or created more than 100 full-time jobs are exempt from the residence period and means. EU Blue Card holders can combine five years in EU states, provided the last two were in Romania as Blue Card holders.

First you apply for the right of long-term residence at the IGI office of your county with the application form, passport, proof of housing, social health insurance, proof of means (not for family of Romanian citizens), a criminal record certificate issued by the Romanian authorities and civil status documents if relevant. IGI decides within six months, extendable by three, and informs you in writing within 15 working days.

If the answer is positive, within 30 days you submit the documents for the permit card: form, passport, proof of housing and the fees (RON 128 plus RON 265, or only RON 265 for family of Romanian citizens). A refusal can be challenged within 30 days at the Bucharest Court of Appeal and does not affect your existing right of residence.

Long-term residents are treated like Romanian citizens in access to work without a work authorisation, education and vocational training including scholarships and recognition of diplomas, social security and assistance, healthcare, tax deductions, and public goods and services including housing.

The right ends on annulment or revocation, on obtaining long-term residence in another state, after an absence from Romania of more than 12 consecutive months (unless you held temporary residence in another EU state), after more than 6 consecutive years abroad, at your request, or on acquiring Romanian citizenship. Former EU Blue Card holders keep it unless they leave the EU, EEA and Switzerland for more than 2 consecutive years.