If you’re considering immigrating to Romania, one of the key steps is obtaining a residency permit. Here is everything you need to know about the process!

In order to obtain a Romanian residency permit, you must be in a situation that grants you the right to legally live in Romania. There are two types of residency permits: one for EU citizens, called registration certificate (sometimes also referred to as the CNP), and another for non-EU citizens, called residency permit or Permis de sedere in Romanian.

The registration certificate for EU citizens is issued for the same reasons as for non-EU citizens, plus a special type for EU citizens who have means of support in Romania. So, as long as you have money in your bank account and health insurance, you can legally live in Romania and register as a resident from Europe.

A special note for EU citizens is that the registration certificate is issued on paper, not plastic, so you should keep it safe because it is more fragile. You will receive a card-type residency permit only if you obtain permanent residency in Romania or if you are a non-EU citizen and a family member of an EU citizen. In this case, you will apply for residency similarly to EU citizens.

On the other hand, non-EU citizens receive plastic card residency permits and their validity varies between 6 months (digital nomad residency), 1 year (standard residency), 2 years (residency for non-EU employees) and 3 years (holders of EU Blue Card).

To obtain a residency permit as non-EU citizen, you must meet specific conditions depending on the type of residency permit you wish to apply for. For example, a worker must first find an employer willing to sponsor their work permit, after which they can apply for a visa and residency permit as a worker in Romania.

If you wish to come to Romania as an investor, your company must first receive approval from the Ministry of Economy. After that, you can apply for a visa and a residency permit for economic activities.

Please note that any type of residency permit implies that you will actually live in Romania, so you must declare a stable address.

Finally, don’t forget that once you get your residency permit, you will need to renew it before it expires. Make sure to submit the renewal application ahead of time, moreover since the immigration authorities can get pretty overwhelmed with files and set long dates for issuing documents.