Immigration System — Romania

Romania's Immigration System: An Overview

Romania operates a sponsorship/employer-based and category-specific system rather than a points-based model like Canada or Australia. As an EU member state, Romania also maintains distinct pathways for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens versus third-country nationals.

System Type

Romania uses a hybrid approach combining:

• Employer sponsorship (primary route for work-based immigration)
• Category-based permits (family reunification, study, investment, EU Blue Card)
• Free movement rights (for EU/EEA/Swiss nationals under EU law)

There is no points-based selection system like those used in Canada, UK, or Australia.

Key Government Bodies

General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI)

• Under the Ministry of Internal Affairs
• Primary authority for issuing residence permits, processing applications, and enforcement
• Handles asylum claims, visa extensions, and deportation proceedings

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

• Manages visa issuance through Romanian consulates/embassies abroad
• Handles pre-arrival visa applications (Type C short-stay, Type D long-stay)

National Agency for Employment (ANOFM)

• Issues work authorization opinions
• Manages labor market tests for employer-sponsored applications

Ministry of Labor and Social Solidarity

• Sets annual quotas for non-EU worker permits
• Oversees labor migration policy

Pathways for Third-Country Nationals

1. Work-Based Immigration

• Standard Work Permit: Requires employer sponsorship, labor market test (proving no suitable EU/Romanian candidate), and Ministry of Labor approval
• EU Blue Card: For highly skilled workers with a job offer meeting salary thresholds (roughly 1.2–1.5x average gross salary, varies annually)
• Annual worker quotas set by government decision (historically 100,000+ in recent years, reflecting labor shortages)

2. Family Reunification

• For spouses, minor children, and dependent relatives of Romanian citizens or legal residents
• Requires proof of relationship, adequate housing, and financial means

3. Investment/Business Immigration

• No formal "golden visa" program exists currently
• Business owners/entrepreneurs can obtain residence permits by registering a company and demonstrating economic activity
• Requirements include minimum capital investment (varies by business type) and job creation potential

4. Study-Based

• Student visas convert to residence permits
• Post-study work options exist but are limited compared to Western Europe

Permanent Residency Pathway

• Standard timeline: 5 years of continuous legal residence (temporary permits) before eligibility for permanent residency
• Applicants must demonstrate:
• Stable income/means of subsistence
• Health insurance
• Housing
• Basic Romanian language proficiency (this is a notable requirement)
• Permanent residence permit valid indefinitely (subject to periodic ID card renewal, typically every 5-10 years)

Citizenship Pathway

Standard Naturalization

• 8 years of legal residence for standard applicants (this is longer than many EU peers)
• 4 years for those married to Romanian citizens
• Requirements include:
• Romanian language proficiency (conversational/functional level, tested)
• Knowledge of Romanian culture and civic values (citizenship test)
• No criminal record
• Legal source of income
• Renunciation of previous citizenship *may* be required (though dual citizenship is generally permitted for many cases, particularly EU nationals)

Special/Expedited Pathways

• Ethnic Romanians and descendants (particularly from Moldova, Ukraine, and other former territories): Significantly simplified process, sometimes without residency requirement, based on the Law on Citizenship (Law 21/1991) provisions for "regaining" citizenship
• This pathway has been heavily used by Moldovan citizens (hundreds of thousands have acquired Romanian—and thus EU—citizenship this way)

Typical Timelines

| Stage | Estimated Duration |

|---|---|

| Work visa application (Type D) | 30-60 days processing |

| Initial residence permit issuance | 30-90 days after arrival |

| Permanent residency eligibility | 5 years |

| Standard citizenship eligibility | 8 years |

| Citizenship via marriage | 4 years |

| Ethnic Romanian citizenship (Moldova, etc.) | Can be under 1 year in many cases |

*Processing times can vary significantly based on IGI caseload and case complexity—verify current timelines with IGI directly.*

Language Requirements

• Permanent residency: Basic Romanian proficiency generally required
• Citizenship: Romanian language test (assessing reading/writing/comprehension) plus civic knowledge exam
• Ethnic Romanian citizenship applicants: Language requirements often waived or minimal, especially for those from historically Romanian-speaking regions (Moldova, parts of Ukraine)
• No standardized international test (like IELTS for English) — testing is conducted through Romanian institutions

Notable Recent Policy Changes (as of recent years)

• Increased labor migration quotas: Romania has significantly raised annual non-EU worker quotas in response to domestic labor shortages, particularly in construction, hospitality, and manufacturing (quotas have increased substantially year-over-year, sometimes exceeding 100,000)
• Schengen accession: Romania joined the Schengen Area for air and sea borders in March 2024, with land border integration following later in 2024/2025 — this doesn't directly change third-country immigration rules but affects internal EU travel and border management
• Digital nomad visa: Romania introduced a digital nomad visa in recent years for remote workers employed by foreign companies, requiring proof of remote income (typically around €3,700+/month threshold, subject to change)
• Streamlined procedures: Ongoing digitalization efforts by IGI to reduce processing bottlenecks, though implementation has been uneven
• Continued high demand for Moldovan citizenship applications, prompting periodic administrative reforms to manage volume

Important Caveats

• Verify all figures directly with IGI (igi.mai.gov.ro) or Romanian consular services, as quotas, salary thresholds, and fees change annually via government decisions (Hotărâre de Guvern)
• EU/EEA/Swiss nationals follow a substantially simpler registration-based system (registration certificate after 3 months, permanent residence after 5 years) rather than the permit-based system described above for third-country nationals
• Post-Brexit, UK nationals are now treated as third-country nationals unless covered by the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement provisions for those resident before January 2021

Recommendation: Given the pace of EU migration policy changes and Romania's evolving labor quotas, consult official sources (IGI, Romanian consulate, or a licensed immigration attorney) for current figures before making application decisions.

More about immigrating to Romania