Romania (RO)
Romania is the largest country in Southeastern Europe — a full Schengen EU member state blessed with the dramatic Carpathian mountains, medieval Saxon towns like Sibiu and Brasov, the legendary Transylvania region, a booming technology sector, and one of the lowest costs of living in the European Union.
Capital: Bucharest
Region: Europe
Language: Romanian
Currency: RON (lei)
Cost of living: Very affordable (index 38)
Emergency: 112
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Citizenship & Permanent Residency
Long-term settlement options in Romania.
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Permanent Residency
Name
Permis de ședere pe termen lung (Long-Term Residence Permit)
Eligibility
Non-EU citizens who have lived legally and continuously in Romania for 5 years. Spouses of Romanian citizens qualify after 4 years. EU long-term residents from another EU state may apply after 2.5 years of continuous stay in Romania. Applications are made to IGI (Inspectoratul General pentru Imigrări).
Duration
Indefinite (card renewed every 5 years for identification purposes)
Requirements
- ✓5 years of continuous legal residence (4 years for spouses of Romanian citizens; 2.5 years for EU long-term residents)
- ✓No absence exceeding 6 consecutive months or 10 months cumulatively over the qualifying period
- ✓Stable and regular income at least equal to the national minimum wage
- ✓Valid Romanian health insurance (CASS)
- ✓Adequate accommodation (rental contract or property title)
- ✓No criminal record in Romania or abroad
- ✓Basic knowledge of the Romanian language
EU/EEA/Swiss citizens acquire the right of permanent residence automatically after 5 years of continuous legal residence and simply apply for a "certificat de rezidență permanentă" at IGI — no language test or income evidence required. Expect processing of 60–120 days for non-EU applications.
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Citizenship
Name
Cetățenia Română (Romanian Citizenship)
Eligibility
Legal residence in Romania for 8 years, reduced to 5 years for spouses of Romanian citizens and to 4 years for spouses with a shared child. Applications are filed with ANC (Autoritatea Națională pentru Cetățenie). Descendants of Romanian citizens up to the third degree — including from pre-1940 territories such as the Republic of Moldova and parts of Ukraine — may apply without any residence requirement under the "redobândire" procedure.
Duration
Permanent
Requirements
- ✓8 years of legal residence in Romania (5 years if married to a Romanian citizen; 4 years if married with a shared child; waived for redobândire applicants with Romanian ancestry)
- ✓Potential 3-year reduction (minimum 5yr total) for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens or persons born in Romania who demonstrate active participation in economic life, relevant educational achievements, or special cultural/civic contributions — introduced by Law No. 14/2025 (in force 15 March 2025)
- ✓Romanian language at B1 level — both oral and written, tested by ANC (formally required under Law 14/2025)
- ✓Basic knowledge of the Constitution, national anthem and Romanian civic culture
- ✓Demonstrated means of honest subsistence
- ✓Loyalty to the Romanian state and no activity against national security
- ✓No criminal conviction incompatible with citizenship
- ✓Stricter verification of ancestry, income, and residence legality introduced under Law 14/2025
- ✓Oath of allegiance (jurământ de credință) taken before a court or consulate at the end of the process
Processing typically takes 1–2 years from submission to oath. The official application fee is around 700 RON plus stamp duties. Romania fully allows dual citizenship. Law No. 14/2025 (in force 15 March 2025) introduced stricter verification of all claims, digital submission (RODUC system in development for 2026), and a 3-year residence reduction for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens with demonstrated contributions. The oath of allegiance is the moment citizenship is legally acquired.
Other Routes to Residency & Citizenship
Family Reunification (Reîntregirea Familiei)
Eligibility
Spouses, minor children, and dependent parents or parents-in-law of Romanian residents or citizens. Non-EU spouses must apply for a long-stay D/VF visa first, then convert to a residence permit in Romania.
Duration / Outcome
Residence permit initially tied to the sponsor's status; becomes independent after 5 years in most cases (3 years in case of a shared child)
Requirements
- ✓Sponsor holds a valid Romanian residence permit or citizenship
- ✓Proof of family relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate) apostilled and translated by an authorised translator
- ✓Sufficient income — at least the national minimum wage per sponsored family member
- ✓Adequate housing confirmed by a lease or property title
- ✓Valid Romanian health insurance for the family member
- ✓Clean criminal record for adult applicants
Apply for the long-stay family reunification visa (D/VF) at the Romanian embassy or consulate in your home country before travelling — do not enter as a tourist and try to regularise from within Romania. After arrival, apply to IGI for the residence permit within 30 days. Processing of the residence permit at IGI is typically 30–90 days.
Spouse of a Romanian Citizen (Reîntregirea Familiei — Soț/Soție)
Eligibility
Non-EU spouses of Romanian citizens. No minimum income requirement is imposed on the Romanian spouse beyond what is needed to support the family.
Duration / Outcome
1 year initially, renewable annually; eligible for long-term residence after 4 years of marriage and continuous residence
Requirements
- ✓Valid marriage certificate, apostilled and translated by an authorised Romanian translator
- ✓Proof that the spouse is a Romanian citizen (Romanian passport or buletin)
- ✓Proof of adequate accommodation in Romania
- ✓Romanian health insurance (CASS) for the applicant
- ✓Clean criminal record certificate from all countries of previous residence
- ✓Long-stay family reunification visa (D/VF) issued before entry
Marriage does not give automatic Romanian citizenship. Path to naturalisation is 5 years of continuous legal residence while married (4 years if you have a shared child). Dual citizenship is allowed, so you do not need to renounce your previous nationality.
Child of a Romanian Parent (Dreptul Sângelui — Jus Sanguinis)
Eligibility
Children of at least one Romanian citizen automatically acquire Romanian citizenship at birth, regardless of the country of birth.
Duration / Outcome
Permanent from birth
Requirements
- ✓At least one parent is a Romanian citizen at the time of birth
- ✓For children born abroad: transcribe the foreign birth certificate into Romanian civil registries through a Romanian consulate or the Directorate for Persons' Records
- ✓No language or civic test; no residence requirement
Register the birth at the nearest Romanian consulate as soon as possible — transcribing the certificate is a prerequisite for obtaining the child's first Romanian passport and CNP (personal numeric code). Romanian citizenship by descent is not time-limited and can be claimed at any point in life.
Reacquisition of Citizenship (Redobândirea Cetățeniei Române)
Eligibility
Former Romanian citizens and descendants up to the third degree of individuals who were Romanian citizens and lost that status without their own consent — including descendants from former Romanian territories such as the Republic of Moldova, Bukovina, Bessarabia, and Hertza. No residence in Romania is required.
Duration / Outcome
Permanent citizenship
Requirements
- ✓Documentary proof of Romanian ancestry up to the 3rd degree (birth certificates, baptismal records, old Romanian IDs, archival documents)
- ✓Clean criminal record from all countries of current residence
- ✓Declaration of loyalty to Romania
- ✓Oath of allegiance taken at a Romanian court or consulate
- ✓No Romanian language test and no residence required for redobândire applicants
This is the most commonly used path for applicants from Moldova, Ukraine and diaspora communities. Files are submitted to ANC in Bucharest or via a Romanian consulate. Processing typically takes 1.5–3 years. Dual citizenship is fully allowed, so no previous nationality needs to be renounced.
🌍 Dual Citizenship
✓
Dual citizenship is allowed — Romania has permitted dual and multiple citizenship since 1991. You may acquire Romanian citizenship without renouncing your existing nationality, and Romanian citizens acquiring a foreign nationality do not automatically lose their Romanian passport. The only restriction: certain senior public offices (such as President of Romania) require that the holder only exercise Romanian citizenship during their term. Always verify that your country of origin also permits dual citizenship — some states (e.g. India, China, Austria) impose restrictions on their own citizens.
Citizenship & Permanent Residency
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