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.
Leaving Romania
How to properly exit — protecting your finances, rights and records.
📅 General Timeline
60–90 days before: give notice on your flat, utilities and mobile/internet contracts; request your CNPP contribution statement. 30–45 days before: book removals, notify IGI, submit form NR-3 to ANAF. Last 2 weeks: take final meter readings, deregister your vehicle at DRPCIV (Direcția Regim Permise de Conducere și Înmatriculare a Vehiculelor), request S1 from CNAS if moving within the EU. Allow an extra 4–6 weeks for pension and tax paperwork to finalise after you have physically left.
Deregistration
If you hold a Romanian residence permit, notify IGI (Inspectoratul General pentru Imigrări) of your departure. Submit form NR-3 to ANAF (Agenția Națională de Administrare Fiscală) to end your Romanian tax residency — this is the single most important step to avoid worldwide-income taxation after you have left. Keep the IGI and ANAF confirmations for your records.
Tax clearance
File your final Declarația Unică for the year of departure, declaring all income received up to your leaving date. Romania does not levy an exit tax on individuals. If you own Romanian real estate or receive ongoing Romanian-source income (rent, dividends), you may remain a limited Romanian taxpayer after leaving — check with a consultant fiscal before departure.
Pension portability
Under EU totalisation rules, all contributions paid into the Romanian pension system (CNPP — Casa Națională de Pensii Publice) transfer seamlessly to other EU/EEA/Swiss pension authorities. When you reach retirement age anywhere in the EU, CNPP will pay your Romanian pension abroad by bank transfer on request. For non-EU destinations without a bilateral social security treaty, contributions are not refunded as a lump sum — they remain credited and are paid out when you reach Romanian retirement age. Contact CNPP at cnpp.ro before leaving to obtain an official contribution statement.
Health insurance
Stop CASS contributions on your departure date — notify CNAS (Casa Națională de Asigurări de Sănătate) and request confirmation of end-of-coverage. If you are moving to another EU/EEA/Swiss country, request form S1 so your new country recognises your Romanian entitlements. Keep your Romanian EHIC valid until the day you actually leave for any last-minute medical needs.
Bank account
You can keep your Romanian bank account open after leaving — this is often useful for any remaining Romanian obligations (property rent, utility refunds, pension payments). Notify your bank of your new non-resident status so they can update FATCA/CRS reporting; some banks apply additional monthly fees for non-resident accounts. Transfer balances abroad via Wise or Revolut for better exchange rates than bank transfers.
Utilities
Take final meter readings on your last day and send them to each utility (electricity, gas, water, internet). Romanian contracts typically require at least 30 days' notice for termination. Obtain a "decont final" (final settlement document) from each provider — this is often requested by landlords before the deposit is returned and by future Romanian creditors.
Rental contract
Standard notice for an open-ended (contract pe perioadă nedeterminată) rental is 1 month. Fixed-term contracts may contain a specific break clause — read carefully. By law the landlord must return your deposit within 15 days of departure, but in practice this often slips to around 30 days. Prepare a joint inventory (proces-verbal de predare-primire) signed by both parties when handing back the keys to reduce disputes.
Leaving the Country
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