Foreign nationals who want to travel to Romania for a period longer than 90 days must apply for a Romania long-stay visa. There are different types of Romania long-stay visas, which differ depending on the purpose of travel. However the most common are:
- The Romania work visa
- The Romania study visa
- The Romania family reunification visa
This article will detail the requirements, application process, and other frequently asked questions about Romanian long-stay visas.
Do I need a Romania long-stay visa?
Every foreign national who wants to stay in Romania for longer than 90 days has to apply for a Romania long-stay visa, except EU/EEA and Swiss nationals. This also includes the foreign nationals from countries exempt from holding short-stay visas.
Romania Work Visa
A Romania work visa, also known as a Romanian Employment Visa (D/AM), is issued to foreign nationals who will travel to Romania to take up paid employment in a Romanian company. To get a Romania work visa, you must have a work permit from the Romanian Inspectorate General for Immigration. It is your employer in Romania who applies for a work permit on your behalf.
After you receive a work permit, you may apply for the Romania work visa from your country.
Romania work visa eligibility
To be eligible for a Romania work visa, you must fall under one of the following categories:
- You will conduct educational, scientific, or any other type of specialized work in an accredited Romanian institution
- You are a highly-skilled worker
- You will work as part of a bilateral agreement
- You will work on the basis of the order of the minister of national education
- The work you will do is artistic in nature and done on the basis of the order of the minister of culture
- You have access to the Romania labour market due to a treaty between Romania and your country
- You will work in behalf of a ministry or other organization of the central public or local administration.
- You will work as the head of a subsidiary office or the Romanian branch office of a company that’s headquartered abroad.
Romania work visa requirements
To apply for a Romania work visa, you must have the following:
- Work Authorization, obtained from your employer at the Inspectorate General for Immigration in Romania.
- After you receive work authorization, you have to apply for the Romania work visa at a Romanian diplomatic mission or consulate within 60 days.
- Documents regarding the nature of your employment.
- Certificate of police clearance issued from your country of residence.
- Travel medical insurance for the duration that your visa is issued for.
- Proof of accommodation in Romania
- Proof of sufficient financial means, ensuring you will receive at least the minimum gross salary for the duration of your work visa.
- A Romania visa application form, which you can download from the website of the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The application form has to be completed in typed letter and signed.
- Two recent pictures which are in line with Romania visa photo requirements.
- 3cm x 4cm where your face takes up 70% – 80% of the picture
- Taken on a white background
- A valid passport or travel document, which:
- Is recognized by Romania
- Is valid for at least another three months after your visa expires
- Was issued in the previous ten years
- Has at least two blank pages where the Romania consular staff can affix your visa.
- Flight ticket.
Romania Study Visa
The Romania Study Visa (D/SD) is issued to foreign nationals who want to travel to Romania to pursue their studies in a Romanian educational institution. Additionally, it is also for researchers, students on exchange programs or educational projects, or participants in an unpaid training program.
To apply for a Romania study visa, you must first obtain authorization to study from the Romanian Ministry of Education.
A Romania study visa allows you to work for up to four hours a day (part-time) without having to obtain a separate work permit.
Romania study visa requirements
When applying for a Romania study visa, you must have the following documents:
- Proof of acceptance for studying issued by the Romania Ministry of Education
- Proof you have paid the tuition fee for at least one academic year
- Proof of financial support, proving you are able to maintain yourself for the duration of your stay. Financial requirements are for at least the minimum guaranteed gross salary.
- Certificate of police clearance from your country.
- Travel medical insurance covering the entire duration of your stay.
- Proof of accommodation in Romania for the duration of your stay.
- If you are underage: Consent from your parent or legal guardian to live in Romania for the purpose of studying.
- If you are taking part in an unpaid training program:
- The professional training agreement, stating the description and duration of the training as well as the legal relationship between you and your host.
- A written statement from the host that guarantees they are responsible for your the cost of your repatriation should you overstay your visa
- Proof you have either finished a higher education course within the two years prior to the application or that you are currently in on-going studies.
- A Romania visa application form, which you can download from the website of the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The application form has to be completed in typed letter and signed.
- Two recent pictures which are in line with Romania visa photo requirements.
- 3cm x 4cm where your face takes up 70% – 80% of the picture
- Taken on a white background
- A valid passport or travel document, which:
- Is recognized by Romania
- Is valid for at least another three months after your visa expires
- Was issued in the previous ten years
- Has at least two blank pages where the Romania consular staff can affix your visa.
- Flight ticket.
Romania Family Reunification Visa
The Romania Family Reunification Visa (D/VF) is issued to non-EU nationals who wish to join their family members in Romania.
In order to bring their family members with them, the person living in Romania, who is considered as the sponsor, has to be:
- A Romanian or EU citizen
- A Romanian residence permit holder, EU Blue Card holder, of an ICT permit holder
Sponsors can bring the following family members through a Romanian family reunification visa:
- Their spouse
- Their unmarried, minor children (biological or adopted), including the spouse’s children.
- Their parents, if they are dependent on the sponsor.
Before the non-EU national applies for a Romania long stay visa, they must receive authorization from the Romania General Inspectorate for Immigration.
To obtain authorization for family reunification from the Inspectorate General for Immigration, the sponsor has to send the following documents:
- Documents proving family ties
- An authenticated letter stating that the sponsor will live together with his/her family members.
- Proof of sufficient financial means to support his/her family members
- The copy of the passport of the non-EU family member living abroad who wants to join the sponsor in Romania.
- If the sponsor is applying to bring his.her child, a statement from the other parent or legal guardian stating they agree.
The family members of Romanian or EU citizens only have to apply through a diplomatic mission or consular office of Romania in their country.
Romania Family Reunification visa requirements
When you apply for a Romania family reunification visa, you must have the following documents:
- Approval from the Inspectorate General for Immigration for family reunification, if the sponsor is a non-EU national.
- Documents attesting family relationship, which is issued by Romanian authorities or transcribed in accordance with the law, such as:
- Marriage certificate for spouses
- Birth certificate, for children and parents
- Any other documents proving family ties
- Certificate of police clearance issued from your country of residence.
- A Romania visa application form, which you can download from the website of the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The application form has to be completed in typed letter and signed.
- Two recent pictures which are in line with Romania visa photo requirements.
- 3cm x 4cm where your face takes up 70% – 80% of the picture
- Taken on a white background
- A valid passport or travel document, which:
- Is recognized by Romania
- Is valid for at least another three months after your visa expires
- Was issued in the previous ten years
- Has at least two blank pages where the Romania consular staff can affix your visa.
- Flight ticket.
How Can I Apply for a Romania Long-stay Visa?
The Romania visa application process is divided into two parts, the online application and in-person application, and it goes as follows:
- Submit a Romania eVisa application, attaching the electronic copies of all the required documents.
- Submit the originals of the required documents at a Romanian diplomatic mission.
- Wait for your application to be validated.
- Appear at the diplomatic mission again on the date of your appointment.
- Pay the Romania visa fee. It costs €120 to apply for a Romania long stay visa.
- Wait for your application to be processed. You can check the progress on the online application tool.
- Once your application is processed and approved, the Romanian diplomatic mission staff will inform you of the decision and when you can receive your passport with the visa.
See a more detailed explanation of the Romania visa application process here.
What is the Romania long-stay visa processing time?
The processing time of your Romanian long-stay visa depends on several factors, such as the diplomatic mission you’re applying from, your specific circumstances etc. However, you are advised to apply at least 45 days before the time you intend to travel to Romania.
Additionally, a long-stay visa usually requires prior authorization from the Romanian Inspectorate General for Immigration, which can take up to 30 days.
What is the Romania Long-stay Visa Validity?
A long-stay visa for Romania on its own has the same validity as a short-stay visa: up to 90 days. The difference is that, after you arrive in Romania, a long-stay visa allows you to apply for an extension to stay longer and a Romanian residence permit.
You cannot apply for an extension to stay or a residence permit if you entered the country on a Romanian short-stay visa.
What Should I do After I get a Romania Work/Study/Family Visa?
After entering the country on a Romania long-stay visa, you have to request permission for an extended stay in the country and apply for a Romanian residence permit.
It is the residence permit which authorizes you to legally stay in the country for longer than the 90 days that the long-stay visa allows.
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