Romania — Complete Emigration Guide 2026
19,036,031 people · Capital: Bucharest · Southeast Europe
Updated H2 2026 · Compiled from official government sources, re-checked on a rolling basis
Overview
Romania is located in Southeast Europe, with a population of 19,036,031. Its currency is the Romanian leu. Our database tracks 17 visa pathways for Romania, each linked to a named source.
See also: Romania country profile
Compiled from official government sources, re-checked on a rolling basis. See our methodology and data sources.
Visa Pathways (17)
Sponsored Employment (7)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU Blue Card | €229/mo | €173 | 24 mo | 30d |
| Long stay visa (marked DICS) | — | — | 3 mo | — |
| Long-stay visa (symbol D) | €3,000/mo | €120 | 3 mo | 180d |
| Long-stay visa for employment purposes | €772/mo | €120 | 3 mo | — |
| Nominal work permit | — | €100 | 12 mo | 30d |
| Residence permit granted for work purposes | €550/mo | — | 12 mo | 180d |
| Types of work permits | — | €100 | 12 mo | 30d |
Family Reunification (4)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent residence permit | — | — | 6 mo | 30d |
| Residence card for family members | €76/mo | — | 60 mo | 90d |
| Residence permit as a family member of a non-EU citizen | — | — | 60 mo | 30d |
| Residence permit as a family member of a Romanian citizen | — | — | 60 mo | 30d |
Free Movement (1)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registration certificate | — | — | 60 mo | 180d |
General Residence (1)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary residence/stay permit | — | — | 60 mo | 180d |
Permanent Settlement (3)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long-term residence permit | — | — | 60 mo | 6d |
| Permanent Residence Card | — | — | 60 mo | — |
| Permanent residence/stay permit | €4,050/mo | — | 60 mo | 90d |
Naturalisation & Citizenship (1)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romanian citizenship | €3,333/mo | €200 | 24 mo | — |
Cost of Living
| Item | Romania | W. Europe Avg | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | €432 | €1,200 | -64% |
| Rent (3BR) | €850 | €2,000 | -57% |
| Groceries | €162 | €350 | -54% |
| Transport | €45 | €80 | -44% |
| Utilities | €90 | €150 | -40% |
| Dining (meal) | €8 | €15 | -47% |
Salary & Employment
| Sector | Median (gross, €/yr) |
|---|---|
| Construction | €19,500 |
| Education | €15,000 |
| Engineering | €28,000 |
| Finance | €31,000 |
| Healthcare | €10,000 |
| Hospitality | €11,000 |
| IT | €22,000 |
| Retail | €10,500 |
Shortage Occupations
- Software developer (Information technology)
- Data analyst (Information technology)
- Physician (Healthcare)
- Nurse (Healthcare)
- Civil engineer (Engineering)
- Construction manager (Construction)
Tax
Healthcare
Education
| University | QS Rank | English Progs | Tuition (Intl) |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Bucharest | 651 | 42 | €2,500 |
| Babes-Bolyai University | 801 | 58 | €2,200 |
| Gheorghe Asachi Technical University | — | 35 | €2,100 |
| Politehnica University of Bucharest | — | 48 | €2,400 |
| West University of Timisoara | — | 32 | €2,000 |
Practical Info
Banking
Driving
Phone & Internet
Credentials
Quality of Life
Official sources
The visa data on this page is compiled from official government sources — 15 of the 15 pathways link directly to the government page they were verified against, and 9 financial requirements below carry the exact quote from the official source. Values that fail verification are removed, not guessed — see the live verification freshness index.
- igi.mai.gov.ro · 2 pathways · verified 2026-06-24
- euraxess.gov.ro · 2 pathways · verified 2026-06-23
- igi.mai.gov.ro · 2 pathways · verified 2026-06-09
- igi.mai.gov.ro · 1 pathway · verified 2026-06-23
- igi.mai.gov.ro · 1 pathway · verified 2026-06-24
- igi.mai.gov.ro · 1 pathway · verified 2026-06-09
- euraxess.gov.ro · 1 pathway · verified 2026-06-24
- home-affairs.ec.europa.eu · 1 pathway · verified 2026-06-24
- mae.ro · 1 pathway · verified 2026-06-24
- igi.mai.gov.ro · 1 pathway · verified 2026-06-24
- igi.mai.gov.ro · 1 pathway · verified 2026-06-23
- cetatenie.just.ro · 1 pathway · verified 2026-06-09
Verified requirements — exact official citations
Each figure below was verified verbatim against the official page linked, on the date shown.
EU Blue Card · 2 verified requirements
Requirement: “EC portal shows 2023 threshold 13,578 RON/yr (2,743 EUR); 2025 updated to RON 8,620/mo per Fragomen” — home-affairs.ec.europa.eu
Minimum income: “"For 2023, Romania set the minimum salary threshold at: 2743 EUR (13578 RON)"” — home-affairs.ec.europa.eu, 2026-07-09
Long-stay visa for employment purposes · 2 verified requirements
Requirement: “Visa fee 120 EUR; min gross salary = national minimum RON 4,050/mo eff Jan 2025 — IGI” — igi.mai.gov.ro
Minimum income: “"Proof of financial means of support equal to the minimum gross salary guaranteed in payment for the entire period inscribed on the visa"” — igi.mai.gov.ro, 2026-07-09
Types of work permits · 1 verified requirement
Requirement: “employer pays work-permit tax of RON equivalent of EUR 100” — euraxess.gov.ro
Nominal work permit · 1 verified requirement
Requirement: “Work permit employer fee = RON equiv of 100 EUR; job offer required — IGI official 2025” — igi.mai.gov.ro
Long-stay visa (symbol D) · 1 verified requirement
Requirement: “Official e-Viza fee page: Viza de lunga sedere (simbol D) - 300 E, effective 27 April 2026 (up from EUR 120).” — eviza.mae.ro, 2026-07-08
Permanent residence/stay permit · 1 verified requirement
Minimum income: “IGI: "They have means of subsistence - at least the minimum income level guaranteed in Romania"; Min. do Trabalho: "Salariul de bază minim brut pe ţară garantat în plată se majorează la 4.325 lei lunar, începând cu data de 1 iulie 2026"” — igi.mai.gov.ro, 2026-07-09
Independent residence permit · 1 verified requirement
Minimum income: “proof of means of support / proof of means of maintenance — a página exige 'proof of means of support' (documento .docx ligado) mas não indica qualquer montante numérico de rendimento.” — igi.mai.gov.ro
Frequently Asked Questions
How many visa pathways does Romania have?
Our database tracks 17 visa pathways for Romania across 6 categories, the largest being Sponsored Employment, Family Reunification, Permanent Settlement. Each entry links to a named source — 87% direct to an official government portal, the rest to a named embassy or professional reference while we complete direct verification.
What is the minimum income for the EU Blue Card?
The EU Blue Card lists a minimum income of EUR 229 per month, according to the official source (last checked 2026-06-24).
What is the average salary in Romania?
The average gross salary in Romania is EUR 1,315 per month. The statutory minimum wage is EUR 772 per month.
How much does rent cost in Romania?
A one-bedroom apartment in Romania averages EUR 432 per month, and a three-bedroom apartment averages EUR 850 per month.
What is the top income tax rate in Romania?
The top personal income tax rate in Romania is 10%. The standard VAT rate is 21%.
How long does it take to qualify for citizenship in Romania?
Among the pathways we track, the Romanian citizenship lists 8 years to citizenship. Timelines vary by route and personal circumstances — check the official source for your case.
Start Preparing for Romania
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