Is the €5,800/month income requirement high for the Digital Nomad Visa?

Yes — it's among the highest in the Balkans and Southeast Europe. Albania requires ~$817/month, Montenegro ~€1,800–€2,400/month, Serbia €3,500/month. Romania's ~€5,800/month reflects its EU and Schengen status. However, the 6-month tax exemption and competitive ongoing tax rates (10% flat PIT) make it financially very attractive once the threshold is met.

Can I apply for the Romanian DN visa while already in Romania as a tourist?

The Stage 1 D-type visa application must be made at a Romanian embassy/consulate abroad before travel to Romania. You cannot switch from a tourist/visa-free stay directly to a DN visa from within Romania. Once you enter on the D-type visa, you have up to 90 days to apply for the Stage 2 residence permit at the IGI.

Does Romanian residency give me Schengen access?

Yes. Since Romania joined the Schengen Area in January 2025, a valid Romanian residence permit allows you to travel within the Schengen Area. Under EU rules, third-country nationals with a valid national residence permit of a Schengen member state can travel in the Schengen zone for up to 90 days in any 180-day period — in addition to their Romanian residence right.

Can I open a Romanian SRL (company) on the Digital Nomad Visa?

This requires careful legal advice. The DN visa is specifically for remote work for non-Romanian employers/clients. Acting as a director of a Romanian SRL could be considered local work activity. Many expats transition from the DN visa to a self-employed or company director residence permit once they establish a Romanian entity. Consult a Romanian immigration and tax lawyer before combining these.

What is the difference between the DN visa and a PFA/SRL registration?

The Digital Nomad Visa is a residency pathway for non-EU nationals. PFA (freelancer) and SRL (company) are tax registration structures for anyone legally residing in Romania. EU citizens can register a PFA or SRL directly. Non-EU nationals on a DN visa can potentially register a PFA after obtaining the residence permit — but must ensure their foreign-source income model remains compliant with the visa conditions.

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🇷🇴 Romania

Visa & Residency

~€5,800/mo

DN Visa Income Req.

3× average gross salary; 6 months of history required

Tax-exempt

First 6 Months

No Romanian income tax or social contributions

No visa needed

EU Citizens

Right of residence; register within 3 months

€120 + €53

Permit Fee

Residence permit + permit card fees

2–3 months total

Processing Time

D-type visa + residence permit stages

Full member

Schengen Access

Since January 2025; 27-country travel

Last updated: March 2026

Overview🏛️Bucharest 🏗️Cluj-Napoca

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Overview

Romania's Digital Nomad Visa (Law 22/2022) is a formal two-stage process requiring ~€5,800/month in foreign income — one of the higher requirements among European DN visas, reflecting Romania's EU status. The first 6 months of Romanian residence are entirely tax-exempt. EU/EEA/Swiss citizens need no visa. Romania joined Schengen in January 2025, giving residents frictionless travel across 27 countries. The DN permit grants 12 months renewable, with a total temporary residence cap of 3 years.

Key Takeaways

Available to non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals working remotely for employers or clients based outside Romania
Stage 1 — Type D Long-Stay Visa: apply at a Romanian embassy or consulate in your home country via evisa.mae.ro; submit 2 weeks–3 months before intended arrival; allows up to 90 days in Romania
EU/EEA/Swiss nationals: right to reside and work in Romania with no visa, permit, or income requirement
Temporary residence permit: renewable; various categories (employment, self-employment, family, study); maximum 3 years on any single temporary permit

Digital Nomad Visa (Law 22/2022)

Romania's Digital Nomad Visa was introduced via Law 22/2022 and is available to non-EU nationals working remotely. It features a 6-month tax exemption and full Schengen travel rights.

Available to non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals working remotely for employers or clients based outside Romania
Income requirement: at least 3× Romanian national average gross salary — approximately €5,800/month based on December 2025 data (updated annually); 6 months of documented income history at this level required
Work options: (a) employed by a company registered outside Romania, (b) freelancing for clients based outside Romania, or (c) managing a company registered outside Romania operating for at least 3 years prior
You CANNOT work for a Romanian-registered company or serve Romanian clients under this visa
First 6 months of Romanian residence: fully exempt from Romanian income tax and social contributions
After 183 days in Romania within any 12-month period: become Romanian tax resident; standard 10% flat PIT applies thereafter
Permit duration: 12 months; renewable for another 12 months; maximum temporary residence 3 years total
Romania joined the Schengen Area in January 2025 — permit holders can travel freely across 27 Schengen countries

Application Process — Two Stages

The Digital Nomad Visa process has two stages and takes approximately 2–3 months in total.

Stage 1 — Type D Long-Stay Visa: apply at a Romanian embassy or consulate in your home country via evisa.mae.ro; submit 2 weeks–3 months before intended arrival; allows up to 90 days in Romania
Stage 2 — Temporary Residence Permit: within the 90-day D-visa window, apply at the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI — igav.gov.ro) for a 12-month temporary residence permit
Documents required: valid passport (min 6 months' validity), completed application form, proof of foreign income (6 months' bank statements, contracts, invoices), employment or freelance contract (notarised and translated into Romanian), proof of accommodation (lease/purchase), health insurance (€30,000 minimum coverage valid in Romania), apostilled criminal background check, letter of intent
All foreign documents must be apostilled and notarised Romanian translations are required
Medical examination at a private clinic in Romania is required at the residence permit stage
Fees: residence permit €120; permit card ~259 RON (~€53)
A Romanian immigration lawyer (€300–€800 for full service) is strongly recommended to ensure complete and correct documentation

EU/EEA/Swiss Citizens — No Visa Required

EU citizens enjoy full freedom of movement and can live and work in Romania without any visa or permit.

EU/EEA/Swiss nationals: right to reside and work in Romania with no visa, permit, or income requirement
Register with the local authority (town hall / primărie) within 3 months of arrival for stays longer than 3 months
After 5 years of continuous legal residence: right to apply for permanent residency
EU citizens pay the same 10% flat income tax as Romanian nationals once tax-resident (183+ days/year)
EHIC card valid for healthcare in Romanian public hospitals until you register with CNAS

Long-Term Residency and Citizenship

Romania offers clear pathways to permanent residency and eventual citizenship for committed long-term residents.

Temporary residence permit: renewable; various categories (employment, self-employment, family, study); maximum 3 years on any single temporary permit
Permanent residency: after 5 years of continuous legal residence under temporary permits
Romanian citizenship: after 8 years of continuous legal residence (reduced to 5 years if married to Romanian citizen); Romanian language test; clean criminal record
Romania recognises dual citizenship — you do not need to renounce your existing citizenship
Investment route: qualifying investments can accelerate residency timelines; consult an immigration lawyer for current thresholds

FAQs