Articles on: Europe

Romania — Digital Nomad Visa: Everything you need to live and work remotely in the heart of Europe

Romania — Digital Nomad Visa: Everything you need to live and work remotely in the heart of Europe

Knowledge Base – QUESTRAVEL

By Víctor Pizarro, Co-founder of QUESTRAVEL

Why Romania?

Romania rarely tops the “move to Europe” list, yet it blends vibrant cities like Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca with fairy-tale medieval towns, blazing-fast internet (among Europe’s best), and a cost of living far below Western capitals. Its Digital Nomad Visa is built for remote professionals who want that mix of tradition, modernity, and affordability.

What is Romania’s Digital Nomad Visa?

A special residence/entry route that lets foreign professionals work legally from Romania without needing a local employment contract. The goal is to attract international talent and boost the country’s digital economy. You can stay up to 12 months and renew as long as you continue to meet the requirements.

Who regulates it?

  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministerul Afacerilor Externe) handles visa issuance abroad.
  • General Inspectorate for Immigration (Inspectoratul General pentru Imigrări) manages residence formalities inside Romania.

Depending on your situation, you may start at a Romanian consulate in your country or apply inside Romania.

Introduced in December 2021 via Law 22/2021, which updated Romania’s migration framework for remote work.

Duration & renewals

  • Initial validity: up to 12 months
  • Renewal: yearly, while you keep meeting all criteria
  • Long-term residence: eligible after 5 years of continuous residence

Core requirements

You’ll typically need to show that you:

  • Are not an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen
  • Work remotely on a foreign employment contract or as a self-employed professional with clients outside Romania
  • Have at least 3 years of professional experience in your field
  • Earn ~€3,300/month (commonly referenced as 3× Romania’s average wage)
  • Hold health insurance valid in Romania
  • Have a valid passport and a clean criminal record

Step-by-step application

  1. Prepare documents: remote contract or freelance evidence, income proofs, health insurance, criminal record, passport.
  2. File your application: either at the Romanian consulate in your country or with the General Inspectorate for Immigration if you’re already in Romania.
  3. Pay the fee: about €120.
  4. Wait for a decision: typically 30–45 days.
  5. On approval: register with local immigration on arrival and obtain your residence permit.

Key advantages

  • Ultra-fast internet among the best in Europe
  • Lower cost of living vs. Western Europe
  • Rich culture & nature: medieval castles, mountains, wild nature, modern cities
  • Great EU travel base
  • Clear path to permanent residence after 5 years

Official references

The QUESTRAVEL experience

We’ve helped clients choose Romania for its value, speed, and lifestyle. With the right income evidence and a tidy file, the process is straightforward—and Romania becomes a strategic, budget-friendly base in the EU.

💡 Want your application clear, complete, and error-free? Book a consult at fromquestravel.com and we’ll guide you step by step.

Updated on: 03/11/2025