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Romania Self-Employed Visa

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Program Type:

Independent Means Visa

Processing Time:

6 months

Citizenship Timeline:

8 years

Permanent Residency Timeline:

5 years

Physical Presence Required:

None

Citizenship Visa-Free Access:

179 countries

Minimum Contribution:

None

Contribution Options:

Business Investment, Job Creation

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Romania Self-Employed Visa IMI

Program Overview

Romania Self-Employed Visa

Foreign investors, digital nomads, and entrepreneurs can conduct their own professional, commercial, or economic activities in Romania by obtaining a purpose-specific visa and, upon arrival, a temporary residence permit.

No separate work permit is required; the residence permit is usually granted for one year at a time and is renewable, with a path to long-term residence after five years if certain conditions are met.

Romania Self-Employed Visa

How to Qualify

To qualify for the Romania Self-Employed Visa, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Eligible activity types

  • Professional activities: Individually performed liberal professions regulated by specific national laws (e.g., doctor, lawyer, pharmacist).
  • Economic activities: Activities carried out by authorized individuals or individual/family companies (associations).
  • Digital nomad activities: Activities generating income remotely through employment or business activities conducted for or via a foreign-registered company, using information and communication technologies.
  • Commercial activities: Activities performed by a shareholder or associate in a company with administrative/management capacity and an investment carried out for at least 3 years.

For non-EU entrepreneurs applying under the commercial activities route, a capital or technology contribution of €70,000 (for shareholders) or €50,000 (for associates) is required, along with the creation of at least 15 jobs (for shareholders) or 10 jobs (for associates). Within 12 months of obtaining the first residence permit, holders must invest in accordance with the business plan, contributing at least €100,000 (for an LLC) or €150,000 (for a joint-stock company) in capital or technology. They also need to submit a detailed business plan.

The commercial route does not mandate a minimum investment or a business plan for EU, American, Canadian, Swiss, or Japanese nationals.

Funds and financial means

  • Professional activities: Financial means to support yourself at least at the level of the average gross monthly salary, which is around €1,900 in 2025, for the period requested.
  • Commercial activities: At least €700 per month if you are a shareholder in a joint-stock company; at least €500 per month if you are a shareholder in a limited liability company.
  • Economic activities: Financial means to support yourself at least at the level of the average gross monthly salary, for the period requested.
  • Digital nomad activities: Financial means to support yourself at least at the level of the average gross monthly salary, for the period requested.
  • Long-term residence (after 5 years): Sufficient financial resources at least at the level of the minimum wage, which is around €820 per month in 2025 (via bank balance or monthly income such as salary, pension, etc.).
  • Special extension option (commercial activities): If you have invested over €500,000 or created more than 50 jobs in Romania, your temporary residence permit can be extended for successive periods of up to three years.
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Romania Self-Employed Visa

Salient Benefits

  • Path to citizenship
  • No investment or donation requirement, except for commercial activities
  • Permits dual/multiple citizenship
  • No physical presence requirement
  • Lower taxes
  • Safety and security
  • Enhanced business access to large economies
  • Short processing time

Romania Self-Employed Visa

Citizenship Timeline and Requirements

Long-term residence:

Eligible after five years of legal and continuous stay, with absences not exceeding six months in any year and ten months total; must show sufficient financial resources (at least at minimum wage), health insurance, adequate accommodation, satisfactory Romanian language, and no threat to public order or national security. Long-term residence permits are renewable every five years.

Path to citizenship:

Generally available by naturalization after approximately eight years of legal residence, subject to good conduct, Romanian language and culture knowledge, stable income, and integration. Time as a temporary resident counts toward this period. Final decisions rest with Romanian authorities.

Browse 195 countries’ paths to citizenship in the hyper-detailed IMI Citizenship Catalog.

Romania Self-Employed Visa

Program Authority and Legal Basis

Applications to this program should be directed to Romania’s General Inspectorate for Immigration.

Legislation upon which this program is based: Government Emergency Ordinance no. 194/2002; Government Ordinance no. 44/2008.

Romania Self-Employed Visa

IMI Pros Who Can Help You

Romania Self-Employed Visa

Qualifying Real Estate

As noted in the program qualifications above, an investor can qualify for this program with a local property purchase above the minimum investment threshold. View eligible properties curated by IMI and our real estate partners:

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Romania Self-Employed Visa

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Program Statistics

See more statistics on this program and others in the IMI Data Center.

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