Romania introduced its digital nomad visa in December 2021, opening the doors for remote workers and digital nomads, but the landscape has changed considerably since. And today, I am here to tell you everything you need to know about the Romanian Digital Nomad Visa.
With the country’s full entry into the Schengen zone and updated fiscal laws, this visa is now one of the most powerful tools for non-EU citizens looking to base themselves in Eastern Europe – although, as you will see, it is surprisingly steep requirements.
If you qualify, this visa grants you an initial legal stay, which you then convert into a temporary residence permit.
Most information currently circulating online is based on outdated 2022 legislation. This guide covers the reality of applying in 2026, the strict financial requirements you must actually meet, and the tax implications you need to understand before booking a flight.
Important: If you are an EU/EEA citizen, stop reading. You do not need this visa. You simply need a registration certificate (CNP), which grants you a five-year residency with significantly less paperwork and bureaucracy.
Who Can Apply? Eligibility Requirements
You’re eligible for the Romanian digital nomad visa if you meet all of these conditions:
- Remote Work Status: You must be employed by a company registered outside of Romania, or you must own and manage a company registered abroad. You need to prove that all your work is conducted remotely using information and communication technology (basically, via the internet).
- Clean History: You must have no criminal record in your home country or Romania and have never been denied entry to Romania in the past.
- Financial Eligibility (The Hard Part): You must prove an income of at least three times the Romanian average gross monthly salary.
You can read more about salaries in Romania here, but the bottom line is that the gross monthly wage here is around €1,867, meaning that you should be prepared to show earnings of around €5,600 Euros per month to qualify.
To make things even more complicated, this applies to your income for the six months prior to your application, and you must maintain this level during your stay.
This is pretty steep for a country with a historically low cost of living, but these are the rules for now.
How to Apply – The Master Folder
The application is a two-step process, but fortunately you will use most of the same documents for both steps. This is why it’s a good idea to prepare this “Master Folder” before you start.
Note that all documents must be in English or Romanian (or translated into Romanian, and apostilled). Here is what you need:
- Proof of Employment: An employment contract with a foreign company OR proof that you have managed your own foreign company for at least three years prior to the application.
- Company Details: Original documents showing the company’s identification data, address, tax number, field of activity, and legal representatives.
- Proof of Income: Bank statements for the last 6 months showing you consistently meet the 3x gross average salary threshold.
- Letter of Intent: A signed document detailing exactly why you want to live in Romania and the activities you plan to do (e.g., “I am working remotely for X Company while exploring Transylvania“).
- Tax Compliance: Proof that you (and your company, if applicable) have paid in full all the taxes in your home country.
- Criminal Record: A clean criminal record from your home country. This must be apostilled (if your country is part of the Hague Convention) or super-legalized.
- Accommodation: A rental agreement or proof of property ownership in Romania.
- Health Insurance: A policy valid for your entire stay with coverage of at least €30,000.
- Travel Ticket: Proof of transport to Romania (flight ticket or car documents, driver’s license and proof of itinerary if you plan to drive).
Applying for the DN Visa: The Two-Step Process
Many guides you can find online merge these steps, but they are legally distinct. You first get a visa to enter, then a permit to stay. Here is the correct order in which you apply (and all the requirements/expectations):
Step 1: The Long-Stay Visa (Type D/AS)
IMPORTANT: You must apply for the visa before entering Romania. You can do this online here, but you can’t enter on a tourist visa and change it while in the country.
Note: Applying online is a digital pre-check mostly. Once approved, you will most likely need to visit a Romanian consulate or embassy in your country of residence to present the original documents and have your passport stamped.
And once everything is confirmed, you will get the so-called “long stay visa” that gives you the right to enter Romania and stay for 90 days.
In order to apply, you will need all the documents from the Master Folder we discussed above.
Note: You can check the entire official text in regards of the Romanian DN visa requirements on the official page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Step 2: The Residence Permit
Once you arrive in Romania, the clock starts ticking. You have 90 days of legal stay, but you must apply for your Residence Permit at least 30 days before your current visa expires. Do not leave this to the last minute.
You will go to the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) in the county where you live. You can find where to go by visiting this website, which lists the address and schedule per county.
You will submit the file again (the Master Folder above), plus a few extras:
- Medical Certificate: A note from a Romanian doctor stating you do not pose a public health risk. You can get this at any private clinic for a small fee.
- Taxes: Proof of payment for the residence permit fees (roughly €170 total).
Pro Tip: When visiting the doctor for your medical note, ask for the ‘Nomad Checkup’ – most large private clinics in Bucharest, like Regina Maria or Medicover/Medlife have a streamlined process for this now.
Again, you can submit all the documents online here. This is just for confirmation that you have everything you need and submitted them correctly – you will still have to visit in person.
Once approved and finalized, you will receive a Romanian residency card based on the digital nomad visa. This is your “Golden Ticket” for life in the country and travel abroad.
Taxation Rules for Digital Nomads in Romania
One of the strongest arguments for this visa is the tax treatment, codified under Law no. 69/2023.
One of the biggest perks of the Romanian digital nomad visa is that you’re exempt from paying income tax and social contributions on your salary income for the first six months of your stay (or, more precisely, if you spend less than 183 days in the country).
IMPORTANT: This does not mean you won’t have to pay taxes. You will still owe them in your home country (or wherever you have your fiscal residency), but you won’t be charged extra in Romania.
After that, things change. Once you spend more than 183 days in Romania within a 12-month period, you’re considered a tax resident. This means you must pay Romanian taxes on your worldwide income, not just what you earn locally.
If you hit that 183-day threshold, you’ll need to register with ANAF (the Romanian Tax Authority) within 30 days.
- The Good News: Under the specific Digital Nomad legislation, you are exempt from paying income tax and social contributions in Romania on the income earned from your foreign employer.
- The Catch: This exemption applies strictly to foreign salary/consulting income. If you earn money inside Romania (e.g., renting out an apartment, local gigs) or have other types of global income (dividends, crypto gains), those may be subject to Romanian tax.
Always consult with a local accountant. Tax residency rules can get complicated depending on Double Taxation Treaties between Romania and your home country and I am NOT offering financial advice here.
Schengen Travel Rights
This is one very recent change, and a huge one, since Romania became a full Schengen member in January 2025.
This means that your Digital Nomad Residence Permit grants you freedom of movement.
You can travel to other Schengen countries (like France, Germany, Italy, or Spain) for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without needing a separate tourist visa. Your Romanian residency card acts just like a residency card from any other EU nation for travel purposes.
How long is the Romania Digital Nomad Visa valid?
This is where Romania differs from other EU countries that usually offer a 1-year permit immediately. Romania’s system is designed to check your tax status halfway through.
This means that your Digital Nomad visa will usually give you an initial 6 months to live in the country legally (but you can extend/renew the first permit).
Why only 6 months? This aligns with the 183-day tax residency rule. The government gives you a “tax-free” window first.
However, for the second extension (taking you beyond 6 months), you must submit an income certificate from the Romanian tax authority (ANAF). This proves you are registered in the Romanian fiscal system (this officially makes you a Romanian tax resident).
If you decide to follow this route, you can usually get renewals for up to 36 months (3 years) in total under this specific purpose.
Is the Romanian Digital Nomad Visa worth it? (My personal opinion)
The required income of around 5,600 Euros per month is surprising, since even the larger cities let you live a worry-free, upper-middle-class life on 2,000 Euros per month (check the Constanta monthly living expenses article for an example).
Here’s how I see the situation, though:
The Pros:
- Savings Potential: If you earn the required amount, you can save a massive portion of your paycheck due to the lower cost of living.
- Lifestyle: Romania is extremely safe as a whole, it has excellent nightlife (especially in the larger cities), diverse geography (mountains and sea), friendly people, and is, overall, beautiful.
- Schengen Access: Since 2025, this has become a big pro for DNs, as the country is now a legitimate base for exploring the rest of Europe.
The Cons:
- The Threshold: Even if you earn €3,000/month, you are still priced out, despite that being a fantastic salary for the region.
- Short stay: You will usually get just 6 months on the visa, requiring extensions afterward (which take time).
- Bureaucracy: While improved, dealing with state institutions can still be slow and paper-heavy compared to other popular European DN spots like Estonia or Portugal.
If you think that the Pros far outweigh the Cons, I recommend checking my previous articles for choosing your home base: Best cities to live in Romania, or the most beautiful small cities in Romania.
It’s also worth noting that, depending on your financial situation (and future laws), the planned Romanian Golden Visa might be a better alternative.
The Alternative: If you love the region but don’t meet the financial threshold, look at Croatia. Their digital nomad visa generally requires an income around €3,000, which is significantly easier to meet.
Conclusion
Romania’s Digital Nomad Visa is an excellent option for high-earning remote workers who want a low-cost, high-quality base in the EU. It offers a clear path to legal residency, tax clarity, and Schengen travel rights.
If you meet the income criteria, the effort of gathering the paperwork is worth it. You get to live in one of Europe’s most underrated countries while keeping your tax burden low and your internet speed high.
If you still have questions – or stories to share about the Romanian DN visa – don’t hesitate to comment down below.
I am a journalist and local expert who has been documenting life in Romania since 2013. Based in Constanta (after living in Bucharest and Drobeta Turnu Severin), I provide up-to-date, on-the-ground advice for expats and travelers. My articles are based on real life experiences and plenty of research – from paying Romanian bills to exploring the wild “Rawmania” countryside.
Like others have said, way too high of a monthly salary especially given the cost of living in Romania. I think it is similar to what you need for a Croatian digital nomad visa which is also too much.
Assuming there will be Americans applying for this, the criminal record can be tricky, especially if Romania wants your FBI background check to be apostille. Speaking as an American with Slovenian residency (and going through all the hoops once every two years), nothing is ever that straight forward. I wonder what documentation they want for proof of earnings for the past six months? If you have your own company, sometimes you don’t pay yourself a normal monthly wage. It can get tricky.
Glad they at least offer this type of visa now and I do like that is renewable (if you like Romania then for sure many folks would prefer to stay longer than a year). Just wish that these European countries realize that when their peeps came to the U.S. (and not on just a 1 year visa) they had next to nothing, not 3x the average monthly wage. If governments are so worried about visa holders not having enough money, then just put them into the system as exempt from any type of money or welfare from the gov’t. Other than that, why worry about them not having enough $$ to take care of their own situation.
Valid points! I think the original draft of the law required 2x the national gross salary, which would’ve been at around 2,200 Euros. Hopefully they will adjust, based on feedback and applications. Right now, the law is still very fresh and not all details are clear (for example, the very important part regarding how you are taxed on your income)
Very useful and clear article, thank you! I have been trying to get clear information and the pieces of information presented by Romanian officials are extremely poor.
I am not clear about the tax regime for DNs. If someone is employed by an US company and meets all the other criteria of the visa, does this mean they can continue to pay taxes outside Romania and not have to amend their employment conditions? I would be very grateful if someone had this information.
Thank you!
Yes, this bit of extremely important information is not clear at the moment. I am assuming that double taxation is out of questions (especially since Romania has treaties with the US to avoid this), but at the moment this detail is not explicitly mentioned.
Hello,
I am an Indian citizen, working with EU Blue card in Germany, and want to move to Romania with NoMad Visa. I work for company but this company has branch in Romania but with their local company registration.
Is it possible to get Nomad Visa?
In your particular situation, I think it would be much easier to get a work visa.
Hi – I was recently successful in getting DN visa from the consulate in London. (I’d note that the cost was actually very high when you factor all the costs of getting official translations authenticated/notarised etc, and the travel back to your home country to get the stamp if you’re not living there). Anyway, I note you mentioned its a 12 month renewable visa, however I have been given only 3 months. I have been advised this is normal and the next step is for me to apply for the residents permit. I’m somewhat confused (and frustrated, I’m only applying for DN visa because my wife has work here in Bucharest and the family reunification process was too slow, and would have meant me living in another country for months…). Any advice!?
It’s really strange to hear that they only gave you a 3-month permit. It should be 12 months, with the option to renew for 12 more months. I’m not really sure what to say about the next steps you should take – did they tell you what kind of residence permit they’re talking about (as it could be something that’s easier to get, similar to what EU citizens are getting. This is just a wild guess though).
Hello,
Thank you for the useful article.
Does anyone know please if it is possible for a British Citizen married to a Romanian to obtain a DN visa? Has anyone in same circumstances got this? All other criteria are met.
Extremely difficult to get any info from consulate or the Ministerul de Externe, all they do is send back badly written paragraphs from their websites which are not helpful.
I am asking because for Spain for example the DN visa does not apply to EU citizens or their immediate family.
Thank you!
I think the easiest way here would be to go for a family reunification visa instead.
The DN visa is indeed very new, with very few people applying for it and you will get random responses from random people (in charge). I remember that one of our readers was only given a 3-month DN visa, although it clearly says it’s a 12-month one.
So the best thing here, if you don’t want to go the family reunification route, would be to chat with the inspector in the city you’re planning to apply – or apply directly.