Romania introduced its digital nomad visa in December 2021, opening the doors for remote workers and digital nomads who want to stay longer than a standard tourist visa allows.
If you qualify, this visa lets you live in the country for up to three months, with the possibility of extensions by getting a residency permit here.
Today, I will tell you everything you must know about getting the Romanian Digital Nomad Visa. Most of the information online is outdated and sometimes wrong– the process has changed since the introduction of this visa, so here’s the updated version.
IMPORTANT: If you’re an EU/EEA citizen, you don’t need this visa. Instead, you can get a simple registration certificate, which grants up to five years of legal stay. Much easier.
Who Can Apply? Eligibility Requirements
You’re eligible for the Romanian digital nomad visa if you meet all of these conditions:
- Work for a company registered outside Romania, or own and manage a company registered abroad.
- Carry out your work remotely using information and communication technology (laptop, internet, etc.).
- Show that your income is at least three times Romania’s average gross monthly salary (around €4,500/month). This income threshold applies both for the six months before your application and for the entire visa period.
Note: since the law went in effect in 2022, the average salary from back then is sometimes accepted, so your earnings should be around €3,700/month.
You’lll also need to provide:
- An employment contract with a foreign company or proof that you’ve been remotely managing your own company abroad for at least three years on the date of application.
- Company details that clearly state identification info, activity field, your participation in the company, and its legal representatives.
How to apply for & get the Romania Digital Nomad Visa
If you meet the requirements above, you can apply to get the Digital Nomad Visa. This is a two-step process: first, get a long-stay permit which allows you to stay up to 90 days in the country.
Second, when you have at most 30 days (so no less) left, apply for a residence permit based on your Digital Nomad Visa, which will give you 6 more months in the country (and can be renewed).
IMPORTANT: You must apply for the visa before entering Romania. You can do this online here.
Now, let’s get a bit more in depth with each step that you must complete. It seems complicated, but actually most of the documents that you need will be used for both applications.
1. Apply for a long-stay permit (the digital nomad visa)
Here are the documents required to get your visa:
– Proof of employment (original and translated in Romanian).
– Identifying details of the company (original and translated in Romanian). This paper needs to show all the details of the company (name, address, tax number etc), its field of activity and information about its legal representatives.
– Letter of intent (original and translated in Romanian). Within in, you must present in detail your reasons for coming to the country, as well as the activities you plan to carry out here.
– Proof that you are up to date with your taxes (original and translated).
– Proof of a valid ticket. Either show a valid ticket to Romania or, if you plan to drive here, your driving license, car’s documents, and the proof of itinerary.
– Proof of valid health insurance. Must be valid for the entire duration of your stay (90 days initially) and with at least €30,000 coverage.
– Proof of earnings.
– Proof of accommodation. (Rental agreement or anything similar.)
– Proof of a clean criminal record. Original and translated into Romanian, as well as apostilled or over-legalized.
– Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your application date.
– Submit any other documents that the authorities might request (usually, they don’t need extras).
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.
2. Get a residence permit with your DN visa
After getting the long stay visa, you can finally come to Romania. You are allowed to stay 90 days, but must start your application for extending your stay 30 days before this visa expires. This allows you to live in Romania for up to 12 months.
So… on to step two!
Fortunately, you will need fewer documents – and most of them will be reused from your prior application. Here is what you need:
- Application form (download here)
- Proof of employment
- Identifying details of the company
- Proof of earnings
- Proof of accommodation
- The border crossing document
- Proof of health insurance
- Doctor’s note (any private clinic gives you this, stating that you don’t have any diseases that are a threat to public health)
- Proof that you have paid the required taxes (120 Euros for the application + 259 lei or ~53 Euros for the residence permit itself)
You can submit all the documents online here. They will just confirm that you have all the documents and you have submitted them correctly.
You will still need to go in person to the territorial units of the immigration offices (details on the site where you submit your documents).
Taxation Rules for Digital Nomads in Romania
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.
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.
Keep in mind: this exemption only applies to your salary income earned abroad. Other types of income made inside Romania – like rental earnings or capital gains – are taxable from the start.
How long is the Romania Digital Nomad Visa valid?
With a Romanian digital nomad visa, you can legally spend 3 months in Romania, then 6 to 12 months via the residence permit, which can be renewed.
It’s not clear now how many times you are allowed to renew it, but the original legislation stated that you can stay up to 36 months, so you should be covered for at least a couple of years! Just remember to renew it at most 30 days before it expires.
Can you travel in the EU / Schengen Area if you have a Romanian Digital Nomad visa?
No, this visa only gives you a right to live in Romania. If you normally need a visa to visit another country (be it in the EU or Schengen Area), the Romanian Digital Nomad visa won’t be enough – you will still need to get the required visa to travel.
Since Romania joined the Schengen Area in 2025, border controls are no longer mandatory, but there’s always a chance of a random check. So better not risk it.
Is the Romanian Digital Nomad Visa worth it? (My personal opinion)
The required income of at least 3,700 Euros per month is surprising, since the cost of living in Romania is much lower than that and you can still live a decent life here on around €1,500.
But if you earn the required amount, the visa makes sense, as you will save much of your paycheck and still enjoy a great life.
Romania itself makes the effort worthwhile: it’s safe, affordable, and welcoming, with friendly locals and delicious food.
Don’t forget to check out the best cities to live in before deciding where to go. There’s a lot more to this country than the largest cities you always hear about!
On the other hand, I have to be honest and recommend you an alternative: Croatia offers a digital nomad visa as well, and their monetary requirements are much lower, at around 2,500 Euros per month. It’s good to have options and you can learn about them over on Croatia Wise.
Conclusion
Romania is moving in the right direction with its digital nomad visa. It may come with paperwork and high income thresholds, but it gives remote workers a legal path to stay long term in one of Europe’s most underrated countries.
Personally, I’d love to see a Retiree Visa introduced as well – it would be a game-changer. Until then, the digital nomad option is a good start.
If you’re considering Romania as your base, weigh the income requirement against the significant savings and lifestyle perks once you’re here.
Let me know what you think, and don’t hesitate to ask any questions you might have about this type of visa!
Having lived in Romania for over 4 decades, I am here to tell you everything about this beautiful country. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Journalism, I love traveling and I’ve been writing about Romania since 2013. Currently living in Constanta.
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)
I have been following the developments of the Romania Digital Nomad visa. I think the income requirements are high, especially when you compare it to Croatia. Croatia has been trying hard for 1 year with a digital nomad visa and this country only asks for a monthly income of 2200 euros.
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 C Romanian:
Wondering if there has been any update on this, almost a year later. My husband has a very high pension and we both have substantial savings in our various accounts. Is there room for that kind of equivocation on income with the year long digital nomad visa? My husband has always dreamed of staying in Romania, this would make a wonderful gift for him and our children. Yes, you read that correctly, we are near pension age but have minority children in our household.
Hello Jeanne. Unfortunately, there have been no recent changes to this and you still need to be self employed or work remotely to be able to apply to this type of visa…
I hope this is good news…this website notates the very words from your article and currently, December 2, 2022, the charge is $120 EUR/person to apply for the digital nomad visa. YAY! The official website location (scroll down to bottom of page) is: https://eviza.mae.ro/TypeOfVisa
I hope this will help other readers find this information and please post here if you read this, go through the process and it is either a fail and a win with the visa process.
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.