Romania digital nomad visa & residency (2026)

Law 22/2022 (published in Official Gazette no. 45 of 14 January 2022) inserted the 'digital nomad' definition into Article 2 of GEO 194/2002 and created the dedicated D/ND long-stay visa category. The consolidated text of OUG 194/2002 is published by MAE.

Applicants must be employed by or own a company registered outside Romania, performing all work remotely via ICT. They must demonstrate income of at least 3x the Romanian average gross monthly salary for the preceding 6 months and the full visa period — approximately RON 26,730/month (~€5,370) as of 2025.

Applications may be submitted online via the MAE eVisa portal (evisa.mae.ro) or in person at a Romanian embassy/consulate, no earlier than 90 days and no later than 14 days before the intended entry date. The application fee is €120; processing typically takes 10–14 business days. Valid health insurance covering at least €30,000 is required.

Law 69/2023 explicitly exempts digital nomad visa holders from Romanian income tax and social contributions on foreign-sourced salary income provided physical presence does not exceed 183 days in any 12-month period. If the 183-day threshold is crossed, Romania's 10% flat income tax on worldwide income applies.

Romania joined the Schengen Area as a full member for land, air, and sea borders in January 2025. A Romanian digital nomad residence permit therefore confers standard Schengen freedom of movement, enabling visa-free short stays (90/180-day rule) across all Schengen states.

In October 2025 the Romanian government announced a draft residency-by-investment bill offering a 5-year renewable residence permit for a minimum €400,000 investment in government bonds, real estate, FSA-authorised funds, or listed equities. As of May 2026 the bill has not yet entered into force; applicants should monitor the Official Gazette for enactment.