Romania

1 programme · RON · Romanian

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Last updated June 2026Sources:igi.mai.gov.ro,igi.mai.gov.ro,romaniaexperience.com,capital.ro

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Digital Nomad Visa

Official nomad visa

What this visa gets you

Visa
Entry document
Temporary residency
1 year, renewable
Permanent residency
After 5 years
Citizenship
After 8 years of residence

Nomads in the r/digitalnomad community described Romania as an attractive EU base due to its relatively low cost of living. One commenter noted that a decent Bucharest apartment could be found for well under €500/month even in central areas, suggesting the country appeals more to budget-conscious nomads than high spenders. The active tech scene in cities like Cluj and Bucharest is also noted by community members as a draw.

Nomads in the r/digitalnomad community described Romania as an attractive EU base due to its relatively low cost of living. One commenter noted that a decent Bucharest apartment could be found for well under €500/month even in central areas, suggesting the country appeals more to budget-conscious nomads than high spenders. The active tech scene in cities like Cluj and Bucharest is also noted by community members as a draw.
r/digitalnomad ↗r/Romania ↗

Anecdotal: what nomads report, not official guidance.

Income requirement: de cel putin trei ori castigul salarial mediu brut lunar din Romania (stabilit de INS, se actualizeaza; baza 2025: 8.910 RON, deci circa 26.730 RON/luna; valori 2026 mai mari)
Application fee: €120
Family allowed: No

Community members flagged that Romania's digital nomad law as passed explicitly requires the holder to be employed by or owner of a foreign-registered company — several commenters expressed disappointment that freelancers and independent contractors appear to be excluded. Health insurance and a clean criminal record are also cited as part of the document checklist discussed in early drafts of the law.

Community members flagged that Romania's digital nomad law as passed explicitly requires the holder to be employed by or owner of a foreign-registered company — several commenters expressed disappointment that freelancers and independent contractors appear to be excluded. Health insurance and a clean criminal record are also cited as part of the document checklist discussed in early drafts of the law.
r/digitalnomad ↗r/digitalnomad ↗

Anecdotal: what nomads report, not official guidance.

Pick your passport to see your application path

Processing time, consular location, apostille requirements, and tax-treaty notes for Digital Nomad Visa change based on your source country.

For those wanting to freelance in Romania outside the nomad visa, several users in r/Romania mention registering as a PFA (sole trader) as a common path, and suggest reaching out to local law firms or expat communities for guidance on the paperwork. One commenter mentioned there are consultancies in Romania specifically set up to help foreigners navigate residency and business registration.

For those wanting to freelance in Romania outside the nomad visa, several users in r/Romania mention registering as a PFA (sole trader) as a common path, and suggest reaching out to local law firms or expat communities for guidance on the paperwork. One commenter mentioned there are consultancies in Romania specifically set up to help foreigners navigate residency and business registration.
r/Romania ↗r/Romania ↗

Anecdotal: what nomads report, not official guidance.

Tax

How is Digital Nomad Visa income taxed?

Foreign salary or consulting income earned remotely for a foreign employer or foreign-registered business is exempt from Romanian income tax and social contributions while the holder is not a Romanian tax resident, broadly aligned with the digital-nomad exemption under Law 69/2023. A holder who spends more than 183 days within any 12-month period generally becomes a Romanian tax resident and is then liable for Romanian tax on worldwide income at the flat 10% personal income tax rate (subject to double-taxation treaties; Romania has 80+ DTTs). Note that as of 2026 dividends, capital gains and crypto are taxed at 16% rather than 10%, and the exemption does not cover Romanian-source income, rental income or capital gains.

Money, roughly (indicative)

Regime: 10% flat (foreign income may be exempt 6 mo), about 10% effective tax on €60k/yr.

10% flat; foreign-source remote income may be exempt for the first 6 months. Social (CAS 25% + CASS 10%) sits on capped bases pegged to the minimum wage with on/off thresholds, so it doesn't reduce to one honest % and isn't folded in here. Verify.

Living comfortably to well in Bucharest runs about €1,400–€1,950/mo for one person, incl. rent.

Estimate your take-home in the tax calculator →

Worth a specialist's time. A short call before you commit usually pays for itself, especially for US citizens (FEIE/FATCA), existing UK ties, or unwinding SA tax residency.

Nomads and expats in several threads flag that Romania's tax burden can be surprisingly high compared to regional neighbours — one community comparison showed effective rates around 40% for Romanian employees vs ~27% in Czechia or Poland at similar income levels. However, some users note that the PFA structure can be more tax-efficient for self-employed individuals, and early discussions around the nomad visa raised questions about whether any tax exemption (similar to Croatia's) would apply — with no clear resolution in the threads.

Nomads and expats in several threads flag that Romania's tax burden can be surprisingly high compared to regional neighbours — one community comparison showed effective rates around 40% for Romanian employees vs ~27% in Czechia or Poland at similar income levels. However, some users note that the PFA structure can be more tax-efficient for self-employed individuals, and early discussions around the nomad visa raised questions about whether any tax exemption (similar to Croatia's) would apply — with no clear resolution in the threads.
r/Romania ↗r/digitalnomad ↗r/Romania ↗

Anecdotal: what nomads report, not official guidance.

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Track changes

Every dated change we've logged for Romania: income thresholds, fees, consular policy.

Expatlas provides information for orientation only and is not legal advice. Always verify current requirements with official government sources and consult an immigration lawyer for your specific case.