Romania Digital Nomad Visa: Requirements And How To Apply

Romania opened its digital nomad visa in December 2021 under an amendment to Emergency Ordinance 194/2002. It’s a long-stay national visa (type D), sometimes labelled AD in official paperwork, aimed at non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss citizens who work remotely for a company based outside Romania or run their own foreign-registered business.

Eligibility

You qualify if you meet all of the following:

• You’re a citizen of a country outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland.
• You work remotely using information and communication technology, for an employer registered outside Romania, or you own a company registered outside Romania.
• You don’t provide services to a Romanian company or client.
• You meet the income threshold, covered below.
• You have valid health insurance and a place to stay in Romania.
• You have no criminal record.

Income requirement

You need income of at least three times Romania’s average gross monthly salary, for each of the six months before you apply, and for the whole period covered by the visa. This is set out directly in the law and confirmed by the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), Romania’s immigration authority.

The threshold moves because it’s tied to a national average that Romania’s statistics institute (INS) updates every month. As of March 2026, Romania’s average gross monthly salary was around 9,902 lei, about €1,887, which put the digital nomad threshold at roughly €5,661 a month, according to Bucharest immigration firm Darie Manea Law. INS’s June 2026 release put the average gross salary at 9,564 lei, which lands in the same range once you multiply by three. Check the current average gross salary close to your application date rather than relying on a fixed number, since it changes month to month.

Required documents

You’ll need to gather:

• Proof of remote employment (a copy of your employment contract) or proof that you own a company registered outside Romania.
• Proof of income covering the past six months, meeting the threshold above, such as bank statements or payslips.
• Health insurance valid in Romania with at least €30,000 in coverage.
• Proof of accommodation in Romania, usually a rental agreement.
• A clean criminal record certificate, apostilled or legalised.
• A tax compliance certificate from your home country’s tax authority.
• Your passport and travel documents.
• A letter explaining the purpose of your stay.

Documents not already in Romanian need an authenticated Romanian translation. Documents issued outside Romania generally need an apostille or, for countries outside the Hague Convention, supra-legalisation.

How to apply

1. Apply for the type D long-stay visa at a Romanian embassy or consulate in your home country. Submit the documents above along with the visa application form and photo.
2. Enter Romania on the visa. The visa itself is valid for 90 days.
3. Apply for a residence permit before the 90 days run out. This is a separate application to IGI, filed inside Romania, and it’s what lets you stay past the initial 90 days as a digital nomad. You’ll need to show your income still meets the threshold.
4. Renew before it expires if you want to keep living in Romania as a digital nomad, showing continued income at the required level.

Costs and fees

• Long-stay visa fee: €300. This is IGI’s standard fee for a long-stay national visa and applies to the digital nomad category.
• Residence permit fee: 265 lei (about €52), VAT included. This is IGI’s published fee for issuing a temporary residence permit, in effect since August 2025.
• Translation and apostille costs vary by country and document, and aren’t set by Romania.
• Health insurance costs depend on your provider and length of stay.

Permit duration and renewal

The initial long-stay visa is valid for 90 days. Once you’re in Romania and IGI approves your residence permit application, you can stay for up to a year on that permit. You can renew it annually as long as you still meet the income requirement and the rest of the eligibility criteria. According to Darie Manea Law, digital nomads who stay lawfully for at least five years can apply for permanent residence.

Tax treatment

Digital nomads get a six-month exemption from Romanian income tax on income earned through their remote work, according to Darie Manea Law. This exemption doesn’t extend to any income you earn from Romanian sources. Talk to a Romanian tax adviser about your specific situation once your stay runs past that six-month window.

FAQ

What is the minimum income to qualify for Romania’s digital nomad visa? At least three times Romania’s average gross monthly salary, for each of the six months before you apply. That worked out to roughly €5,661 a month in early-to-mid 2026, based on an average gross salary of around 9,564-9,902 lei. Check the current average close to your application date, since it updates monthly.

Can I be a remote employee, or do I have to run my own business? Either works. You can be employed by a company registered outside Romania, or you can own and run your own foreign-registered business, as long as the work is done remotely using information and communication technology.

Do I apply for the visa before or after arriving in Romania? Before. You apply for the type D long-stay visa at a Romanian embassy or consulate in your home country. Once you enter Romania on that visa, you then apply separately for the residence permit that lets you stay beyond the initial 90 days.

How long can I stay in Romania on this visa? The initial visa covers 90 days. The residence permit you apply for after entry covers up to a year and can be renewed annually if you keep meeting the income requirement.

Do digital nomads pay tax in Romania? There’s a six-month exemption from Romanian income tax on your remote work income. After that, get advice from a Romanian tax professional, since your situation depends on how long you stay and where your income originates.

What happens if my income drops below the threshold while I’m in Romania? The law requires you to meet the threshold for the entire period covered by your visa and residence permit, so a sustained drop below it can affect your ability to renew. Keep records of your income throughout your stay.

See if this fits your situation

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