Home
Forum
Contact Us

A Brief History
The Communist Period
Modern Bucharest
Photo Gallery
Embassies

Hotels
Short-term Rentals
Long-term Rentals
Estate Agencies

Metro System
Trams/Buses/Trolleys
Taxis
Trains
Car Rentals
Airlines

Restaurants
Bars/Cafes
Night clubs
Casinos

Cinemas
Theatres
Opera
Museums
Art Gallaries

Stag Parties
Massage
Escort Agencies
Health, Fitness & Beauty
Sports Clubs
Dance Classes
Dating

Malls
High Streets
Supermarkets
Street Markets

Articles
Advice Page

Visas/Permits

Some of you may wish to stay in the country for an extended period of time so here is a little information about how you can go about this. The Romanian system is extremely bureaucratic, so consider this only a guide. Rules are constantly changing and the changes are rarely publicized so do your own research too.

Tourist Visa

Most people from the EU and some other countries can enter the country without prior visa arrangements, simply by presenting their passport at the border. There you will receive a 90 day tourist visa. Obviously this doesn't allow you to work, although many people do work on a tourist visa simply because it is a lot easier than applying for the work permit and residence permit. Overstaying your tourist visa may result in a hefty fine on leaving the country (about 800 RON I think, around 230 Euro) so don't forget to renew it with a border run if you wish to stay longer than this.

Border Runs

The most common one is from Bucharest to Bulgaria . If you travel by car you'll have to ensure you have the correct documentation (green card) to allow the car to leave the country. There may be some other fees at the border too (recently there was a fee for spraying the vehicle against bird 'flu).

If you decide to cross the border by train you have to take the train from Bucharest. It's quite cheap and you should get a ticket to Ruso, the first Bulgarian town across the border. There is no need to spend the night, but check train timetables to make sure that you time it so as not to spend too much time hanging around the station. There are often delays at the border, so bear that in mind too.

Alternatively you can fly out of the country. As of January 2007 Wizzair will be operating cheap flights to some European destinations. At the moment of writing a return to Budapest is very attractive at about 25 Euro. If you have to do a border run, why not enjoy a trip and see something new?

Work Permits

There are two types of work permits, one for those working for a foreign-based company and one for those working for a Romanian company. Those working for a foreign company can receive a one-year work permit (Type B) but only once in a five-year period. In effect, you cannot renew it indefinitely. To stay longer than a year you will need to work for a Romanian company or the Romanian branch of your international company and receive a Type A work permit in this way.

To receive the work permit you must apply to the 'Migratia Fortei de Munca'. There are a lot of documents needed; qualifications (which must be translated and approved by the Ministry of Education), proof from your home country that you do not have a criminal record, copies of passports, a work contract, photos, medical forms and a few others. They will provide you with a complete list. It is naturally a lot of documents to prepare and it is wise to have some help. The complexity of the system is exactly why some many people prefer to do border runs.

Residence Permits

After you have a work permit you can apply for a residence permit with the Biroul Pentru Straini. As with the work permit you have to put together a complex dossier of forms; work contracts, doctor's certificate, medical insurance, rental contract, photographs, passports and copies, work permit and finally take some fees to the CEC bank and receive a receipt. There are often some guys hanging around outside the office who will provide you with the doctor's certificate and medical insurance forms at a price.

Residence Permits for EU citizens

Now Romania has joined the EU and other citizen of the EU has the right to reside in the country.

If you intend to stay in Romania for more than 3 months you must pay a visit to the Biroul Pentru Staini to apply for a residence certificate. If you are not working in the country, then you need to bring with you your passport (and a copy), a bank statement proving you have at least 100 RON, and also proof of medical insurance. They not longer accept private medical insurance so you must pay the government contributions for the month in which you apply. To obtain this you must go to CAS (Casa de asigurare medicala) and ask for 'asigurare medicala facultativa' - a kind of temporary medical insurance. You pay approximately 100 RON for this. Take the receipt with you when you apply for your residence certificate.

If you have lived or worked in Romania before, and have had a residence permit before, you have to prove that you have paid all your state health insurance contribution from the date of your first residence permit. If you haven't paid them you'll have to pay the arrears.

Residence permits may also be obtain for working purposes and study purposes.