Romania's Digital Nomad Visa (Viză de lungă ședere pentru nomazi digitali) is a long-stay visa and temporary residence permit that allows non-EU/EEA nationals to live in Romania while working remotely for employers or companies registered outside the country. Established by Law No. 22/2022 and supplemented by Law No. 69/2023 on tax exemptions, the program targets remote workers and entrepreneurs in the information and communication technology sector. Romania offers an attractive combination of affordable cost of living, high-speed internet, and favorable tax treatment for qualifying digital nomads.
The process begins with a long-stay type D visa valid for up to 90 days. After arriving in Romania, holders apply for a temporary residence permit at the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI). The first residence permit is issued for 6 months. Subsequent extensions can be granted for up to 1 year each, renewable as long as eligibility conditions continue to be met.
Extension applications must be submitted to IGI at least 30 days before the current permit expires. For subsequent extensions beyond the first, an income certificate from the Romanian tax authority (ANAF) is also required.
The digital nomad visa does not include provisions for accompanying family members under the same permit. Spouses and children who wish to join must apply separately through Romania's standard family reunification visa and residence permit process, which has its own income and accommodation requirements for the sponsoring permit holder.
Under Law No. 69/2023, digital nomads are exempt from Romanian income tax, social security contributions, and health insurance contributions on salary income earned from abroad, provided they are present in Romania for 183 days or fewer within any consecutive 12-month period. Exceeding this threshold may establish Romanian tax residency, making the individual subject to taxation on worldwide income. This creates an important consideration: staying fewer than 183 days preserves tax-free status, while longer stays may trigger full tax obligations.
Stage 1 — Long-Stay Visa: Apply online through the e-Visa portal (evisa.mae.ro) or in person at a Romanian embassy or consulate. Upload all required documents (max 2 MB per file for online submissions). Processing takes 10-14 business days online, or 15-60 days through embassies depending on the mission. The visa application fee is EUR 120.
Stage 2 — Residence Permit: After entering Romania on the long-stay visa, visit the local IGI territorial office to apply for the temporary residence permit. Biometric data is collected and a residence permit card marked "nomad digital" is issued. The initial permit is valid for 6 months.
Romania joined the Schengen Area for air and sea borders in 2024. Holders of a Romanian residence permit can travel to other Schengen member states for up to 90 days within any 180-day period for tourism or business, but cannot work in other EU countries without separate authorization.
The digital nomad visa grants temporary residence only. Long-term residence in Romania generally requires 5 continuous years of legal residence. The legislation does not explicitly confirm whether time on a digital nomad permit counts toward this requirement.
Holders may only work remotely for entities registered outside Romania. Employment with or provision of services to Romanian companies is not covered by this visa category. Company owners applying must demonstrate at least 3 years of company registration prior to the application date.