Citizenship in Romania in 2026
Romanian citizenship is a real opportunity to obtain the passport of a European Union member state and, together with it, the right to live, work, and move freely throughout the territory of the European Union. In practice, however, the procedure requires strict compliance with legal grounds, proper preparation of supporting evidence, and consideration of the latest changes in migration and administrative regulation. Independent attempts to apply increasingly result in refusals and multi-year delays.
Our team supports clients at all stages: from legal assessment of eligibility grounds and document analysis to dossier preparation and interaction with Romanian state authorities. We work exclusively within the law and in line with current 2026 practice.
What Advantages Romanian Citizenship Provides
Romanian citizenship is regarded as one of the most practical and stable legal statuses within the European Union. It grants not only national rights, but also the full scope of EU citizen rights, making it attractive to applicants focused on long-term mobility, education, business, and family protection.
Key advantages include:
- Passport of a European Union member state. A Romanian citizen automatically acquires EU citizenship with all related rights and freedoms established by European legislation.
- Visa-free access to more than 180 countries worldwide. A Romanian passport provides broad international mobility, including visa-free travel and facilitated entry to most European countries, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, and other jurisdictions.
- Right to live and work in all EU countries. Citizenship allows free residence, employment, and business activity not only in Romania, but in any other EU member state without additional permits.
- Access to education in EU countries. Citizens may enroll in public and private educational institutions across the EU on equal terms with local citizens, including subsidized or free programs in certain countries.
- Social and healthcare guarantees. EU citizenship provides access to national social security and healthcare systems in accordance with the legislation of the country of residence.
- Ability to pass citizenship to children. Romanian citizenship is inheritable, allowing legal status and EU rights to be secured for future generations.
- Stable legal system and property rights protection. Romania is part of the EU legal framework, meaning European standards for investment protection, property rights, and contractual obligations apply.
- Secure jurisdiction for long-term planning. The country is considered a politically and economically stable EU jurisdiction, important for asset holding, business establishment, and family relocation.
- No permanent residence requirement to maintain status. After obtaining citizenship, there is no obligation to reside permanently in Romania to retain it.
Investment Opportunities for Obtaining a Residence Permit in Romania
Romania does not offer a “citizenship by investment” program, but it provides lawful mechanisms for obtaining a residence permit through entrepreneurial and investment activities. These instruments are aimed at genuine economic activity and are regulated by immigration and corporate legislation. If the established conditions are met, a residence permit may become the basis for obtaining permanent residence and, subsequently, citizenship.
The most common route is company registration in Romania with a substantial share capital contribution and real business activity.
In practice, the following benchmarks are used:
- Business investments of approximately €100,000–€200,000 or more (depending on sector and project structure);
- Registration of a legal entity in Romania;
- Confirmation of the project’s economic viability;
- Actual business operations within the country.
Migration authorities assess not only the amount of investment, but also the substance of the business: presence of an office, operations, contracts, and tax reporting.
An additional supportive factor for residence permit approval is the creation of jobs for Romanian or EU citizens. In some cases, this is directly taken into account when reviewing the application.
Typically considered are:
- Employment of several local employees;
- Payment of social contributions and taxes;
- Long-term employment rather than nominal hiring.
Job creation increases the stability of immigration status and reduces the risk of refusal when extending the residence permit.
The purchase of real estate alone does not grant the right to a residence permit in Romania. However, it may form part of an investment model if:
- The property is acquired by a company;
- The real estate is used for business purposes (office, hotel, rental, commercial activity);
- The investment is substantiated within a corporate project.
Thus, real estate serves not as an independent ground, but as an element of entrepreneurial activity.
To maintain and renew the residence permit, the investor must confirm that the project continues to operate.
As a rule, authorities review:
- Preservation of invested capital;
- Company activity;
- Tax compliance;
- Absence of migration violations;
- Actual management of or participation in the business.
Formal “dormant” companies often lead to refusal to extend status.
Conditions for Obtaining Permanent Residence Through Investment
Obtaining permanent residence through investment is a logical continuation of the investment-based residence permit and requires fulfillment of several mandatory conditions established by migration legislation. Permanent residence is not granted automatically and is issued only after confirming long-term compliance with residence conditions, economic activity, and legal reliability:
- Actual residence in the country for at least 183 days per year. The applicant must demonstrate real presence in the country for the majority of the calendar year. Mere formal possession of a residence permit without residence is usually insufficient.
- Conducting business or investing in the economy. Investment activity must be maintained throughout the residence permit period. Authorities assess business substance, operations, employees, contracts, and tax payments, or the preservation of the approved investment project.
- Confirmation of lawful source of capital. Authorities evaluate the origin of funds used for investment and the applicant’s financial history. Capital transparency is mandatory at both the residence permit and permanent residence stages.
- Absence of criminal convictions and serious offenses. The applicant must not have current or significant past criminal issues that could constitute an obstacle to permanent residence.
- Compliance with migration rules. Authorities verify the absence of overstay, fictitious residence, abuse of residence status, or other administrative violations.
- Minimum residence period based on a residence permit. In most jurisdictions, permanent residence may be requested after approximately five years of lawful residence on the basis of a temporary residence permit obtained through investment or business.
- Integration into the host society. In some cases, basic language knowledge, understanding of local legal norms, or proof of stable social and economic ties may be taken into account.
Calculating the Cost of Immigration to Romania for You
The total cost of immigration to Romania through investment is always calculated individually and depends on the chosen project model. Key factors include the type of investment, amount of capital, family composition, and legal and administrative expenses. The investment component for opening a business typically ranges from €100,000 to €200,000 or more, depending on the sector and company structure.
Additional costs include government fees, notarial services, translations, and document legalization, which on average amount to €3,000–€7,000 for the main applicant. Legal support for the investment and migration process, including company setup, residence permit application, and interaction with authorities, usually ranges from €6,000 to €12,000 depending on case complexity.
When including family members, expenses increase due to additional fees and documents and usually amount to €1,500–€3,000 per person. As a result, the minimum total budget for a single applicant in a standard scenario starts at approximately €115,000–€130,000, while family applications may exceed €150,000–€220,000.
We prepare a personalized calculation before the procedure begins, with a breakdown of investment costs, mandatory expenses, and legal support, so you clearly understand the real financial commitment and can plan immigration to Romania without hidden costs.
Who Can Participate in Romania’s Investment Program
Basic applicant requirements include:
- Legal age. The main applicant must have full legal capacity and the right to independently assume investment and legal obligations.
- Clean business and legal reputation. The candidate must not have convictions for serious crimes or other significant legal restrictions that could prevent obtaining immigration status.
- Lawful origin of funds. Investment capital must have documented legal sources. Financial transparency is a mandatory element of review by immigration and financial authorities.
- Financial ability to implement the investment project. The applicant must demonstrate sufficient funds to launch and maintain the declared business or investment model.
- Willingness to comply with migration and tax requirements. This includes compliance with residence rules, address registration, tax reporting, and other administrative obligations.
- Possibility to include family members. The procedure allows inclusion of a spouse and minor children, subject to confirmation of family ties and fulfillment of additional formalities.
Documents Required to Obtain Romanian Citizenship Through Investment
Obtaining Romanian citizenship through an investment pathway requires preparation of a formalized document package in line with migration and administrative legislation. The exact list may vary depending on the investment structure, family composition, and individual circumstances, but in practice the following base set is used:
Main applicant documents:
- International passport
- National passport
- Birth certificate
- Name change documents (if applicable)
- Police clearance certificate
- Biometric photographs in the required format
Financial and investment documents:
- Proof of source of funds
- Bank statements
- Asset structure documentation
- Proof of investment in a business/company
- Incorporation documents of the Romanian company
- Proof of share capital contribution
- Financial statements (if available)
Migration and administrative documents:
- Valid Romanian residence permit
- Proof of residence in the country
- Address registration
- Tax documents
- Citizenship application form
Family member documents (if included):
- Passports of spouse and children
- Marriage certificate
- Birth certificates of children
- Police clearance certificates for adult family members
Additional documents upon authority request:
- Income declarations
- Proof of employment or business management
- Education documents
- Medical certificates
- Additional explanations of financial transactions
Important: Document requirements may change, and authorities are entitled to request additional information during individual case review. All documents must be translated into Romanian and officially legalized or apostilled.
Stages of Obtaining Romanian Citizenship Through Investment
Obtaining Romanian citizenship is a multi-stage legal process based on the gradual change of the applicant’s immigration status.
Step 1. Choosing the Type of Investment
The process begins with selecting an admissible investment model. In practice, this involves registering a business in Romania with a capital contribution or investing in commercial real estate as part of an entrepreneurial project. The chosen structure affects the investment amount, reporting requirements, tax burden, and further migration support. At this stage, a legal assessment of the project, analysis of fund sources, and compliance with legislation are conducted.
Step 2. Applying for a Residence Permit
After structuring the investment project, an application for a temporary residence permit as an investor or entrepreneur is submitted. Authorities review documents, the business plan, capital origin, and compliance with immigration criteria. Residence permits are usually issued for a limited period with subsequent extensions subject to maintaining investment activity and compliance with migration rules.
Step 3. Obtaining Permanent Residence
After several years of lawful residence based on a residence permit, the investor becomes eligible to apply for permanent residence. In most cases, the minimum period is around five years. At this stage, authorities assess continuity of residence, business substance, tax compliance, and absence of legal violations. Permanent residence provides a more stable status but is not citizenship.
Step 4. Compliance With Residence and Integration Requirements
To progress toward citizenship, the applicant must continue residing in the country and meet physical presence requirements, usually at least 183 days per year. Additional factors may include language knowledge, social integration, absence of criminal records, and compliance with administrative obligations. This period forms the legal basis for submitting a naturalization application.
Step 5. Applying for Citizenship Through Naturalization
The final stage is submitting an application for Romanian citizenship based on long-term lawful residence and integration. The period from obtaining the first residence permit to eligibility for citizenship application typically averages eight to ten years, depending on the individual case, compliance with requirements, and administrative practice. Decisions are made by authorities on an individual basis and are not automatic.
Alternative Ways to Obtain Romanian Citizenship
In addition to the investment model, Romanian law provides other grounds for obtaining citizenship.
How to Increase the Chances of Obtaining Romanian Citizenship Without Refusal
Financial transparency is one of the central criteria in application review, especially when the path to citizenship involves investment or entrepreneurship. Applicants must be prepared to document sources of capital clearly and consistently.
In practice, it is important to:
- Have official documents confirming income and savings;
- Demonstrate the history of fund movements;
- Avoid complex or opaque capital transfer schemes;
- Consider financial compliance and AML requirements.
When citizenship is pursued through an investment trajectory, authorities assess not only the fact of investment, but its real economic substance. Formal or “nominal” projects often result in refusals at later stages.
It is recommended to:
- Invest in a legally registered and operating business;
- Comply with share capital and reporting requirements;
- Fulfill tax obligations;
- Confirm actual company activity throughout the residence and permanent residence period.
The procedure involves migration, corporate, and administrative regulation and interaction with multiple state authorities. Independent preparation often leads to technical errors, failure to meet formal requirements, or missed deadlines.
Legal support allows you to:
- Conduct a preliminary assessment of prospects;
- Identify potential risks before submission;
- Correctly structure the investment model;
- Prepare documents in line with current practice;
- Support residence permit renewals, permanent residence, and naturalization.
For naturalization, not only the formal residence period but also proof of actual presence in the country is required. Migration violations may significantly complicate the process or lead to refusal.
Critically important is to:
- Reside in Romania for at least the established minimum (usually around 183 days per year);
- Renew residence permits on time;
- Avoid visa and migration violations;
- Maintain up-to-date address registration.
How We Can Help
Obtaining Romanian citizenship through an investment model is a multi-stage legal process involving migration, corporate, tax, and administrative law. Errors in strategy selection, document preparation, or deadline compliance may result in refusals, delays, and loss of immigration status. Professional support allows risks to be assessed in advance and the procedure to be structured strictly in line with legislation and current administrative practice.
Our specialists provide comprehensive support, including:
- Legal assessment of eligibility for residence permits, permanent residence, and citizenship;
- Analysis of individual risks and naturalization prospects;
- Selection and legal structuring of the investment model (business, corporate projects, commercial real estate);
- Verification and documentation of lawful source of funds;
- Preparation and legalization of the complete document package;
- Support for residence permit and permanent residence applications;
- Monitoring compliance with residence and migration requirements;
- Preparation for citizenship application and naturalization support;
- Interaction with Romanian state authorities and clarification of their requests;
- Support for including family members;
- Advice on tax and corporate aspects of living in Romania;
- Development of alternative scenarios in case of legislative or personal circumstance changes.
We operate exclusively within current legislation, in compliance with compliance requirements and confidentiality principles, without unofficial schemes or formal shortcuts.
If you are considering obtaining Romanian citizenship and wish to structure the process legally and predictably, contact us for an initial consultation. We will assess your situation, determine the optimal strategy, and support the procedure at all stages—from investment planning to citizenship application.
FAQ
No. Romania does not operate a “citizenship by investment” program. Investments may serve as a basis for obtaining a residence permit, then permanent residence, and only after that for applying for citizenship through naturalization. Thus, investments are part of a long-term immigration strategy, not a direct basis for obtaining a passport.
In standard cases, citizenship may be applied for after long-term lawful residence in the country. Typically, the path includes around five years of residence with a residence permit to obtain permanent residence, followed by several additional years before applying for naturalization. Overall, the process usually takes eight to ten years, depending on compliance and individual circumstances.
In practice, these involve real investments in the country’s economy, primarily opening a business with sufficient share capital, creating jobs, and conducting entrepreneurial activity. Property purchase may be used as part of a business project, but does not by itself grant immigration status. Specific parameters are assessed individually by immigration authorities.
Family members do not obtain citizenship automatically with the main applicant. However, a spouse and minor children may be included in the migration process at the residence and permanent residence stages and later apply for citizenship on their own grounds after meeting residence and integration requirements
Yes. When applying for citizenship through naturalization, basic knowledge of the Romanian language is usually required, as well as understanding of the country’s legal system and culture. The exact level is determined by current legislation and administrative practice at the time of application.