Relocating to Romania: how to settle in
Romania is an increasingly popular base for a long stay and relocation: an EU member with visa-free entry for citizens of many countries (typically 90 days in 180), low living costs, some of the fastest internet in Europe, and growing Russian- and Ukrainian-speaking communities in the big cities. This section is a practical guide to settling in on the ground.
We start with the non-regulatory things everyone needs: housing, connectivity, banking, transport, insurance. Documents, residence permits, and taxes are regulated by the state, and they change periodically - for those we give direct links to official sources and are preparing separate breakdowns.
Documents and taxes change - verify with the primary source
The rules for entry, residence permits, business registration, and taxes in Romania are revised periodically (for example, the digital nomad visa and the micro-company tax regime). Don’t rely on retellings in chats and outdated articles - verify the terms as of the time of your move directly with the government bodies (gov.ro / the General Inspectorate for Immigration, IGI; links below).
That’s why we don’t fix specific deadlines, amounts, and requirements here as unchanging, but point you to the official sites - they always have the current version.
Where to start on the ground
Housing for your first weeks
For the first weeks it’s convenient to stay in a hotel, guesthouse, or apart-hotel, and look for a long-term rental on the ground, having seen the neighborhood in person. The largest local listing boards are imobiliare.ro and olx.ro; there are also many options through local Facebook groups, chats, and agencies.
SIM card and internet
A local SIM is sold with a passport at operators’ offices and shops - the main ones are Orange, Vodafone, Digi, and Telekom. Mobile internet is fast and cheap, and Romania’s home broadband is among the fastest in the world; this is one of the country’s strengths for remote work.
Bank account
An account and a card are opened for foreigners by the major banks - Banca Transilvania, BCR, BRD, and ING are among the larger ones. Requirements and check times are periodically tightened, so verify the document set and terms at a branch in advance.
Long-term rental
The lease is usually for 6-12 months, with a deposit most often equal to one month. Prices depend on the city and neighborhood: Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca are the priciest, while Brașov, Sibiu, Timișoara, and Iași are more affordable. Check the meters, the internet, and who pays for utilities.
Transport and getting around
In the cities - cheap public transport (Bucharest has a metro plus buses and trams); between cities - frequent trains and intercity minibuses. For freedom of movement many rent a car - how that works is in our rental section.
Health and insurance
There are public and private clinics; the level of private medicine in the big cities is good. For the move and for trips, medical insurance with coverage abroad is convenient - options are in our insurance section.
Daily life and community
The leu (RON) - cash is handy in smaller towns and at markets, while in the cities cards are accepted almost everywhere. Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, and Timișoara have growing Russian- and Ukrainian-speaking communities, and cafes and services often speak English - it’s easy to adapt even without Romanian.
Detailed guides
In-depth, non-regulatory how-tos for settling in - updated as things change.
Services for living in Romania
What’s already on the site
Practical sections that come in handy when relocating:
Documents, visas, and taxes: official sources
For these topics we point you straight to government sites - they have the current rules, deadlines, and amounts. We prepare separate breakdowns relying on these same sources.
- Visa, visa-free entry, and length of stay Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania
- Residence and work permit, digital nomad visa General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI)
- Taxes for individuals and companies National Agency for Fiscal Administration (ANAF)
- Registering a company (S.R.L.) National Trade Register Office (ONRC)
- Driver’s license and vehicle registration Directorate for Driving Licences and Vehicle Registration (DRPCIV)
Nuances people ask about
- The language is Romanian, but in the cities you can easily get by with English, and Russian is common too: signs and menus in tourist areas are often duplicated.
- The money is the leu (RON) - Romania is in the EU but not the eurozone, so you’ll use lei day to day. We show the current leu rate on the home page in the “Right now in Romania” block.
- Internet and connectivity are cheap and fast - Romania has some of the world’s fastest broadband, which is why remote workers love it.
- Housing in Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca is noticeably more expensive than in Brașov, Sibiu, or Timișoara - worth keeping in mind for a long-term rental.