Moving to Romania: The Complete Guide

1. Why Move to Romania?

Romania has quietly become one of Europe's most attractive destinations for expats, remote workers, and digital nomads. It's an EU member state with a 10% flat income tax, some of the fastest internet in the world, a cost of living up to 40% lower than Western Europe, and a rapidly growing tech and startup scene.

The country often surprises newcomers. Expectations shaped by outdated stereotypes give way to a reality of excellent coffee shops in beautifully restored Art Nouveau buildings, world-class hiking a short drive from major cities, and a warm, welcoming local population that is, in larger cities, almost universally comfortable speaking English.

There are genuine challenges too: bureaucracy can be slow and confusing (bring extra patience and a good Romanian-speaking friend), some infrastructure outside the big cities is underdeveloped, and corruption remains an ongoing issue at institutional levels. But for most expats, the positives significantly outweigh the negatives.

2. Choosing the Right City

Romania has seven major cities worth serious consideration. Here is a quick breakdown:

• Bucharest — The capital and by far the largest city. International, intense, cosmopolitan. Best for career opportunities, nightlife, and direct flight connections. Highest rents (~€700/month for a 1-bedroom central).
• Cluj-Napoca — Romania's tech capital and university city. Younger, more laid-back than Bucharest, with slightly lower rents (~€560/month). Home to UNTOLD festival. Excellent for IT professionals and digital nomads.
• Timișoara — Western Romania, close to Hungary and Serbia. Central European feel. Strong automotive and manufacturing industry. 2023 European Capital of Culture. Very affordable (~€480/month).
• Brașov — Medieval Transylvanian mountain city. Perfect if you want access to hiking, skiing, and the Carpathians while still being in a proper city. Great quality of life, popular with families.
• Constanța — On the Black Sea coast. Most affordable major city (~€400/month). Seasonal, with summers dominated by beach tourism. Best for those who want coastal living.
• Iași — Cultural and academic capital of eastern Romania. Cheapest major city (~€360/month). Large student population, growing IT sector.
• Sibiu — Perfectly preserved medieval Saxon city. Quiet, high quality of life, excellent restaurants and festivals. Good for freelancers and retirees.

Our recommendation for most expats: start in Bucharest or Cluj-Napoca. Both have established expat communities, English is widely spoken, and they have the most developed infrastructure for newcomers.

3. Your Legal Status

Your situation depends entirely on your citizenship:

• EU/EEA/Swiss citizens — You have freedom of movement. You can enter Romania and stay indefinitely without a visa. After 3 months, you should register your residence (see section 6), but you will not be deported for failing to do so immediately.
• Non-EU citizens — You may enter Romania visa-free (if your country has a visa-free agreement) for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. To stay longer, you need a long-stay visa (D visa) or another residence permit. See our full visa guide for details.

Romania is part of the Schengen Area as of January 1, 2024 (for air and sea travel; full land border integration is phased). This is significant for non-EU nationals as it means your 90/180 day Schengen count now includes Romania.

4. Finding Housing

The rental market in Romania is vibrant and reasonably transparent. Here is where to look:

• OLX.ro — Romania's most popular classifieds site. Huge number of listings, mostly from landlords directly. Some listings are in Romanian, but Chrome's auto-translate works well.
• Storia.ro — A dedicated real estate portal, clean interface, good for apartment hunting. English interface available.
• Imobiliare.ro — Another major platform, slightly more agency-heavy than OLX.
• Facebook Groups — Search "Expats in Bucharest/Cluj" or "Apartments for rent Bucharest English" — surprisingly effective, especially for short-term furnished apartments.

Typical process:Find a listing, view the apartment (usually same-week), pay a deposit (typically 1-2 months rent) and the first month's rent. Contracts are usually in Romanian — get a translation or hire a translator for important clauses. Most landlords expect monthly cash payment, though some accept bank transfer.

Bucharest neighborhoods to know: Floreasca and Herăstrău are upscale, green, and popular with expats. Aviatorilor is similar. Floreasca has great restaurants and easy access to Herăstrău Park. Titan and Berceni are more affordable and central but grittier. The Old Town (Centrul Vechi) area is lively but noisy.

Practical note:Many apartments in Romania are furnished with elderly furniture and aging appliances. If this matters to you, specifically filter for "mobilat modern" (modern furnishings) or look at new-build developments.

Utility bills (gaze, electricitate, apă) are usually handled by the landlord but billed through to the tenant. Clarify in your contract who pays for what. Internet is fast and cheap — RDS, Digi, and Orange all offer 1 Gbps plans for around 50 RON (€10) per month.

5. Getting Your CNP (Tax Identification Number)

The CNP (Cod Numeric Personal) is Romania's national identification number. Almost every formal interaction — opening a bank account, signing a rental contract, registering with a doctor — requires one.

EU citizens get their CNP when they register their residency at the local evidența populației (Resident Registry) office. The process is described in section 6.

Non-EU citizens get a CNP issued as part of their residence permit application, or they can obtain a CIF (Cod de Identificare Fiscală) from ANAF for tax purposes before their full residence permit is issued.

Keep your CNP safe — you will use it constantly.

6. Registering Your Residence (Evidența Populației)

This is the official step that makes you a registered resident of Romania. The process varies slightly by city but follows this general pattern:

• Go to your local Direcția de Evidență a Persoanelor (Resident Registry) office — find the one for your district/sector.
• Bring: passport, rental contract (notarized, or with your landlord present), passport-sized photos, and the completed registration form.
• You will receive a registration certificate (certificat de înregistrare) — for EU citizens, this serves as your proof of legal residence.
• Process typically takes 1-3 hours on the day if you have all documents. Some cities now allow online appointments.

Important:Your landlord must declare the rental to ANAF (tax authority) for the contract to be valid for residency registration. Many landlords are reluctant to do this. If this is an issue, some expats use a family member's or friend's address for registration until they can negotiate with a landlord.

7. Opening a Bank Account

You will need a Romanian bank account to receive salary, pay rent by transfer, and handle day-to-day finances in RON. See our full banking guide for a detailed comparison, but here is the short version:

• Banca Transilvania — Most recommended for expats. Widespread, English-friendly, free basic account, good mobile app (BT Pay).
• ING Romania — Fully digital, excellent app, free account, can open online.
• Revolut — Not a Romanian bank but almost universally used by expats for day-to-day spending, currency exchange, and international transfers. Get it regardless of which local bank you choose.

Documents typically required: passport, Romanian address proof (rental contract), and CNP or tax ID. Some banks may ask for proof of income. The process usually takes 1 hour in a branch.

8. Healthcare (CNAS)

Romania has a public healthcare system funded through social contributions (CNAS — Casa Națională de Asigurări de Sănătate). If you are employed in Romania, your contributions are deducted automatically. If you are self-employed or a freelancer, you must register and pay contributions yourself.

In practice, many expats (and many Romanians) use private healthcare for routine consultations, as the public system can involve long waits and aging facilities. Private consultations are very affordable by Western standards — a GP visit is around 150 RON (€30), and a specialist consultation is 250-350 RON (€50-70).

Recommended private clinic networks in Bucharest: Regina Maria, Medicover, and MedLife. All have English-speaking doctors and multiple locations. Monthly private health insurance packages start from around 200 RON (€40) per month and often include unlimited GP consultations.

Pharmacies (Farmacie): Romania has an extensive pharmacy network. Many common medications available over-the-counter in Romania require a prescription in Western Europe. Sensiblu, Catena, and Help Net are the major chains.

9. Taxes and Work

Romania has one of the most favorable tax environments in the EU for individuals:

• Income tax: 10% flat rate on all personal income.
• Social contributions: Employee contributions of ~35% (includes pension and health). This is on top of your gross salary, but employers typically quote net salaries.
• Freelancers / PFA: You can register as an authorized physical person (Persoană Fizică Autorizată). PFA income under €25,000/year pays only the 10% income tax plus CAS and CASS health contributions.
• Micro-enterprise (SRL): Companies with up to €500,000 turnover pay just 1-3% on revenue (not profit). Extremely popular with freelancers and small businesses.
• ANAF registration: If you are self-employed, you must register at your local ANAF office. Bring your CNP, address proof, and passport.

Romania has double taxation treaties with most EU countries and many others worldwide. Always consult a Romanian accountant (contabil) — they are inexpensive (often 200-400 RON/month) and essential.

10. Day-to-Day Life

Once the paperwork is done, life in Romania is genuinely enjoyable. A few practical notes:

• Shopping: Major supermarket chains are Kaufland, Lidl, Carrefour, Mega Image, and Auchan. Prices are significantly lower than Western Europe.
• Transport: Most major cities have public transport (bus, tram, metro in Bucharest). Bolt (the European Uber) is widely used and very cheap — a 10-minute ride typically costs 15-25 RON (€3-5). Bucharest metro is excellent.
• Language: English is widely spoken by under-40s in major cities. Outside cities, you will need some Romanian or Google Translate.
• Cash: Romania is still significantly cash-based. Many small restaurants, markets, and older establishments do not accept cards. Keep RON on you.
• Emergency numbers: 112 (all emergencies). Police: 112. Ambulance: 112.

11. Learning Romanian

Romanian is a Romance language — if you speak French, Italian, Spanish, or Portuguese, you will recognize patterns immediately. English speakers without Romance language experience typically need 6-12 months to reach conversational level.

You can absolutely live in Bucharest or Cluj without Romanian. But learning even the basics will dramatically improve your quality of life, your relationships with locals, and your ability to navigate bureaucracy without a helper.

• Duolingo — Has a Romanian course. Good for vocabulary basics.
• Pimsleur Romanian — Audio-focused, good for pronunciation.
• iTalki — Find a Romanian tutor for 1-on-1 lessons online. Around €10-15/hour.
• Language exchange apps (Tandem, HelloTalk) — Connect with Romanians who want to practice English.

12. Tips from Expats Already in Romania

We surveyed expats living in Romania for their top pieces of advice:

• Get a Romanian-speaking friend or hire a fixer for the first few weeks. Bureaucracy is much easier with someone who knows the system.
• Don't underestimate the summer heat. Bucharest reaches 38-40°C in July/August. Make sure your apartment has AC before signing.
• Join Facebook expat groups early. "Expats in Bucharest" and "Cluj Expats" have thousands of members who answer questions quickly and helpfully.
• Open a Revolut account before you arrive. Use it for ATM withdrawals in Romania (free, no fees). Then add a local Romanian bank account once you are settled.
• Learn to love the local food. Ciorba (sour soup), mici (grilled mince rolls), sarmale (cabbage rolls), and cozonac (sweet bread) are essential cultural experiences. Local markets (piata) have the best fresh produce.
• Drive carefully. Romania has one of the highest road accident rates in the EU. Highways are improving, but secondary roads can be poor. Defensive driving is essential.
• Be patient with the bureaucracy. It will be confusing, slow, and occasionally require multiple trips to the same office. This is normal. Smile, be polite, and have all your documents in both originals and photocopies.