Obtaining a business visa in Romania in 2026 is a process that involves several steps and can be fully assisted by our team of immigration lawyers.
Entrepreneurs can apply for one of two long-term stay visas, according to the activity they will undertake in the country in 2026:
Foreign nationals also have the option to apply for the D/AP long-stay visa, which will allow them to engage in liberal professional activities within the territory of Romania (according to the applicable local regulations for the respective activity).
Non-EU/EEA foreign investors who wish to open a business in Romania need to apply for the adequate long-stay visa type D at the Romanian Embassy or Consular Office in their country of origin, before arriving in the country.
Not all non-EU/EEA foreign nationals require a visa to enter the country for short-term purposes not exceeding days.
Examples of countries that are not subject to a visa requirement for entering Romania for short-term purposes include: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, Singapore, or Hong Kong, among others.
While short-term business stays for these foreign nationals might suffice in order to open a company in Romania, for longer terms, as in the case of company management by the foreign national, applying for the long-stay visa type D for business purposes is required for those who wish to move to Romania for business purposes.
Moreover, foreign investors who apply for a business visa can also bring their family members, as stated above.
Our team of immigration lawyers in Romania can assist you as soon as you decide to apply.
To obtain a long-stay visa for commercial activities, you must submit the following documents:
Long-stay visa applications submitted to a Romanian diplomatic mission (via the e-Visa Portal) are subject to a 300 euro visa fee.
The following conditions apply to the visa fees:
Foreign investors who opt for a short-stay visa for Romania are subject to lower consular fees. A fee of 35 euros per application is charged for citizens of countries with which the EU has concluded bilateral visa facilitation agreements (Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, Azerbaijan, and others).
The long-stay visa shall be approved by the National Visa Center only after obtaining the opinion of the General Inspectorate for Immigration. The notice shall be issued no later than 30 days after the receipt of the request, with the possibility of extending the term by 15 days.
The long-stay visa is granted for a period of 90 days with one or more trips.
Once a foreign entrepreneur enters the country with a business visa in 2026, an application for a residence permit in Romania must be submitted to the General Inspectorate for Immigration in the county where the business owner will reside. The permit is applied for before the expiration of the right to stay in the country granted by the visa (at least 30 days before this date).
Yes. In fact, it is common for foreign investors in Romania to extend their initial permit.
The following documents are required for the first extension of the residence permit for commercial activities:
You are required to submit the business residence permit renewal application no later than 30 days before the expiry date of the existing one.
Yes. This is possible for your spouse (with whom you are legally married) and your minor children, including adopted ones.
In some cases, family members are exempt from the mandatory visa fee (payable to the Romanian consulate or diplomatic mission abroad). Examples include minors of up to 6 years of age and the family members of British nationals (subject to requirements).
Contact our immigration lawyers for more information on the business visa for Romania and to receive personalized assistance during your application.