If you plan to immigrate to Romania from South Africa, you must obtain an entry visa, no matter your traveling purpose. South African citizens do not have visa-free entry in Romania. It is also necessary to obtain an invitation approved by the General Inspectorate for Immigration. This invitation can be issued by either a Romanian citizen or a foreigner residing in Romania. Our immigration lawyers in Romania can help South African citizens travel and move to the country and assist with the necessary documentation. We also assist with obtaining permanent residency and Romanian citizenship.
The main visas you need to apply for relocating to Romania from South Africa are the short-term visa (type C) and the long-term visa (type D).
Short-stay visas are available as single or multiple entry permits. You are permitted to stay a maximum of 90 days within 6 months starting from your first entry into the country. The short-term can have various purposes:
Please note that the initial duration of a short-term visa cannot be extended and does not confer the right to work in Romania.
Long-stay visas (type D) can be single or multiple entry and allow for a maximum stay of 90 days within 6 months from the initial entry date. Unlike short-stay visas, long-stay visas can be extended by obtaining a residence permit in Romania. Long-stay visas are suitable if you are moving to Romania from South Africa for purposes such as work, studying, or family reunification.
To extend the long-stay visa, you must submit a request to the General Inspectorate For Immigration at least 30 days before the current visa’s expiry date.
Our Romanian immigration lawyers can help you apply for these visas.
To immigrate to Romania from South Africa and legally live in the country for an extended period, you need to apply for long-term residency in Romania. The validity of these permits differs depending on the purpose why they were issued. If granted as a family member of a Romanian citizen, it is valid for 10 years. For other purposes (such as work), the permit is valid for 5 years.
The main condition for obtaining a long-term right to stay in Romania is to have resided continuously in Romania for the past 5 years. Continuous residence means not exceeding 6 consecutive months of absence. Cumulatively, over the 5-year period, all absences combined should not exceed a total of 10 months.
Our team will explain more of these conditions if you wish to move to Romania in the long-term.
If you are interested in relocating to Romania from South Africa, you might find these statistics about the immigration trends in the country useful:
Please contact our immigration lawyers in Romania for any questions and information regarding the immigration process.