Move to Romania from USA

Do you want to move to Romania from the USA? You will need the right type of temporary residence permit, which suits your purpose of stay. Moving to a new country is an important step, and our team knows that foreign nationals coming to Romania will have questions about the mandatory submissions with the Romanian authorities, as well as the general application process.

We specialize in all matters related to immigration, and our Romanian immigration lawyer can help you start your relocation journey. Whether you are relocating for employment purposes or to start a business in Romania, we will guide you along the way and even help you with useful information once you are in the country.

Temporary residency in Romania

US citizens have the right to enter and remain in Romania for a period of 90 days in any given 180-day period without a visa. However, for those who intend to immigrate to Romania, a temporary residence permit is mandatory.

Your application for a residence permit can be submitted once you are in the country, but at least 30 days before the expiry date of your 90-day visa-free period. If you decide to relocate to Romania, you will need to arrange for the needed approvals according to your purpose of stay before you apply for the residence permit (i.e., secure employment in Romania, be admitted by a Romanian educational institution, etc.).

The following types of temporary residence permits are available to those who wish to relocate to Romania from the USA:

1. Commercial and economic activities: for US citizens who wish to start a company in Romania, an approval for the commercial activities is required in some cases, along with other permit-specific documents;
2. Work and self-employed professional activities: for American citizens who have taken up employment in Romania with a Romanian employment or those who have been transferred here; entrepreneurs who wish to engage in sole trader activities need to provide proof of his/her qualification to engage in the respective professional activity;
3. Study: you can immigrate to Romania from the USA if admitted for studies in Romania, those who participate in an exchange program or an education program;
4. Scientific and religious activities:  for researchers who have received approval from the Ministry of Research and Innovation, or religious workers, once they have received special approval from the Romanian authorities;
5. Family reunification: applicable to the spouse, minor unmarried children (including adopted ones), and first-degree relatives of a US citizen who is already a lawful resident in Romania.

As part of the requirements to move to Romania, the applicant will also be subject to a fee, which for most temporary residence permits is RON 265 or about USD 62,5. This tax is most commonly paid via bank transfer; however, in-person payments are accepted at the CEC Bank. Our immigration lawyer in Romania can give you updated information about the current payment options, upon request.

Please keep in mind that this fee can be subject to change, and it is not the only foreseeable cost incurred by those who move to Romania from the USA.

If you want to move to Bucharest to handle business matters or to invest in real estate, our lawyers in Romania are also able to answer questions concerning the most important business, investment, or property laws, along with other legal solutions.

Permanent residence for foreign nationals who move to Romania from the USA

For most foreign nationals, the temporary residence is followed by permanent residence in Romania. A US citizen who wishes to apply for this type of residence will need to comply with the following:

• Lawfully reside in Romania for 5 years prior to submitting the application;
• During this time, leave the country for no longer than 6 consecutive months;
• Leave the country for no more than 10 months in total.

Holders of the temporary residence permit for study purposes, au pair, or seasonal work cannot apply for permanent residence. Our immigration lawyer in Romania can answer your questions about these situations.

In most cases, permanent residence applications are processed within 6 months. If approved, the applicant has 30 days to submit the rest of the needed documents for the issuance of the permanent residence permit.

Another option is to relocate to Romania from the USA as the spouse of a Romanian citizen. If your husband or wife is a Romanian national, you have the option to apply for a long-term residence permit as a family member. This has some advantages, as you could also start the naturalization process faster when compared to an American citizen who is first a temporary resident in Romania.

Our immigration lawyer in Romania lists the main documents required by the foreign spouse of a Romanian citizen who applies for a permanent residence permit:

• Application form, filled in by the spouse, dated and signed;
• Copy of the entry permit, attesting one’s lawful entry into Romania;
• Proof of accommodation (provided by the Romanian spouse) – this can be a rental agreement, a sale-purchase agreement, or other documents;
• Marriage certificate. Our Romanian immigration lawyer highlights the fact that this must be issued by the Romanian authorities. The marriage itself did not have to take place in Romania; however, the couple must register their foreign marriage certificate in Romania;
• Proof of fee payment.

If you are the American spouse of a Romanian citizen, you can apply for citizenship by naturalization (see below) after 5 years from the date of the marriage (subject to conditions).

Are you ready to move to a beautiful country in Europe? Our team will help you immigrate to Romania from the USA. With our help, the needed submissions will be properly taken care of, and any needed communications with the Romanian authorities will be streamlined.

Romanian citizenship through naturalization for American citizens

We can also help you with your application for citizenship in Romania if you are a US national who has been living in the country for at least eight years.

The naturalization requirements are the following:

• Comply with the minimum lawful stay in the country (as mentioned above – 8 or 5 years in some cases);
• Be at least 18 years of age;
• Show loyalty to the Romanian state (no actions against public order or national security);
• Have sufficient financial means;
• Have sufficient knowledge of the Romanian language and culture.

The aforementioned are demonstrated through satisfactory documentation, among which we list the following:

• Passport;
• Statement that the applicant is not a danger to national security or public order and that he or she has not engaged in any such acts in the past;
• Civil status documents;
• Criminal record;
• Proof of accommodation. For those who will not be residing in Romania, proof of maintaining their domicile abroad will be required.

We note that all the documents listed in this article, whether for temporary or permanent residency in Romania, or for citizenship purposes, are to be translated into Romanian by a sworn translator and notarized accordingly.

Contact us for assistance when applying for a resident permit in Romania, and if you have any questions along your relocation journey.