In 2022, Romania has launched a special visa for digital nomads, offering an attractive opportunity for professionals working remotely and wishing to live in Bucharest. The digital nomad, compared to the one who wants a work permit, will be able to obtain the visa more easily in terms of time, although the list of documents is quite long.

Who is eligible for the digital nomad visa?

From the definition given by the law on the digital nomad (Law no. 22 introduced this subtype of visa under Article 49 of GEO no. 194/2002 - long-stay visa for other purposes), we understand that he/she can be either the employee of a foreign company or the owner of a foreign company, i.e. not registered in Romania (but registered for at least three years in the foreign state). What the two have in common is what exactly they do in those companies: they provide services through the use of information and communication technology and choose to establish themselves here, applying to the Romanian state for such a visa. 

Requirements and eligibility

• Income: Proof of means of subsistence derived from work, amounting to at least three times the average gross monthly gross earnings in Romania for each of the last six months preceding the date of submission of the visa application, as well as for the entire period stated on the visa;
• Employment: You must be employed by a foreign company or be a freelancer working for international clients. You will need evidence such as employment contracts and tax returns to prove the nature of your professional activities.
• Health insurance: Proof of medical insurance for the entire period of validity of the visa, valid on Romanian territory and covering at least €30,000;
• Documents required: You will need a valid passport, recent photographs, proof of income and proof of employment and proof of health insurance.
• Proof of accommodation; 
• Reservation of a valid travel ticket to your destination or driving license, green card, vehicle registration documents and proof of itinerary in case of drivers;
• A criminal record certificate or other document with the same legal value, apostilled or supralegalized, as the case may be, and translated into Romanian, issued by the authorities of the country of origin and, if applicable, of the state in which the foreigner is legally resident and in which he/she obtains income from employment in a company registered outside Romania or from activities carried out by a company registered outside Romania, proving that there are no records of criminal acts; 
•  Other supporting documents as requested by the competent Romanian authorities.

Of course, any document listed must meet the conditions of validity and be translated into Romanian by an authorized translator. When it expires, the digital nomad visa can be extended for 6 months with a valid residence permit. However, if a digital nomad would like to bring his/her family to Romania on the basis of family reunification, he/she will not be able to do so on the basis of the digital nomad visa, as family reunification requires a longer stay of 6 months in Romania.

The Romanian digital nomad visa offers an excellent opportunity for professionals who want to combine work and travel. Make sure you understand the requirements and the application process and prepare to adapt to life in Bucharest to make the most of your experience in R

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