Infertility affects between 10 and 15% of couples of reproductive age in Romania — a figure that puts the real scale of the problem into perspective. And while an IVF procedure was until recently considered a financial luxury accessible only to some, 2026 brings a different picture: three distinct funding sources, digital vouchers, and European funds that are changing the math for thousands of couples in Bucharest.

Three Active Programs at the Same Time

If you live in Bucharest, you are in the relatively rare position of being able to choose between three sources of public funding for IVF — a local City Hall program, a national government one, and one currently being launched through European funds. Each has its own conditions, its own calendar, and its own access logic.

1. The ASSMB FIV3 Program — The Fastest Available for Bucharest Residents

This is the Capital's local program, approved through Bucharest City Council Decision no. 180/04.06.2025 and run by ASSMB (the Administration of Bucharest Hospitals and Medical Services). If you have a Bucharest ID or a residency visa of at least 6 months in the Capital, this is the most direct path to funding.

The "FIV3 – A Chance for Infertile Couples" program covers 2,000 beneficiaries and runs from June 2025 to December 2026. Financial support reaches a maximum of 15,000 lei per beneficiary, covering both medication and the medical procedures themselves.

The essential condition: stable domicile or residency visa in Bucharest — the program is not accessible to couples from other counties.

2. The National Program 2026–2030 — Digital Vouchers for the Whole Country

The Romanian Government approved, at the proposal of the Ministry of Labor, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity, a national social program valid for the period 2026–2030. The first thing that sets this program apart from previous editions: there is no longer a fixed number of beneficiaries per year. Support is granted in chronological order of complete and eligible applications, within the limit of annually approved funds — which means the moment you submit your application matters more than ever.

How much you receive through the national program

Through the government-approved national program, beneficiaries receive two digital vouchers totaling 15,000 lei:

• 5,000 lei for purchasing medications specific to ovarian stimulation
• 10,000 lei for IVF medical procedures

The support is non-taxable and can be granted up to three times to the same beneficiary over the duration of the program — compared to previous editions, where the limit was calculated per calendar year.

3. European FSE+ Funds — The Third Source, in Preparation

The Ministry of Investments and European Projects launched, in February 2026, a public consultation on the Applicant's Guide for a natality-focused program financed through FSE+ funds (European Social Fund Plus) — a first for Romania. Final details are yet to be officially published, after the consultation phase concludes.

According to previous practices, a beneficiary can access funds from different sources consecutively, with one condition: the same invoice or medical procedure cannot be reimbursed from two public budget sources at the same time.

Who Can Apply to the National Program (and How It Combines with ASSMB)

The program is aimed at:

• Infertile couples, married or unmarried
• Single women aged between 24 and 42 years old
• At least one member of the couple (or the single woman) must be a Romanian citizen with domicile in Romania and hold the status of insured in the public health system

Applications are analyzed in order of submission. The sooner you obtain your medical indication and complete your documentation, the closer you are to your place in line.

If you have a Bucharest ID, you can access both the ASSMB FIV3 program and the national one — but not for the same procedure at the same time. The law prohibits double financing of the same invoice. Consecutive access (one program after another, for different cycles) remains possible.

What a Real IVF Cycle Actually Costs

A complete IVF cycle — ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilization, embryo transfer — generally falls between 13,000 and 18,000 lei at private clinics in Bucharest, depending on the type of protocol and the specifics of the case. The vouchers cover a significant portion of this cost, with the remainder falling to the patient.

Worth understanding: not all procedures are identical. There are cycles where the transfer takes place in the same cycle as stimulation (full IVF), cycles where embryos are vitrified and transferred later (Freeze All), and cycles using cryopreserved eggs, where the starting point is already a stock of frozen oocytes.

Clinic Embryos — Where You Can Continue

If you live in Bucharest and are looking for a clinic to take the process forward — both with your own funds and through reimbursement programs — Clinic Embryos is one of the options with real experience in assisted reproduction in the Capital.

Embryos actively monitors the evolution of IVF funding programs and offers patients consultation in preparing their files. On their website you'll find up-to-date details about eligibility criteria for European funds, as the guide becomes final.

Packages available at Embryos in 2026:

Full IVF                                       | 16,490 RON | Egg retrieval, spermogram, standard fertilization or ICSI, culture to blastocyst, ultrasound-guided embryo transfer
IVF "Freeze All"                          | 16,490 RON | Same laboratory process, with embryo vitrification (max. 3 straws) instead of immediate transfer
IVF with cryopreserved oocytes | 13,690 RON | Thawing of vitrified oocytes, fertilization, culture, ultrasound-guided embryo transfer

All packages include the processing of biological material in the laboratory — oocytes and sperm — and fertilization through standard IVF or ICSI, depending on the medical indication.

One Thing to Keep in Mind

IVF funding programs in Romania have historically seen rapid fund depletion. With the shift to a system based exclusively on application order and annually available funds, the priority becomes early preparation — the initial consultation, the necessary investigations, the complete documentation.

If you are at the beginning of this journey, the most useful next step is a medical consultation that clarifies your indication and gives you a realistic picture of your specific path.