Study in Romania: Student Visas & Permits

Romania is a member of the EU and has now entered the Schengen Agreement. This means that citizens of the EU/EEA/EFTA (including Switzerland) can freely move to Romania and stay for as long as they like. If you're an EU/EEA/EFTA citizen and will stay in Romania for more than three months, you'll register your residency by obtaining a registration certificate from the General Inspectorate for Immigration.

All other foreign nationals must apply for a student visa to study in Romania. The following requirements are for third-country nationals; they also apply to UK nationals.

• Your passport and two passport-sized photos
• An acceptance letter from your school, signed by the Ministry of Education
• Proof of your paid tuition fee for one year (if you're not attending on a scholarship)
• Proof of finances – this is set at the national minimum monthly income for the duration of your study program
• Proof of a place to live - your school can issue you with a letter stating that you have a place to live in dorms
• Health insurance - if you're under twenty-six, you qualify for free healthcare. If you're over twenty-six, you'll need to pay a monthly fee of at least RON75
• Documents for minors:
  • Birth certificate
  • Visa application form signed by both parents
  • If applicable, proof that one parent has full custody
  • Certified copies of both parents' ID or passports
  • Parental authorization if the minor is traveling alone, signed by both parents/guardians

When you get to the border, you'll need to be able to produce your admission letter and at least €2000 in cash or travelers' cheques.

You must apply for your visa in person in the country that issued your passport.

What to do when you arrive in Romania

Once you're in Romania, you'll have ninety days to register. You'll need to go to your nearest Immigration Office. The HQ is in Bucharest, but there are offices elsewhere.

You’ll need to take the following:

• Your letter of acceptance
• Your passport with visa
• Your rental agreement
• Proof of sufficient funds for six months
• A medical certificate giving you a clean bill of health. If you're over twenty-six, you'll also need to present your insurance documents
• Proof that you have already paid for your residency card (RON 259)

You'll then be issued a residency card. This is valid for one year. You'll need to renew it each year you're in Romania.

Working in Romania

Your residency card allows you to work up to four hours a day or twenty-eight hours a week. You'll be taxed like a Romanian citizen. Remember, though, that it can be challenging to find work if you don't speak good Romanian.

The content of this country guide has been developed in partnership with Study in Romania.