Permanent Residence in Romania
2 documented routes of this kind in Romania, each with its conditions, documents, official government fees and process.
Long-Term Residence (Third-Country Nationals)
After 5 years continuous legal stay, third-country nationals can request the long-term right to stay at their county IGI office. The right is communicated within 15 days and the application resolved within 6 months (extendable by 3). The permit is valid 5 years and grants labour-market access without a work permit.
- Processing time
- Right communicated within 15 days; full application within 6 months (extendable by 3)
- Validity
- 5 years (renewable); 10 years for family members of Romanian citizens
- Language requirement
- None for long-term residence; B1 Romanian for naturalisation
- Permanent residence
- Granted after 5 years continuous legal stay
- Citizenship
- 8 years legal residence (5 if married to a Romanian citizen)
Requirements
- 5 years continuous legal stay (absences under 6 consecutive months and at most 10 months total)
- Study counts at half value; international-transport work exempt from absence count
- No removal order
- Proof of financial means (waived for family of Romanian citizens) and social health insurance
Required Documents
- Application form required
- Passport (original + copy) required
- Proof of dwelling space (original + copy) required
- Social health insurance proof required
- Proof of financial means (waived for family of Romanian citizens) required
- Romanian criminal record certificate required
- Civil-status documents if applicable
Official fees
- Long-term residence fees (per IGI PDF schedule)
Process Steps
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1
Request long-term right to stay
After 5 years continuous legal stay, request the long-term right to stay from your county IGI office.
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2
Receive IGI decision
The determination on the right is communicated within 15 days; the full application is resolved within 6 months (extendable by 3 months).
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3
Submit issuance documents
If approved, submit permit-issuance documents (form, passport, dwelling proof, fees) within 30 days.
Official Sources
- IGI — Long-term residence in Romania Official
- IGI — Long-term residence fees (PDF) Official
Permanent Residence for EU/EEA/Swiss Citizens and Families
EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and their families who have continuously resided in Romania for more than 5 years exercising free-movement rights are granted permanent residence, with a card valid 10 years (5 years if under 14). Legal basis: GEO 102/2005; Law 247/2022.
- Processing time
- Per IGI procedure
- Validity
- 10 years (5 years if under 14); lost after absence of more than 2 consecutive years
- Language requirement
- None for residence; B1 Romanian for naturalisation
- Permanent residence
- More than 5 years continuous legal residence
- Citizenship
- 8 years legal residence
Requirements
- Continuous legal residence of more than 5 years exercising free-movement rights
Required Documents
- Valid identity document/passport required
- Proof of more than 5 years continuous residence exercising free-movement rights required
- Proof of dwelling space required
Official fees
- Permanent residence card fee (per IGI schedule)
Process Steps
-
1
Establish 5+ years residence
Reside continuously and legally in Romania for more than 5 years exercising free-movement rights.
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2
Apply for permanent residence
Apply at IGI for the permanent residence card (valid 10 years; 5 years if under 14).
Official Sources
- IGI — Granting permanent residence Official