🇷🇴 Romania visa requirements

US, UK, Canadian, and Australian citizens get 90 days visa-free in Romania within a 180-day period. EU/EEA citizens can stay indefinitely. If your passport isn't listed, check the official Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

Who can waltz in visa-free?

If you hold a passport from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or the UK, you're golden for short stays. You get 90 days of entry within any 180-day window. This applies to tourist or business trips, and crucially for us, also covers working remotely on that stamp. The same 90/180 rule applies to citizens of numerous other countries, including many in South America like Argentina and Chile, and some in Asia.

Citizens of the European Union and EEA countries have it even easier. You can stay in Romania as long as you like, no visa required, just your national ID card or passport. For everyone else, a Schengen visa or a specific Romanian national visa is typically needed before arrival. If you're unsure, a quick look at the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website will confirm your status. Don't guess on this one.

How long can you really stay?

The 90 days out of 180 rule is standard for visa-free travellers. It sounds simple, but it's a rolling window. You can't just leave and re-enter immediately to reset the clock. If you've spent 60 days in Romania, you only have 30 days left in that 180-day period. Overstaying isn't just a slap on the wrist; fines can be steep. While specific figures change and are hard to pin down precisely, expect penalties that can include deportation and a ban from re-entering for several years. I've heard anecdotal reports of fines around 100 EUR per day of overstay, but this isn't official policy and can vary wildly. Always aim to leave before your allowed time is up.

Remember that exiting the country requires an exit stamp. Some border crossings, especially smaller ones, might not issue them consistently. Keep your original entry stamp safe and be aware of this when calculating your 180-day window.

Working remotely on a tourist stamp: Is it legal?

This is a grey area that most remote workers happily inhabit. Officially, working on a tourist visa or the visa-free entry stamp isn't permitted. You're supposed to be a tourist. However, enforcement is practically non-existent for digital nomads simply working on their laptops in cafes or co-working spaces. Romanian authorities aren't typically checking IP addresses or demanding proof of local employment.

The risk is minimal for short stays. If you plan to stay longer than the 90 visa-free days, you'll need to explore other options like a digital nomad visa (if available and you qualify) or a different type of long-stay visa. Trying to extend a tourist stay by repeatedly leaving and returning within the 90/180 window will eventually flag you. For now, casual remote work on a tourist stamp is the de facto standard for many.

What's new in Romanian entry rules?

Romania has been working towards Schengen integration, which has brought some changes. While not fully in the Schengen area for all aspects (air and sea borders joined January 2024, land borders are still pending full integration discussions), visa policies for short stays haven't drastically changed for major passport holders. The big news is the ongoing development of an eVisa system. This aims to streamline the application process for nationalities that do require a visa.

Previously, Romania had a fairly standard visa application process through consulates. The introduction of an eVisa platform, though still in its early stages and not covering all visa types or nationalities, signifies a move towards modernization. Fee structures are also subject to change, particularly as Romania aligns more closely with Schengen standards. Always check the official Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for the most current visa fees and application procedures before planning your trip. The system is evolving, so confirmation is key.