Announced in December 2021, the Romania digital nomad visa allows remote workers to live and work in the southeastern European country for up to 12 months.  Bordering Bulgaria, Hungary, Moldova, Serbia, and Ukraine, Romania is an emerging travel destination with many  tourists, backpackers, and remote workers visiting the country. 

Romania’s capital, Bucharest, has slowly gained traction as a hub for digital nomads thanks to the fast WiFi, inexpensive living conditions, and the fantastic culture that gives the city its unique feel. But there’s a whole lot more to Romania than the capital city. The mountainous town of Sinaia, the Transylvanian city of Brașov, the traditional town of Sibiu, and the western city of Timisoara should all be on the must-visit list of every visitor to Romania.

From the minimum monthly income requirements to the documents needed to submit a remote working visa application. Find out everything you need to know about the Romania digital nomad visa in our guide to remote working in the country. 

What is the Romania Digital Nomad Visa?

The Romanian digital nomad visa allows remote workers to live and work in Romania for an initial period of 12 months. This new type of visa is directly suited to the increase in the number of remote workers following the global pandemic. Romania is just one of countless digital nomad visas available to location-independent workers interested in long-term stays in different countries.

The digital nomad visa for Romania is one of the easiest to apply for with the process able to be completed entirely online. Scroll for a step-by-step guide to applying for the Romania digital nomad visa. 

Why is the Romania Digital Nomad Visa Better Than a Tourist Visa?

The main benefit of the Romanian digital nomad visa over a typical tourist visa lies in the length of time that can be spent within the Romanian borders. The majority of visitors to Romania can visit the country for a total of 90 days in every 180—much in the same way that the Schengen visa works. This roughly translates to a maximum stay of six months inside of every year. With the Romanian digital nomad visa, visitors are able to stay for an uninterrupted 12 months to settle in the country. 

Another key benefit to the Romanian digital nomad visa is, assuming that a digital nomad is recognized as a tax-payer in a different country, visa holders will not be required to pay any additional tax when living in the country. 

Romania Digital Nomad Visa Requirements 

To successfully apply for the Romania digital nomad visa, several requirements must be met by the applicants. From a valid passport to a minimum monthly income, all applicants must meet the following for a successful application:

• Valid Passport: The applicant's passport must be valid for the entire visa duration.
• €3,300 Minimum Monthly Income: Applicants must prove a minimum income that is at least 3x that of the average Romanian income (€3,300). This can be verified with bank statements for the last six months.  
• Health Insurance: All applicants are required to show evidence of health insurance with coverage in Romania for the duration of their stay.
• Clean Criminal Record: All applicants must pass an official criminal record check from their home country. 

How to Apply 

Applying for a remote working visa can be a labor-intensive and confusing process. To avoid missing out, check out our step-by-step guide to applying for the Romanian digital nomad visa below. 

Step 1: Collect all Necessary Documents 

The first step when applying for any digital nomad visa is to collect all of the necessary documents ready for application submission. Remote workers are required to submit the following with their application form:

• Valid Passport
• Bank Statements of the Last Six Months
• Proof of Accommodation (Rental Agreement)
• Criminal Record Background Check
• Proof of Remote Work
• Entry Ticket (Flight Confirmation, Train or Bus ticket, Car Details, etc.)
• Letter of Intent
• Proof of Health Insurance

Step 2: Complete the Application Form

The Romanian digital nomad visa can be applied for entirely online by signing up and creating an account on the eVisa platform. 

Once an account has been created and all necessary documents have been gathered, applicants can then apply for the visa online. This can be completed online by following the on-screen instructions and prompts from the user interface.

Step 3: Await Confirmation

Once the visa has been applied for, nomads can expect a verdict within 10-14 working days from submission. The progress of the visa can be checked by logging into the visa account on the official site. 

Why Choose Romania for Your Next Remote Working Trip?

Using the 2021 Legatum Prosperity Index, an annual independent study utilizing more than 100 different indexes, Romania ranks 47th, between Qatar and Bulgaria, from a total of 167 different nations. But a country is made up of a lot more than statistics on a page and Romania’s culture and beauty remain one of the best-kept secrets in southeastern Europe. Famous for its castles, monasteries, and of course, Transylvania the home of Dracula, Romania is a perfect country to explore as an adventurous digital nomad. 

Remote Work Culture in Romania

Digital nomads looking for long-term stays in the country are likely to choose from one of the main cities in Romania. The capital of Bucharest, the western city of Timișoara, and the smaller mountainous city of Brașov prove to be the most popular trio, but nomads can find their perfect place outside of these major areas.

There are plenty of coworking spaces to choose from in Bucharest with Impact Hub, Cowork Perativa, and Commons Unirii proving to be the most popular choices. Fewer options are available in Timișoara, but The Garden, DevPlant Cowork, and Workify all offer great options. Internet speeds in Romania are incredibly quick, proving popular among digital nomads with an average of 160 Mb/s on cable and 38 Mb/s on mobile. This makes an ideal location for zoom meetings, large files uploads/downloads, or simple streaming. 

Cost of Living and Quality of Life in Romania 

One of the biggest pulls for global digital nomads looking for long-term stays in the European country, the cost of living in Romania is, on average, approximately 51.0% lower than in the United States (without rent). This translates to living expenses of approximately $490 per month (without rent) for a single digital nomad or $1,700 per month (without rent) for a family of four. Rental prices are also noted to be considerably lower than equivalent properties in the United States with prices more than 79.8% lower. 

The quality of life in Romania is rated as moderate with a quality of life index score of 134.0 out of a possible total of 240.0. The country performs well with a low cost of living index, a high safety and climate index, and a low traffic commute time index. Areas of poor performance lie in the purchasing power index with healthcare pollution, and property price-to-income ratio rated as moderate.

Healthcare in Romania

Using the 2021 Legatum Prosperity Index, Romania is ranked in the 62nd position, between Iran and Bulgaria, in the health pillar.

The health pillar aims to give an accurate overview of the entire health system of the country, using data such as risk factors and illness outcomes to mortality rates and access to health systems. Romania has state-funded healthcare in the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors with publicly funded campaigns. We recommend that all visitors entering Romania are sure to purchase coverage of health insurance before traveling to the country. 

Conclusion 

There’s no question that the digital nomad community in Romania is rapidly expanding with the main cities of Bucharest, Timișoara, and Brașov paving the way. Now, with the Romanian digital nomad visa, announced in December 2021, remote workers are able to apply to live and work in the country for an initial 12-month period. There, however, are a number of requirements that applicants must satisfy. 

From earning triple the average Romanian salary and proving health insurance to providing a rental agreement and letter of intent—officials will require all nomads to jump through just a handful of hoops to receive the new digital nomad visa. There’s so much for remote workers to see and do in Romania—from experiencing the local culture and touring the historic cities to taking a road trip to some of the most beautiful natural places in the world. Romania is a true underdog and a destination that we’re expecting to prove increasingly popular in the coming years. 

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