The long-stay visa gives 90 days, and the residence application must be filed in person at least 30 days before it ends (OUG 194/2002, Art. 24 and 51).
The immigration office decides within 30 days of filing, extendable by up to 15 days if extra checks are needed (Art. 51(4)).
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens register with IGI within 3 months of entry and receive a registration certificate with a CNP (OUG 102/2005).
The first 90 days in Bucharest: the short answer
For a non-EU citizen, the first 90 days in Romania are set by one clock: the long-stay visa. Under Emergency Ordinance 194/2002 it is granted for 90 days, and the application to extend your right of stay (the residence permit) must be filed in person at least 30 days before that period ends. In practice, your residence file must be at the immigration office by about day 60.
Everything else fits around that date. The tax number and the bank account come first, because you need them to rent and to pay. The lease and health insurance come next, because the residence file needs them. The personal numeric code (CNP), the family doctor and the driving licence come after the permit.
In plain words: work backwards from day 60. If the residence file is complete by then, the rest of the move falls into place.
This article is the calendar. Whether to move, and which legal route fits you, are covered in our guides to relocation to Romania and residence permits.
The deadlines that drive the calendar
| Rule | What it means for you | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Long-stay visa (D): 90 days | Your first legal window in Romania | OUG 194/2002, Art. 24(1) |
| Extension filed in person at least 30 days before your stay expires | File the residence application by about day 60 | OUG 194/2002, Art. 51(1) |
| Decision within 30 days, plus up to 15 days for extra checks | Expect an answer before the visa runs out, if you file on time | OUG 194/2002, Art. 51(4) |
| CNP issued with the residence permit | Banks, doctors and the tax office will use it | OUG 194/2002, Art. 144^1(1) |
| Change of address declared within 30 days | If you move after you file, tell the immigration office | OUG 194/2002, Art. 13(1)(a), (4), (5) |
| EU citizens: register within 3 months of entry | A registration certificate, with a CNP on it | OUG 102/2005, Art. 13 and 41(1) |
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a visa or a residence permit. They have three months to register with the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) and receive a registration certificate.
Before you fly: weeks −8 to 0
- Get the right long-stay visa. It is issued by a Romanian consulate for a stated purpose: work, business, family, studies or another ground in the law. Buying a home is not a ground.
- Order apostilles and translations. Birth and marriage certificates and diplomas usually need an apostille and a certified Romanian translation. Ask the consulate and IGI which ones.
- Buy health insurance that starts on arrival. The residence file needs proof of health insurance (Art. 51(2)).
- Apply to schools now. International schools in north Bucharest fill early. A state school will want your child's previous school records.
- Book temporary housing for the first month, near the area where you plan to live.
The week-by-week calendar
| Week | Task | Why now | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Romanian SIM card, temporary address, walk the area | You need a local phone number for banks and appointments | Mobile operator |
| 1–2 | Tax identification number (NIF) | Needed for a lease, a bank and utilities until you have a CNP | ANAF, form 030 |
| 2 | Bank account | Rent, deposit and salary | A Romanian bank |
| 2–3 | Sign the lease | The residence file needs legal proof of housing | Landlord, with a written contract |
| 3–4 | Medical certificate | Required in the residence file | A public or private clinic |
| 4–5 | Book the immigration appointment and assemble the file | The office is at your place of residence | IGI office for Bucharest or Ilfov |
| 6–8 (by about day 60) | File the residence application in person | At least 30 days before the visa expires | IGI |
| 8–12 | Decision and residence permit with CNP | Within 30 days, plus up to 15 | IGI |
| 10–12 | Update the bank and the tax office with your CNP | The CNP replaces the NIF in tax records | Bank, ANAF |
| 10–12 | Register with a family doctor, if you are insured in CNAS | Access to the public system | Family doctor with a CNAS contract |
| 10–13 | Driving licence exchange, if your licence qualifies | The exchange needs a residence permit | County licensing service |
The weeks are a planning guide, not a legal timetable. The only fixed dates are the ones in the table above.
Tax number and bank: weeks 1 and 2
Before you have a CNP, the tax authority (ANAF) gives non-residents a tax identification number (NIF) through form 030. Landlords, banks and utility companies often ask for one. Once IGI issues your CNP, it replaces the NIF in tax records. Our guide to the Romanian tax number explains the form.
A bank will identify you and ask about your income and the source of the money you bring. That is a legal duty under Romania's anti-money-laundering law, not suspicion. Bring your passport, your NIF, an address and documents that explain your income. Our guide to opening a bank account as a non-resident covers the details.
Housing and the residence file: weeks 2 to 8
Article 51(2) of OUG 194/2002 lists what goes with the extension application:
- your passport, original and copy;
- a medical certificate showing you have no disease that endangers public health;
- legal proof of the home where you declare your residence;
- proof of health insurance;
- proof of means of support, such as a salary certificate, a pension slip, a tax return or a bank statement;
- the fees, and the documents for your specific purpose (work, business, family, studies).
The lease matters more than people think. IGI needs legal proof that you live at the address. Ask the landlord for a written contract, and ask whether it will be accepted for the residence file before you sign.
Work backwards from day 60. If the residence file is complete by then, the rest of the move falls into place.
File in person at the IGI office for your place of residence. For Balotești, Otopeni or Corbeanca, that is the Ilfov office. For the city, it is Bucharest.
Health cover: CNAS and private
Romania's public health insurance is run by CNAS. If you work for a Romanian employer, the health contribution (CASS) is deducted from your salary and you are insured. If you have no Romanian income, you can insure yourself by filing a declaration with ANAF and paying the contribution.
Private clinic subscriptions are popular in Bucharest, but a subscription is not insurance and usually does not cover hospital stays. For the residence file, use a policy that the immigration office accepts. Our guide to healthcare for expats in Romania explains both systems.
School: start before you land
International schools have application forms, interviews and waiting lists, so apply from abroad. A Romanian state school will ask for your child's records, translated, and may need the school inspectorate to recognise previous studies. Ask the school what it needs in writing, early.
Driving licence: after the permit
EU licences are valid in Romania. Some non-EU licences can be exchanged without a test, once you have a residence permit. Holders of an Israeli licence, for example, exchange it at the county licensing service, under Order 163/2011. Do not wait: the exchange takes up to 30 days.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to apply for a residence permit in Romania?
Under OUG 194/2002, the long-stay visa gives 90 days, and the application must be filed in person at least 30 days before your stay expires. In practice, file by about day 60 after arrival.
When do I get a CNP?
Non-EU citizens receive a CNP with the residence permit. EU citizens receive one with the registration certificate, which they must request within three months of entry.
Can I open a bank account before I have a residence permit?
Usually yes, with a passport and a tax number (NIF). Each bank sets its own documents, and all must check your identity and the source of your money.
Do I need health insurance for the residence permit?
Yes. Proof of health insurance is one of the documents listed in Article 51(2) of OUG 194/2002.
What if I change address after filing?
A foreigner must declare a change of address to the immigration office within 30 days of moving to the new address (OUG 194/2002, Art. 13).
The bottom line
The first 90 days in Bucharest are not hard, but they are tight. Plan backwards from day 60, keep one folder for the residence file, and do the tax number, bank and lease in the first three weeks.
If you are planning a move and thinking about where to live, book a 30-minute call with me. We will go through your calendar together.
Moti Azulay, Compass Group Romania
Sources: Emergency Ordinance 194/2002 on the regime of foreigners, consolidated text (IGI), Art. 13, 24, 51 and 144^1 · Emergency Ordinance 102/2005 on free movement of EU citizens (IGI), Art. 13 and 41 · IGI: stay in Romania · IGI: citizens of EU/EEA states · ANAF · CNAS
This article is for general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. The rules are correct as of 22 October 2026. Documents and procedures differ by purpose of stay and by office; check with IGI and an independent immigration lawyer.
Now you know more.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult local professionals before any transaction.
