Israelis are exempt from a Schengen visa: up to 90 days in any 180-day period, with one counter for the whole area. Enough for visits, not for living.
According to the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a long-stay visa application on the e-Visa portal costs €300 from 27 April 2026. The visa is granted for 90 days.
You renew in person at IGI, at least 30 days before your right of stay expires. The decision comes within 30 days, plus up to 15.
5 continuous years, no more than 6 months' absence in a row and 10 in total, means of support, health insurance and Romanian at a satisfactory level.
The €400,000 Golden Visa bill was withdrawn from the Senate on 8 December 2025. A home only proves where you will live.
Visas and residence in Romania: the short answer
With an Israeli passport alone you enter Romania without a visa and can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period, as anywhere in the Schengen area. That is enough for visits, for signing at a notary and for looking at neighbourhoods. It is not enough to live there.
To live in Romania you need two steps. First, a long-stay visa (type D) from a consulate, for a purpose defined in the aliens law, Emergency Ordinance 194/2002. Then, inside Romania, a residence permit from the immigration authority, IGI. After 5 continuous years you can apply for long-term residence. If you hold a passport of an EU country, including a Romanian one, you are on a completely different and much simpler route.
In plain words: status in Romania rests on a reason: work, business, family, studies or remote work. Your passport decides which door is open, and the home you bought only proves where you will live.
This article is the second chapter of the complete guide to relocating to Romania, and it is the map of legal status. We have written detailed guides on each route, and we link to them along the way. For daily life, community and schools, there are separate chapters on the Jewish community in Romania and on international education.
Step zero: what an Israeli passport gives you today
Israel is on the list of countries whose citizens are exempt from a Schengen visa. Romania has applied Schengen rules at its air and sea borders since 31 March 2024, and from 1 January 2025 checks at land borders were lifted too. So, according to the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, days in Romania count together with all Schengen countries, up to 90 in any 180. We explain the practical count, with sample calendars, in our article on the 90/180 rule for property owners.
Two things are new at the border:
- EES. The EU Entry/Exit System has been fully operational since 10 April 2026 and records every entry and exit digitally. Overstaying the 90 days is detected automatically.
- ETIAS. Israel is on the list of countries whose citizens will need an online travel authorisation costing €20. But according to the official website, the system is not yet in operation and is not collecting applications, and the EU will announce the start date several months ahead. ETIAS will not change the 90/180 rule and will not give a right to live in Romania.
Which passport do you hold? Two separate worlds
A passport of an EU country, including Romania. EU citizens can stay in Romania for up to 3 months with no conditions. Beyond that, according to IGI, you must be working, or have means of support and health insurance, or study at a recognised institution, and register at the IGI office in the county where you live. The registration certificate is issued the same day, is valid for up to 5 years, and carries a CNP. An Israeli spouse receives a residence card within 90 days. A Romanian citizen needs no permit at all. We cover the path to Romanian citizenship in our article on Romanian citizenship for Israelis.
An Israeli passport only. Here Emergency Ordinance 194/2002 applies, and everything in the rest of this article is about you.
The D visa: which purpose you apply under
Under Article 24 of the ordinance, a D visa is granted for 90 days, for a purpose: economic or professional activity, commercial activity, employment, secondment (detașare), studies, family reunification, religious activity, scientific research, and "other purposes". Under Article 31, the consulate decides within up to 60 days. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an application filed on the e-Visa portal from 27 April 2026 costs €300. The routes most relevant to Israelis:
Working for a Romanian employer
Since Emergency Ordinance 32/2026, the employer files a "single application" on the WorkinRomania.gov.ro platform, and on that basis a D/AM1 work visa is issued, for example for highly qualified workers. The platform's trial period ended on 7 August 2026. The visa itself also proves the right to work, and it carries a CNP. The initiative here belongs to the employer, not to you.
Business activity (D/AC)
For shareholders with a management role in a Romanian company. Under Article 43 the conditions are cumulative: a business plan, an opinion from the government body for trade and investment promotion, at least €100,000 in an account at a Romanian bank in your name, and an investment of €100,000 and 10 new jobs within 12 months of the permit being granted (for a limited liability company, SRL). For a joint-stock company (SA) the threshold is €150,000 and 15 jobs. A villa for private use is not this investment.
Family reunification
If you already hold a one-year residence permit, you can bring a spouse and minor children, and in some cases dependent parents. Under Article 46 you apply at IGI in Romania: proof of the family relationship, housing "normal for a similar family in Romania", health insurance, and means of support equal to the gross minimum wage per family member for 3 months, on top of your own means. The decision comes within 3 months, and then the family members apply for a visa at the consulate within 60 days.
Studies
Admission to a recognised institution. Note: years of study count only half towards long-term residence.
Status in Romania rests on a reason. Your passport decides which door is open, and the home you bought only proves where you will live.
Digital nomads
For people working remotely for a company registered outside Romania, or owning such a company registered for at least 3 years. The key condition: income of at least three times the average gross salary in Romania, in each of the six months before the application and for the whole visa period. The 2026 amount and the tax consequences are in our digital nomad visa guide.
And retirees?
The law has no "retiree" category. There is a general clause for people whose presence in Romania is "justified" (Article 49(1)(g)). Whether it fits a retiree with an Israeli pension, and with which documents, is a question for an immigration lawyer.
The residence permit at IGI: what to file and when
The visa gives you 90 days. Within them you apply to IGI to "extend the right of stay", which is the residence permit (permis de ședere). Under Articles 50 and 51:
- You apply in person, at the IGI office where you live, at least 30 days before your current right of stay expires.
- You attach your passport, a medical certificate, legal proof of where you live, health insurance, means of support and the fees, plus the documents for your purpose.
- The decision comes within 30 days, which can be extended by up to 15 days. While the application is pending, your stay remains legal.
- The permit is usually granted for periods of up to one year, and you renew it the same way.
Fees: according to IGI, €120 (paid in lei) plus 265 lei for the card. The list was published in August 2025, before the D visa fee went up. Check the amount with the office before you pay.
Health insurance: three requirements, three stages
- For the visa: medical insurance for the whole visa period, valid in all EU countries, with cover of at least €30,000.
- For the first permit: you can show health insurance covering all the risks normally covered for Romanian citizens.
- For renewals and long-term residence: the law refers to insurance in the public health system.
Which private policy meets stage 2 is worth checking with the IGI office or a lawyer.
CNP: the number that comes with status
Under Article 144^1, IGI assigns a CNP, the Romanian personal identification number, to people granted a residence permit or long-term residence, and it is printed on the permit. Since April 2026 it is also printed on work visas. A home buyer without status works with a tax number, NIF, not a CNP.
After 5 years: long-term residence
According to IGI and Article 71, the conditions are cumulative:
- 5 continuous years with a residence permit, with no absence longer than 6 consecutive months and no more than 10 months in total.
- Means of support at the level of the gross minimum wage, for at least 12 months (except for family members of a Romanian citizen).
- Health insurance, legal accommodation, and a Romanian criminal record certificate.
- Romanian "at least at a satisfactory level".
The decision comes within up to 6 months, which can be extended by 3 months. The permit is valid for 5 years, and for 10 years for family members of a Romanian citizen. Holders can work without a work permit. An absence of more than 12 consecutive months may cancel it.
Two provisions are of interest to Israelis, and both are for a lawyer to check: under Article 71(2), long-term residence may be granted to "foreigners of Romanian origin" without some of the conditions. And under Article 71(4), anyone who has invested at least €1 million or created more than 100 full-time jobs is exempt from the 5-year condition and the means condition. The law does not define what counts as "Romanian origin", or which investments count.
Buying property does not give status
Romania has no golden visa. On 14 October 2025 bill L463/2025, a "Golden Visa programme" with a minimum investment of €400,000, was filed in the Senate. According to the Senate record, the Supreme Council of National Defence gave a negative opinion on 19 November 2025, and on 8 December 2025 the bill was withdrawn. We found no new bill in 2026. A property helps with one thing: proof of accommodation in your file. More on that in our residence permit guide.
The table of statuses
| Status | For whom | For how long | Work | CNP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visa exemption (90/180) | Every Israeli passport holder | Up to 90 days in any 180 | No | No |
| D visa | Anyone with a purpose recognised by law | 90 days | Depends on the purpose | On a work visa |
| Temporary residence permit | Anyone who entered on a D visa | Usually up to one year, renewable | Depends on the purpose | Yes |
| Long-term residence | After 5 continuous years | 5 years, renewable (10 for family of a Romanian citizen) | Yes, without a permit | Yes |
| Registration certificate, EU citizen | EU passport holder staying beyond 3 months | Up to 5 years | Yes, like a Romanian | Yes |
| Permanent residence, EU citizen | After 5 continuous years | 10-year card | Yes | Yes |
Checklist: step by step
- Choose your route: which passport, and which purpose from the list. No purpose, no visa.
- Check eligibility for an EU passport before you build a visa file. It may save you the whole process.
- Prepare documents from Israel: police certificate, birth and marriage certificates, tax certificate. In most cases you need an apostille and a certified Romanian translation. See our guide to apostilles and documents.
- Arrange accommodation: a registered rental contract or a property in your name.
- Buy medical insurance for the visa period, with cover of at least €30,000.
- Apply on the e-Visa portal, and attend the consulate. For applicants in Israel it is in Ramat Gan (Paz Tower 2, 2 Shoham Street, 8th floor).
- Enter Romania, and within the 90 days apply to IGI for the residence permit, in person.
- Put the renewal date in your calendar: at least 30 days before the permit expires, every year.
- Keep a record of every trip out of Romania, so you can prove continuity after 5 years.
- Start learning Romanian in the first year. It is a condition for long-term residence.
Immigration status is not tax residence
A residence permit and a CNP are immigration status. Tax residence is decided by different tests in each country, and where it is double, the tax treaty decides. We explain this in our article on tax residence between Israel and Romania.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for a residence permit while I am already in Romania as a tourist?
As a rule, no. The permit is an "extension" of a right of stay that began with a D visa, and you must apply for it for the same purpose for which the visa was granted. There are exceptions, for example for family members of a Romanian citizen, and those are worth checking with a lawyer.
How much does it cost?
According to the official publications: €300 for the D visa, and then about €120 plus 265 lei for each permit. On top of that come translations, apostilles, insurance and legal fees, if any.
My spouse has a Romanian passport and I only have an Israeli one. What is my route?
You are a family member of an EU citizen. If your spouse is exercising free movement rights, you receive a residence card within 90 days. If your spouse lives in Romania as a Romanian citizen, other provisions of Ordinance 194/2002 apply. Which of them applies to you is a question for a lawyer.
Is long-term residence the same as citizenship?
No. It gives you the right to live and work in Romania on terms similar to citizens, but not a Romanian passport and not the right to vote.
If I buy a villa, does it shorten anything?
No. Owning property is not a purpose of stay under the law. It helps only as proof of accommodation, and in a family route as part of the proof of housing.
The bottom line
If you are Israeli and want to live in Romania, you need a reason the law recognises, a D visa, and a permit you renew on time every year. After 5 continuous years, with basic Romanian, comes long-term residence. For EU passport holders the road is much shorter.
If you are building a relocation plan and part of it is a home, book a 30-minute call with me. We will go through the timeline and the housing side, and prepare a list of questions for an independent immigration lawyer. Our project in Balotești, about 15 minutes from the American International School, has 29 villas, but the right order is status first and a home second.
Moti Azulay, Compass Group Romania
Sources: Emergency Ordinance 194/2002, consolidated to April 2026 (IGI) · Emergency Ordinance 32/2026 (IGI) · Emergency Ordinance 102/2005, EU citizens (IGI) · IGI, long-term stay · IGI, registration of EU citizens · IGI, stays over 3 months for EU citizens · IGI, permanent residence for EU citizens · IGI, residence permit fees · IGI, long-term residence fees · Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visas · Ministry of Foreign Affairs, D visa · Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visa fees · Embassy of Romania in Israel, consular section · e-Visa portal · ETIAS, official website · ETIAS, who should apply · European Commission, EES · Romanian Senate, L463/2025 · Council of the EU, lifting of land border checks · Digi24, the Golden Visa bill
General information only, not legal, immigration, tax or financial advice. Romania's aliens law changed several times in 2026, and fees and procedures are updated. Correct as of 22 October 2026. Before you apply, check with IGI and the consulate and consult an independent immigration lawyer.
The complete guide: relocating to Romania
- Relocating to Romania: the complete guide
- Visas, residence and legal status in Romania (you are here)
- The Jewish community in Romania
- International education in Romania
- Prominent Israelis in Romania
Now you know more.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult local professionals before any transaction.
