Romania Digital Nomad Visa 2026: Practical Application Guide
2026-05-03
Romania Digital Nomad Visa 2026: A Practical Application Guide
Romania's digital nomad visa is open in 2026. The program uses the National Visa D category for remote workers. It targets non-EU nationals who work for employers or clients based outside Romania. There is no annual quota. This guide covers the income threshold, exact documents, application steps, and the most common file errors.
Who Qualifies
You must be a non-EU or non-EEA national. This means you hold a passport from countries like the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, or Japan. You cannot be a Romanian citizen or hold a Romanian ID card.
You need remote employment or freelance work. Your employer or your clients must be based outside Romania. If you work for a Romanian company, this visa will not work for you. You cannot use this visa to provide services to Romanian entities.
You need valid health insurance. The policy must cover Romania. It must cover the full duration of your stay. You must have no criminal record. You cannot have active Romanian residency. If you have a temporary residence permit in Romania, you must cancel it before applying for this visa.
Income Requirement
The minimum monthly income is EUR 3,700 net. This figure is calculated as three times the average gross salary in Romania. The National Institute of Statistics publishes this average salary figure annually. The consulate checks this figure on their website. If the salary rises, the visa threshold rises. You must meet this threshold for the current year.
You must submit proof of income. The standard proof is three months of personal bank statements. The statements must show consistent income. The income must be at or above the EUR 3,700 threshold every month.
Proof Formats
Do not submit screenshots. The consulate will reject screenshots. You need official bank statements. These statements must be printed on the bank's letterhead. They must bear the bank's official stamp. A bank officer must sign the document. The signature must be legible.
The statements must clearly show your name. They must show the source of the income. If you are an employee, the statement should show a monthly deposit. If you are self-employed, the statement should show regular incoming transfers from your clients.
Common Mistakes
Do not average your income. You cannot take the total income for three months and divide it by three. You must meet the threshold in each individual month. If your income fluctuates, you must explain the fluctuations. You need a letter from your employer explaining the payment schedule.
Do not use a Romanian bank account. Even if your employer is foreign, do not deposit your salary into a Romanian bank account. The consulate wants to see that the income is coming from outside the country. A Romanian bank account suggests you are already working in Romania.
Do not confuse gross and net income. The law requires net income. Your bank statement shows the net amount. Your employment contract shows the gross amount. These two numbers will not match. The consulate compares the net amount on the bank statement to the EUR 3,700 threshold. Do not submit a contract that shows gross income only.
Documents
You need a complete file. Missing documents cause delays. Here is the exact list.
National Visa D application form You can find the form on the Romanian embassy website. You must print it. You must sign it. Do not leave any fields blank. If a field does not apply, write N/A.
Valid passport copy You need a copy of all pages in your passport. This includes the data page and the visa pages. Your passport must be valid. It must be valid for at least 90 days beyond the requested visa expiry date.
Passport photo You need a recent photo. The background must be white. The photo must be passport size. It must meet the biometric standards. Do not use filters. Do not use glasses with thick frames.
Proof of remote employment This is the most critical document. You need a signed employment contract. The contract must state that you work remotely. It must state that you work from outside Romania. If you are self-employed, you need service contracts with clients. The contracts must show the client's address. The client's address must be outside Romania.
If your contract is in a language other than Romanian or English, you need a sworn translation. The translation must be done by a certified translator. The translator must be sworn in their country of origin. The translation must be literal. Do not use machine translation.
Bank statements You need three months of statements. They must match the income requirement. They must be official. They must be stamped and signed. They must show the net income.
Health insurance certificate You need a policy valid in Romania. The minimum coverage is EUR 30,000. The policy must cover the full requested stay period. It must cover medical emergencies. It must cover repatriation. Do not buy a policy that expires before your visa expires.
Criminal record certificate You need a certificate from your country of citizenship. It must show that you have no criminal record. It must be issued within the last six months. It must have an apostille. The apostille certifies the authenticity of the signature and the seal. Without the apostille, the consulate will not accept the document.
Proof of accommodation in Romania You need a signed lease agreement. The agreement must be for the address where you will stay. If you are staying with a friend, you need a notarized statement from the owner. The statement must confirm your stay. It must list your dates of stay.
Application Steps
The process is straightforward but requires attention to detail.
1. Locate the embassy You must apply at the Romanian embassy or consulate in your country of residence. You cannot apply at the embassy of your home country. You apply at the embassy of the country where you live. If you live in the United States, you apply at the US embassy. If you live in the United Kingdom, you apply at the UK embassy. If you live in a third country, you apply at the embassy of your home country in that third country.
2. Book an appointment Consulate appointment slots are scarce. You must book an appointment online. Slots vary by location. You might wait two weeks. You might wait six weeks. Do not wait until the last minute. Book your appointment as soon as you have your documents.
3. Prepare the file Start apostille requests early. The apostille process takes time. It takes at least four weeks. Do not start this process two weeks before your appointment. Prepare all other documents. Check them twice. Make copies of everything.
4. Submit the application You must submit the application in person. You cannot mail it. You must bring the original documents.
Need an agency to handle the file? See our Romania consultants.