Family Member of a Romanian Citizen
10 Years.
🇷🇴 Romania
Long-Term Residence
Build Your Long-Term Future in Romania
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Romania offers long-term residence status to eligible third-country nationals who have established a sufficiently long and continuous legal residence in the country.
Long-Term Residence can provide greater stability, broader employment rights and a more secure basis for building a permanent future in Romania.
CETO Global Immigration Consulting & Partners assists eligible applicants in reviewing their residence history and coordinates the application process together with qualified legal and immigration professionals.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants generally need to have maintained five years of continuous legal residence in Romania immediately before submitting the application.
The qualifying residence period must satisfy Romania's rules regarding continuity, absences and eligible residence categories.
5 Years of Continuous Legal Residence
Continuous Residence
Residence is generally considered continuous where absences from Romania are less than six consecutive months and do not exceed ten months in total during the relevant five-year qualifying period.
Certain periods spent abroad for international transport activities can be treated differently where appropriate documentary evidence is provided.
Less Than 6 Months, No More Than 10 Months Total
Which Residence Periods Count?
Qualifying residence can include lawful residence in Romania for purposes such as:
- Employment
- Commercial Activities
- Family Reunification
- Highly Qualified Employment
- EU Blue Card
- Professional Activities
- Research
- Other Eligible Residence Purposes
The exact calculation depends on the applicant's residence history.
Student Residence
Residence for study purposes is treated differently under the current Romanian rules.
Study residence counts at 50% toward the qualifying period for long-term residence, meaning study periods are not counted in full.
Study Residence Counts at 50%
Periods That Do Not Count
Certain residence periods cannot generally be used toward long-term residence. These include periods based on:
- Short-Stay Visa
- Diplomatic Visa / Diplomatic Residence
- Certain Work Visa Statuses
- Seasonal Worker Residence
- Au Pair Residence
Applicants who currently hold only temporary student residence also cannot obtain long-term residence directly until the applicable status and qualifying requirements are satisfied.
General Requirements
In addition to the five-year residence period, applicants generally need to demonstrate:
- Valid Travel Document
- Legal Accommodation
- Social Health Insurance
- Adequate Financial Means
- Romanian Criminal Record Certificate
- Compliance with Public Order and Security Requirements
- Other Documents Required by IGI
Family members of Romanian citizens are exempt from the normal proof-of-financial-means requirement for this application.
Financial Means
Applicants who are required to demonstrate financial resources must provide evidence of sufficient legal means of support.
The applicable level and acceptable evidence should be checked according to the rules in force at the time of application.
Required Documents
The current IGI requirements generally include:
- Application
- Valid Passport / Travel Document
- Proof of Legal Accommodation
- Proof of Social Health Insurance
- Proof of Financial Means, Where Required
- Romanian Criminal Record Certificate
- Civil-Status Documents, Where Applicable
- Additional Documentation Requested by IGI
Application Process
- 01
Residence History Review
We review your Romanian residence permits and the dates and purposes of your residence.
- 02
Absence Assessment
Periods spent outside Romania are checked against the continuity requirements.
- 03
Eligibility Assessment
The applicable five-year residence calculation and other eligibility conditions are reviewed.
- 04
Documentation
Financial, accommodation, insurance, criminal-record and residence documentation is prepared.
- 05
Application Submission
The long-term residence application is submitted to the competent Romanian immigration authority.
- 06
IGI Decision
The Romanian General Inspectorate for Immigration assesses the application.
- 07
Long-Term Residence Permit
Following a positive decision, the applicant completes the procedure for issuance of the long-term residence permit.
Processing Time
Applications for the right of long-term residence are generally decided within six months.
For objective reasons, this period can be extended by up to three additional months. The applicant must be informed of the extension.
Following a decision, the applicant is generally notified in writing within 15 days.
6 Months (+ Up to 3 Additional Months)
After Approval
If the long-term residence request is approved, the applicant generally has 30 days from receipt of the notification to submit the necessary documents for issuance of the long-term residence permit.
30 Days
Permit Validity
Other Long-Term Residents
5 Years.
Employment Rights
One of the major advantages of Romanian long-term residence is broader access to employment. Long-term residents can generally:
- Work in Romania Without a Separate Employment Permit
- Enter Into Romanian Employment Contracts
- Access Employment Opportunities More Freely
- Pursue Professional Training
- Access Certain Social and Economic Rights Under Romanian Law
Equal Treatment
Long-term residents benefit from equal treatment with Romanian citizens in several areas established by law. These can include areas such as:
- Employment
- Education
- Vocational Training
- Recognition of Professional Qualifications
- Social Security
- Access to Goods and Services
- Other Rights Provided by Romanian Law
Specific rights remain subject to Romanian and EU legislation.
EU Blue Card Holders
Special EU rules can apply to EU Blue Card holders.
Certain qualifying residence periods accumulated in other EU Member States can potentially be taken into account when assessing eligibility for EU long-term residence status.
The exact calculation depends on the applicant's Blue Card history and applicable Romanian and EU rules.
Can Long-Term Residence Be Lost?
Yes. Long-term residence can cease in specific situations.
One important rule applies where the holder is absent from Romania for more than 12 consecutive months, unless an applicable exception applies, such as qualifying temporary residence in another EU Member State.
The status can also be affected by longer periods away from Romania or the EU/EEA/Switzerland, depending on the individual circumstances.
More Than 12 Consecutive Months
Six Years Outside Romania
The IGI also identifies absence from Romania for more than six consecutive years as a circumstance that can result in loss of long-term residence, even where the person has held temporary residence in another EU Member State during that period.
More Than 6 Consecutive Years
Former EU Blue Card Holders
Special absence rules can apply to long-term residents whose residence card contains the notation "Former EU Blue Card Holder" and to qualifying family members.
Under the applicable rules, absence from the EU, EEA or Switzerland for more than two consecutive years can lead to loss of long-term residence status.
2 Consecutive Years
Long-Term Residence vs. Romanian Citizenship
Long-Term Residence is not Romanian citizenship. It does not automatically provide:
Not Romanian Citizenship
- Romanian Passport
- Romanian Citizenship
- National Voting Rights
- All Rights Reserved for Romanian Citizens
Citizenship is governed by separate Romanian nationality legislation and has its own eligibility requirements.
Who May Benefit From Long-Term Residence?
This status can be particularly relevant for:
- Long-Term Foreign Employees
- Entrepreneurs
- Business Owners
- EU Blue Card Holders
- Highly Qualified Professionals
- Family Members
- Researchers
- Former International Students
- Other Long-Term Residents
Minor Children
A long-term resident can also apply for long-term residence for qualifying minor children. Specific documentation is required, including:
- Child's Passport
- Birth Certificate
- Accommodation Documentation
- Consent of the Other Parent Where Applicable
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I need to live in Romania?
Generally, 5 years of qualifying continuous legal residence immediately before the application.
How long can I be outside Romania?
During the qualifying five-year period, absences should generally be shorter than six consecutive months and no more than ten months in total.
Does student residence count?
Yes, but generally only 50% of the study residence period is counted toward long-term residence.
Can seasonal work count?
Residence as a seasonal worker is generally excluded from the qualifying calculation.
How long does the application take?
The authority generally has 6 months, with a possible extension of up to three additional months.
How long is the residence card valid?
For family members of Romanian citizens, 10 years. For most other long-term residents, 5 years.
Can I work without a separate work permit?
Yes. Long-term residents generally have access to employment in Romania without the standard separate employment authorization.
Is this Romanian citizenship?
No. Long-term residence and Romanian citizenship are separate legal statuses.
Build Your Long-Term Future in Romania
Turn Your Romanian Residence History Into Long-Term Security
If you have lived legally in Romania for several years and want greater residence and employment stability, Long-Term Residence may be an important next step.
CETO can help assess your residence history, qualifying periods and immigration options and coordinate the application process together with qualified professional partners.
Long-term residence eligibility depends on the applicant's residence history, residence purpose, absences from Romania and individual circumstances. Not all periods of lawful residence are counted equally toward the five-year requirement.