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Cleopatra Leahu, SUCIU POPA Partner and Co-Head of Employment and Immigration practice

Andreea Lucaci, SUCIU POPA Associate

 

 

 

Following in the footsteps of countries such as Germany, Estonia and Australia, Romania made its first move in the direction of regulating digital nomads, a draft law amending GEO no. 194/2002 on the regime of foreigners in Romania being currently under debate before the Senate. The bill is yet to be passed by the Chamber of Deputies and published in the Official Gazette of Romania in order to come into force.

Digital nomads are defined by the draft law as those foreigners who are employed by a company registered outside of Romania or who provide services through a self-owned company registered outside of Romania, and who perform their activity remotely, through information and communication technology systems (ICTs).

Under the draft law, in order to live or travel in Romania while continuing to work remotely for their foreign employer or through their owned foreign company, digital nomads are first required to obtain a long-stay visa for other purposes. This visa will allow digital nomads to stay in Romania for an initial period of 90 days – which may be subsequently extended, upon request, through a residency permit.

In order to obtain a digital nomad visa, the interested persons need to apply at the Romanian Embassy or Consular Offices in their country of residence.

The general conditions required for obtaining a long-stay visa for other purposes will stand, applicants being requested to show proof of a valid medical insurance and accommodation, as well as a copy of their criminal record.

In addition to the above, applicants should provide evidence that they are either employed by a foreign firm, or offer services through a self-owned company outside of Romania. The possibility to carry out the work / services through ICTs is a must in both cases.

Last but not least, applicants will have to have a proven minimum income of at least the average gross monthly salary applicable in Romania in the 6 months prior to the visa application. This is, currently, roughly EUR 1,125 – which is the lowest level in the CEE for granting such visas.

If adopted, the flexible process for obtaining the long-stay visa, along with the rather low cost of living and a very good internet network are all ingredients to make Romania become a top choice for remote working in the region.

Suciu Popa is a top law firm with a full-service practice, with notable performances in business law, intellectual property, litigation, administrative and commercial disputes, being constantly ranked by all local and international directories in the top tiers of legal services providers on various areas of work. Fully committed to making a difference on the Romanian legal services market, Suciu Popa draws on the solid experience and reputation of its attorneys and partners, built over more than 20 years of acting for important, multinational clients, including strategic investors and investment funds, public authorities and international financial institutions, in some of the most complex cross-border transactions, investment projects and dispute resolution cases.