Assistance services for foreign nationals that buy properties in Romania. Expat relocation assistance services in Romania

Foreign nationals with EU/EEA-citizenship 

For foreign nationals that have the EU-citizenship (including EEA space, meaning the EU member states and three of the four EFTA states Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) looking to buy properties in Romania, our agency provides assistance services related to obtaining the personal NIF number. 
The NIF number is required for all natural persons that want to purchase or sell real estate properties in Romania.
Our agency provides assistance and representation services to facilitate the issuance of the NIF number.

Foreign nationals with EU/EEA-citizenship can purchase almost any type of real estate property in Romania. There are several limitations when it comes to purchasing agricultural land that is situated outside the city limits or agricultural land that is situated within a distance of 30-35 km from the national borders of the country. For this type of properties, the procedure is lengthier, costlier and more complicated. However, our agency can assist you during the procedure.

Foreign nationals without EU/EEA-citizenship

Foreign nationals without EU-citizenship (such as Bangladeshi, Indian, Sri Lanka, Nepalese nationals, citizens from the US, Canada, UK, Asia as well as the African continent) can purchase almost any type of real estate property in Romania provided that the purchase is made on behalf a legal person with the social seat in Romania.
The same limitations listed above apply.
For foreign nationals without EU-citizenship, our agency can provide assistance services during the selection and acquisition process of the desired property.
We can also assists foreign nationals in opening a company based in Romania, while providing complete assistance and guidance during the complete process of the purchase and setting up a company in Romania.

What our agency can not assist with?
Our agency can not assist with the facilitation of obtaining travel visas.

What is the limitation of the scope of our assistance services?
Our agency can only assist foreign nationals that want to purchase the properties listed in the agency portfolio.
The scope of the assistance services for foreign nationals is limited to the west part of Romania and for the properties listed in our portfolio.

What are the costs for the assistance services provided to foreign citizens?
As a courtesy for our clients, our agency provides services for the registration of the NIF number.
A fee of €88 ($105) per registered person applies.

What are the costs charged by our agency for the assistance with opening up a company in Romania?
To set up a private limited company (the equivalent of a LTD),  the costs with the assistance services start from €1190 (~ $1375) per registered company with up to 5 associates.
If there are more than 5 associates, an additional fee of €150 (~ $180) per registered associate applies. 
The costs include the registration procedure, the necessary paperwork to get the company registered, fees, taxes, as well as representation services.
The above costs do not include accountancy costs.
The accountant costs vary between €100 (~ $120) and €300 (~ $360) per month depending on the company profile and volume of work.

All the above costs above are valid only for the west part of the country. 

What do you need to be able to buy a property in Romania?
As a foreign national with EU/EEA-citizenship, to be able to buy a property in Romania, you need to have a valid NIF number and a valid identification document. 
However, please be aware that you can only purchase residential properties such as apartments, office spaces, commercial buildings, farms, construction land but you may not purchase agricultural land that is situated outside the city limits without following a strict procedure.
As a foreign national without EU/EEA-citizenship, to be able to buy a property in Romania, you need to have a valid NIF number and a valid identification document with a valid visa, regardless whether the visa is for tourism, study, work, long stay or for business purposes.
However, please be aware that you can only purchase residential properties such as apartments, office spaces, commercial buildings but you may not buy the land on which the property is built on, nor can you buy construction land or agricultural land.
If you wish to buy farms, construction land or agricultural land, you can do so only if you have a company established in Romania. 
As a foreign national without EU/EEA-citizenship you may however purchase farms, construction land or agricultural land, as a private individual only after you acquired the permanent resident status.
You can apply to become a permanent resident after 5 years of uninterrupted legal stay in Romania. 

What do you need to be able to open up a company in Romania?

In the past decade, many Bangladeshi people chose to relocate to Romania for work, business or for study. As a Bangladeshi citizen, you don’t need to be physically in Romania to open a company, but if you want to live or work in Romania you’ll need to apply for a Business Visa or a Long-Stay Visa for Commercial Activities (D/AS).

You must apply at the Romanian Embassy in your country. 
In the case of Bangladeshi citizens, they need to apply for a Business Visa or a Long-Stay Visa for Commercial Activities (D/AS) at the Romanian Embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh or, for Nepalese nationals to the Romanian embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal or for Sri Lanka citizens at the Romanian embassy in Colombo. 

Requirements to be able to obtain a Business Visa or a Long-Stay Visa for Commercial Activities (D/AS) for Romania

If you as a foreign national investor without EU/EEA-citizenship want to purchase agricultural land or a farm in Romania, you need to do so on behalf of a company with the social seat in Romania.

To be able to get a Business Visa or a Long-Stay Visa for Commercial Activities in Romania you will need:

1) a business plan in which you detail what do you plan to do as a business in Romania

2) the company registration documents (prior to applying for a visa you must open up the company in Romania)

3) proof of financial means to sustain your living for a reasonable period of time (usually for at least 6 months)

4) criminal record clearance from the city hall or local Police office

5) health insurance valid for at least 1 year

After you are granted the Business Visa or a Long-Stay Visa for Commercial Activities (D/AS), then you can plan your relocation to Romania. 

Important!
A visa issued by the Romanian embassy grants the right to enter the country of Romania.
Although Romania is part of the EU and the open borders Schengen space, the visa does not grant the right to relocate or move to another country in the EU. 
You are free to travel as a tourist but you may not settle as a resident in any other EU country based on the visa issued by the Romanian state.  
Upon arrival in Romania, if you have a visa that allows long stay (more than 90 days), you must apply for a residence permit at the General Inspectorate for Immigration, within 30 days from arrival. Failure to do so may result in cancellation of the visa.
Travelers that stay for up to 90 days, are not required to apply for a residence permit.

Key takeaways

If you are a foreign citizen without EU/EEA-citizenship that wishes to purchase residential or commercial properties (without the land on which they have been built), than you may do so without the need to apply for a Business Visa or a Long-Stay Visa for Commercial Activities.
You can travel to Romania on a tourist visa and you can make a purchase. Owning a residential property in Romania will not entitle you to become a legal resident. You may use the property when you are legally present in the country.  
You are not required to register as a resident, however you need to obtain a NIF number.

However, be aware that a tourist visa does not entitle you to travel to other countries and that you must leave the country when your visa expires, by returning to your country of origin.
Also, a tourist visa does not grant you the rights to work, study or do business in Romania.

We offer assistance services to our clients during the whole acquisition process, as well as after the moment of the purchase. 
The assistance and representation services at the General Inspectorate for Immigration are offered as a courtesy to and exclusively for the clients of our agency. The assistance fee is €150 (~ $180) per person.

Our agency does not facilitate assistance services for any other immigration cases.