What is permanent residency?
Although the name may lead you to think of a right without time constraints, this type of residency is not “permanent” at all.
Permanent residency is the right offered to foreign citizens to live and work in Romania, based on a residency permit issued by the State Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), valid for 10 years for EU citizens and family members of non-EU citizens, respectively 5 years for non-EU citizens. Upon expiration of this period you will have to apply for a new permit, it is not issued automatically.
Who can obtain the Romanian permanent residency?
You can apply for permanent residency if you have lived in Romania for at least 5 years legally, uninterruptedly and speak Romanian. However, EU citizens are not tested for knowledge of the Romanian language.
What does “legal residency” entail?
Your stay is legal if the authorities have not taken measures against you to remove you from the Romanian territory or to restrict your right to free movement.
Example: If you were expelled from Romania because you committed crimes against the state or if the Romanian authorities consider that you represent a risk to national security, you will not obtain a Romanian residency permit even if you have lived in Romania for more than 5 years.
Not every misdemeanor or crime automatically makes you lose your right to reside, only those that are considered truly dangerous. If, for example, you received a speeding ticket, it does not automatically mean that your stay in Romania is in itself illegal and you lose the right to a residency permit.
However, we recommend in all cases compliance with Romanian and European legislation throughout your stay in Romania.
What does continuous residency mean?
Your stay is continuous if you have not left Romania for periods longer than 6 months during a calendar year and there are no missing periods between your residency permits (registration certificates with CNP).
Example: If from June 2015 to May 2016 you left Romania for several holidays, accumulating more than 6 months in total, you will not qualify for permanent residency.
Do not consider interruption:
§ absence for compulsory military service
§ absence due to pregnancy or birth, due to a serious illness
§ participation in educational programs, professional training or moving in the interest of service for a maximum of 12 consecutive months.
Example: If you left Romania for 7 months as a volunteer soldier, on your return you will have to wait another 5 years to obtain permanent residency.
Where do I submit the file for obtaining residency?
You will have to submit the file for obtaining residency at the IGI (General Inspectorate for Immigration) office in the county where you legally reside.
Example: if you have obtained a residency permit in Bucharest, you actually live in Brașov, you will have to submit the file for obtaining permanent residency in Bucharest.
Can I lose the right of permanent residency once obtained?
Yes, you can lose the status of permanent resident if you leave the Romanian territory for more than 12 consecutive months.
What is the difference between temporary residency and permanent residency?
The temporary stay (obtaining the registration certificate with CNP) is offered to foreign citizens who meet the legal conditions, even if they have never lived in Romania and is valid between 1 year and 5 years, as the case may be.
By comparison, permanent residency is offered to foreign nationals only after a period of 5 years of temporary residency and is valid for 10 years. Permanent residency is generally an intermediate situation between the right of temporary residency and Romanian citizenship, because the permanent resident enjoys many of the rights offered to Romanian citizens.
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