Expat Guide to Romania
Everything you need to know about living and working in Romania.
Visa & Residency
EU citizens have free movement. Digital Nomad Visa available: minimum €2,000/month income, 1 year validity. Standard work permit requires employer sponsorship. Business setup (SRL company) is straightforward — many expats establish Romanian companies for tax purposes. The micro-company regime (1% tax on revenue under €500,000) is very attractive for small businesses.
Tax System
Flat 10% income tax — one of Europe's lowest. Social contributions total approximately 35% for employees (25% pension + 10% health insurance), but this is the employee's burden deducted from gross salary. Self-employed pay similar rates on declared income. Micro-company tax: 1% of revenue for companies with revenue under €500,000 — one of Europe's most favorable small business regimes (was 3% before 2023 reform, now 1% with mandatory employee). Dividend tax is 8%. VAT at 19% standard rate.
Note: Always consult a qualified tax advisor for your specific situation.
Healthcare
CNAS (Casa Naţională de Asigurări de Sănătate) public system covers healthcare for insured residents. Quality varies widely: top hospitals in Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca are good, but many public facilities are underfunded. Private healthcare is very affordable and increasingly popular — MedLife, Regina Maria, and Sanador are the major private hospital chains. Comprehensive private insurance costs approximately €50-100/month. Romania has an oversupply of doctors (many emigrate to Western Europe), meaning access is generally easy. Dental tourism is growing — excellent quality at 30-50% of Western European prices.
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Get Covered →Banking
ING Bank Romania (best online banking, English support), BCR (Banca Comercială Română), and BRD (Groupe Société Générale) are popular. Opening an account requires: passport, proof of address, and personal numeric code (CNP — issued with residence permit). Process is same-day at most banks. Revolut is extraordinarily popular in Romania — many locals use it as their primary account. ING's mobile app is excellent. ATMs are widespread. The Romanian banking system is modern and EU-regulated. Wise works well for international transfers.
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