Legal Registration & Residency Compliance in Romania
Legal Registration & Residency Compliance
Objective: Obtaining the right of legal residence.
Action: Registration with the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI).
Required documents:
- Letter of acceptance/registration.
- Proof of accommodation: Certificate of accommodation (issued upon registration) OR rental contract registered with ANAF.
Tip for students: If you haven't found a long-term rental yet, look for temporary accommodation (hostel/Airbnb) for the first 30 days that can provide you with a document confirming your stay, or, ideally, prioritize dormitory accommodation for the first semester, precisely to avoid the bureaucracy of rental contracts in the first week.
- Proof of means of support and medical insurance.
For the student file submitted to the General Inspectorate for Immigration IGI, the requirements differ significantly if you are a citizen of an EU/EEA (EWU) state or a Non-EU state.
Find below the exact structure of the documents required for each category:
Category 1: NON-EU Students (Third Countries)
If you come from a state outside the European Union, the financial and medical criteria are strict:
A. Proof of means of support (Financial Requirements)
You must prove that you have funds in the amount of at least the minimum gross basic salary per country guaranteed in payment.
- For the Initial Visa: The total value of the minimum wage per economy calculated for the entire period entered in the visa.
- For the Extension of the Residence Permit: The funds must be ensured for a period of at least 6 months.
- How to prove it:
- Recent bank statement in your name, issued by a bank in Romania or with international branch/coverage.
- Scholarship certificate (if you are a scholarship holder of the Romanian state or an accredited organization).
- Note: If you are a scholarship holder of the Romanian state, you are exempt from proof of other means of support.
B. Proof of health insurance
- If you are under 26 years old: You are exempt from paying health contributions according to Romanian law. You only need to submit a Student Certificate issued by the university stating that you are enrolled in full-time courses in the current academic year.
- If you are over 26 years old: You must present a Social Health Insurance (certificate issued by the Health Insurance House - CAS) or a Private Insurance Policy valid on Romanian territory, covering the risks of illness and accidents (usual ceiling of at least EUR 30,000).
Category 2: EU / EEA / Swiss Confederation (EWU) Students
If you are a European citizen, the procedure at the IGI is a simple registration of residence (obtaining the Romanian CNP), and the rules are much more flexible.
A. Proof of means of support (Financial Requirements)
- What you submit: A simple written and signed declaration by you, confirming that you have the necessary financial means to not become a burden on the Romanian social assistance system. A bank statement with a fixed amount is not mandatory, unless the IGI inspector expressly requests it for special reasons.
B. Proof of health insurance
You must present one of the following options:
- European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), issued by your country of origin (within its validity period).
- Form S1 (formerly E106), transferred through the insurance company in your country of origin to CNAS Romania.
- A private health insurance policy valid in Romania.
- If you are under 26 years old, the same free rules in the state system apply based on the student certificate issued by an accredited university in Romania.
