Road Map for Romania
Step 1. 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.
Step 2: Identity & Healthcare Foundation
Objective: Access to the public system and current services.
Action: Obtaining the CNP (Personal Numeric Code) and registering with a Family Doctor.
Note: The CNP is mandatory for any legal contract (telephony, banking, rent), and the family doctor is the single point of access for the public health system.
Step 3: Housing & Living Essentials
Objective: Managing daily life in the chosen home.
Action: Managing the housing contract, paying utilities, understanding rights and obligations towards the landlord/manager.
Note: This stage focuses on long-term housing stability, after the formality in Step 1 has been fulfilled.
Step 4: Financial & Mobility Infrastructure
Objective: Financial autonomy and urban mobility.
Banking: Opening a local account (for university/scholarship payments) or using digital services (neobanks).
Mobility: Activating the student ID for a 90% discount on public transport (according to the law for students up to 26 years old).
Step 5: Academic & Professional Integration (The Hub Specialty)
Objective: Capitalizing on research and internship opportunities.
Action: Connecting with the university's Careers and Partnerships office.
Daily Life & Essentials: Moving to a new country comes with a host of practical needs for everyday life. From essential pharmaceuticals and personal care items to seasonal clothes and university outfits, you can get everything quickly and online, with delivery directly to your new address.
Specific focus:
Industrial/Technical: R&D projects:
- Dacia-Renault for Pitești/Mioveni, Dacia holds a leading strategic position in Europe, the brand being the pillar of Renault Group's volume, profitability and accessibility in Europe
- Titu Technical Center, Renault Group's largest automotive research and testing center outside France
- Ford-Otosan Craiova, is one of the most important automobile and engine factories in Eastern Europe,
- Oil & Gas for Ploiești & Constanța(Black Sea)
- Mining for Petroșani
Clinical/Medical: Access to centers of excellence
- Transplant centers
- University clinical hospitals
- Genetics laboratories