If you are a citizen of a non-EU/EEA country, have a valid right of residence in Romania and wish to obtain long-term residence in this country, you must fulfill certain conditions.

The steps are as follows: request the right to reside for a long period of time at the territorial units of the General Inspectorate for Immigration in the district where you live, and in case of a positive answer, submit documents for obtaining a long-term residence permit.

You can obtain this right as a family member of a Romanian citizen and for other purposes of staying in Romania (e.g., work, commercial activities, family reunification, etc.). A long-term residence permit is valid for 10 years if you are a family member of a Romanian citizen and valid for 5 years if you stay in Romania for other purposes provided for by law.

Please note that you cannot obtain a long-term residence permit in Romania if you fall into one of the following categories:

• You have the right to temporary residence for studies,

• You are an asylum seeker or you benefit from temporary humanitarian protection or you benefit from temporary protection from the Romanian state,

• You are in Romania with a short-term visa or a visa / right of residence granted by a diplomatic or work visa.

See a complete list of the necessary conditions for granting permanent residency and exceptions to them.

You can get detailed information about procedures and necessary documents on the website of the General Immigration Inspectorate: https://igi.mai.gov.ro/en/category/diverseen/migration/ 

Citizenship in Romania can be obtained in four ways: by birth, adoption, repatriation and naturalization.

• Birth. All children born to Romanian citizens acquire Romanian citizenship at birth. A child can be born in Romania or abroad, but if at least one of the parents is a Romanian citizen, the child can acquire Romanian citizenship. In addition, any child residing in Romania is granted Romanian citizenship if neither parent is known.

• Adoption. Citizenship is granted to any child legally adopted by Romanian citizens.

• Repatriation. Any person who has lost his Romanian citizenship can regain it if he so wishes. In addition, any child or grandchild of a person who has lost their citizenship is entitled to repatriation.

• Naturalization. How to get Romanian citizenship by naturalization:

• open a national visa to Romania (category D)

• obtain a temporary residence permit for one of the legal reasons (work, study, business, family)

• issue a permanent residence permit after 5 years of residence in Romania.

• get a Romanian passport

The most important condition for obtaining citizenship through naturalization is the presence of grounds for an official stay in Romania. Such reasons can be employment in a Romanian company, investments, running one's own business in the country, studying at local universities, the need for long-term treatment.

Applicants must also be at least 18 years old and have a good understanding of the Romanian language and culture.

You can get detailed information about the procedures and necessary documents at the link: https://pasapoarte.mai.gov.ro/ 

The oath to Romania is one of the final stages in the process of acquiring the citizenship of this state. The foreign applicant must come to the consulate or embassy of Romania in order to make a solemn speech confirming their intention to be loyal to the new homeland and to comply with its laws. Without knowledge of the language, it will not be possible to pass this stage.

Romania does not have dual citizenship agreements in place with other countries, but grants Romanian citizenship to foreign applicants without requiring the relinquishment of a previous passport. Thus, having a Romanian passport gives its owner all the advantages of a second or even multiple citizenship.

To apply for a Blue Card, the applicant must:

• Have a valid employment contract or invitation to work for a period of at least 1 year;

• Present a valid travel document, visa application or visa application (if necessary), as well as a valid residence permit or national long-term visa (if necessary);

• Submit a certificate of insurance in case of illness (or confirmation of the application for its receipt).

In addition, the applicant must not threaten public order from the point of view of the Member State.

Will the application of an EU citizen have priority over the application of a person from a third country?

Some Member States apply the labor market test (LMT). This mechanism aims to ensure that migrant workers are hired only after employers have failed to hire national workers who are EU nationals (in EU member states this also means EEA workers).

Romania does not use the labor market test.

How long will the EU Blue Card be valid in Romania?

Standard term of validity in Romania: two years.

How much it will cost?

Blue Card initial fee: 174 euros.

Continuation: 179 euros.

Replacement: 174 euros.

How long does it take to get a Blue Card?

National legislation stipulates that the maximum processing time for the issuance of a Blue Card in Romania is 30 days.

You can read more about the EU Blue Card in Romania at this link: https://ec.europa.eu/immigration/romania_en