Move to Romania
Everything a future Romania settler needs to know. Residency, money, safety — the stuff the tourism board won't put on a poster.
Romania at a Glance
1BR rent / mo
Democracy index
Path to PR
Homicides / 100k
English level
How to actually stay
Visas, residency, and the paperwork mountain between you and a lease
Every route into Romania we've verified against official sources — not just the one your recruiter knows about. Set your passport to sort these by what you can actually use.
Just walk in
Treaty rights. The right passport is the entire application.
PR in ~5y
Join family
A spouse, parent, or child already there sponsors you in.
1–6 mo · PR in ~5y
Protection
For when the move isn't a lifestyle choice.
0–1 mo · no PR track
5 years
to permanent residency
8 years
to citizenship
⚠️ Requires B1-level Romanian language proficiency and tests on Romanian history, geography, culture, and constitution (Law 14/2025).
Where to land in Romania
One city, no paradox of choice
What it costs to exist
Real monthly numbers, not what the expat blog says
$668
priciest 1BR / mo
Rent + food + transport + utilities, averaged across 1 cities. No gym membership, no brunch budget.
How rich is everyone, really
GDP, taxes, and other numbers politicians argue about
$20,072
GDP per capita (PPP)
16%
Corporate tax
5.5%
Unemployment
5.8%
Inflation
Low inequality — the wealth gap won't slap you in the face daily.
Will the government leave you alone?
Democracy, press freedom, and whether you should use a VPN
5.99/10
⚠️ Hybrid regime
82
/100Freedom House score
#38 of 163
Global Peace Index
#55
Press freedom rank
Do they want you here?
How the locals feel about people who moved in — public sentiment, not immigration law
2.9
/9Gallup Migrant Acceptance Index — #123 of 140. Last asked in 2016.
Is Romania safe?
Homicide rates and the stats that matter for sleeping at night
Safe enough to stop thinking about it. Standard urban awareness applies.
Can you order coffee?
The language situation, no sugarcoating
Romanian
Primary language
High
English proficiency (#12 globally)
Most people speak decent English. You can survive without Romanian, but your landlord will respect you more if you try.
❓ Moving to Romania — Common Questions
What is the best city to move to in Romania?▾
Based on our Livability Score, Bucharest ranks #1 in Romania with a score of 77/100. City-centre rent starts around $668/month.
How much does it cost to live in Romania?▾
City-centre 1-bedroom rent ranges from $668 to $668/month across our 1 tracked cities. Average monthly solo expenses are around $2,059.
How do I get permanent residency in Romania?▾
The path to permanent residency in Romania typically takes 5 years. Citizenship is possible after 8 years. Note: Requires B1-level Romanian language proficiency and tests on Romanian history, geography, culture, and constitution (Law 14/2025).
Is Romania a democracy?▾
Romania scores 5.99/10 on the EIU Democracy Index and is classified as a "Hybrid regime." It ranks #38 of 163 on the Global Peace Index.
Is Romania safe to live in?▾
The average homicide rate across our tracked cities in Romania is 1.3 per 100,000 people. That's within the normal range for developed countries.