Romania Golden Visa: EU’s Latest Residency-by-Investment Route Explained

The Romania Golden Visa is a proposed residency-by-investment program that allows non-EU nationals to obtain a five-year residence permit through a minimum €400,000 investment.

Expected to launch in 2026, the scheme positions Romania as one of the newest and most affordable gateways to EU residency and eventual citizenship.

This article covers:

• What is the Romania Golden Visa 2025?
• What are the eligibility criteria for Romania Golden Visa?
• How much is the Golden Visa for Romania?
• How long does visa processing in Romania take?

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The information in this article is for general guidance only. It does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice, and is not a recommendation or solicitation to invest. Some facts may have changed since the time of writing.

What is the residency by investment program in Romania?

Romania’s residency-by-investment program—commonly referred to as the Romania Golden Visa—is a proposed initiative that grants non-EU citizens the right to live in Romania in exchange for a qualifying investment.

The draft bill introducing the program was officially registered in the Romanian Senate on October 14, 2025, marking the country’s first formal step toward establishing a residency-by-investment framework.

Under the draft framework, investors who commit at least €400,000 in real estate, government bonds, investment funds, or listed Romanian companies would receive a renewable five-year residence permit.

The program aims to attract foreign capital and strengthen Romania’s position as a competitive investment destination within the EU.

If approved, it will operate similarly to other European Golden Visa schemes, offering residency rights with the potential to progress toward permanent residence and eventual EU citizenship after fulfilling the required residence period.

How to get a Golden Visa in Romania?

The steps for getting Romania’s golden visa would generally include:

1. Choose one of the eligible investment routes
2. Submit proof of lawful origin of funds and undergo security/anti-money-laundering checks.
3. Apply for the residence permit under the draft program.
4. Maintain the investment for the required period (e.g., five years) and renew the permit as required.
5. After holding the residence permit for the required years, the applicant may then apply for permanent residence and eventually citizenship (according to existing naturalization law).

Because the program is still pending formal legislative approval, interested applicants should monitor developments closely and engage qualified legal/advisory support.

Who’s eligible for a Golden Visa in Romania?

Key eligibility criteria for Romania residency by investment include:

• Being a non-EU/EEA foreign investor.
• Ability to make the required investment and maintain it for the required period.
• Clean criminal record, not listed on sanctions lists, and passing security clearance (for example by entities like the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI), the Foreign Intelligence Service (Romania) (SIE) and the National Office for the Prevention and Combating of Money Laundering (ONPCSB)).
• The investment must be maintained and possibly held for a minimum period (e.g., five years).

Exact eligibility lead-in conditions such as whether physical residence or minimum stay requirements will apply may still be subject to change.

Romania Golden Visa requirements

As currently proposed, the requirements for the Romania Golden Visa include several key investment routes and compliance conditions:

• Purchase of Romanian government bonds with at least five-year maturity.
• Purchase of real estate in Romania worth at least €400,000 and retained for five years.
• Investment in investment funds authorized by the Romanian Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF) of at least €400,000.
• Purchase of shares in companies listed on the Romanian stock exchange worth at least €400,000.

Compliance and maintenance conditions:

• Legal origin of funds must be proved.
• Applicants must pass security screenings by national intelligence and anti-money laundering agencies.
• The investment must be maintained during the validity of the residence permit (e.g., five-year period).
• No (or minimal) minimum stay requirement may apply (in the draft bill, physical presence is reportedly not required).

Applicants should treat these as indicative and await final regulatory specification.

How much money is required for a Golden Visa in Romania?

Investors should expect to prepare around €450,000 to €500,000 in total, combining the €400,000 minimum investment required under the draft legislation with additional legal, due-diligence, and administrative costs.

The €400,000 threshold applies to any eligible route whether through real estate, Romanian government bonds, investment funds, or listed Romanian companies.

Beyond that, applicants must budget for legal and advisory fees, residence permit processing costs, and maintenance expenses related to the chosen investment, such as property taxes or fund management fees.

By comparison, earlier business-investment residence schemes in Romania operated on a much smaller scale, requiring as little as €50,000 plus fees for company formation and employment creation.

The proposed Golden Visa, however, signals a clear move toward higher-capital, passive investment targeting global investors rather than active business operators.

How long does Romania visa processing take?

Processing times for the proposed Golden Visa programme in Romania are not yet firmly established. Based on available information:

• The draft bill mentions a five-year valid residence permit (renewable) under the golden-visa scheme.
• Under existing investor/business residence routes (not the Golden Visa) applications for temporary residence may take 30-45 days for the initial permit.
• As the Golden Visa program is still going through parliament, the effective implementation timeline may face delays. Prospective applicants should expect that an actual application under the Golden Visa may require several months for setup (investment, documentation, clearance) and then the permit issuance.

Be mindful that the transition to permanent residency and citizenship will take additional years beyond initial permit issuance.

What is the visa rejection rate in Romania?

Since the Romania Golden Visa program is still pending formal approval, there is no official rejection rate yet for investment-based residence applications.

However, broader visa data can provide useful context.

In 2024, following Romania’s entry into the Schengen area, about 9.4% of Romania Schengen visa applications were rejected out of the 35,359 submitted.

Since the country is a new Schengen member, there is no year-over-year comparison yet, but this figure indicates a relatively moderate rejection rate compared to other EU states.

For future Golden Visa applicants, similar due diligence standards are expected.

The draft framework outlines rigorous background, financial, and security checks, including proof of lawful fund origin and clearance from national intelligence services.

As such, applicants should anticipate strict scrutiny and a non-trivial risk of rejection if documentation is incomplete or the investment criteria are not met.

Is Romania a good place to invest?

Yes. Romania has several investment-attractive qualities:

• Strong economic growth: Romania is one of the fastest-growing economies in Europe in recent years.
• Lower cost base: Real estate and labor cost levels are generally lower than in many Western European countries.
• Access to the EU and, as of January 2025, full participation in the Schengen Area, increasing mobility.
• Future golden-visa/residency-by-investment program offers potentially efficient EU access at a relatively competitive threshold (depending how it is implemented).
• Potential tax or business incentives: the business environment for sectors such as IT, services is improving, infrastructure is developing.
  

Is it worth moving to Romania?

Moving to Romania can be worthwhile for those seeking a strategic base in Europe rather than purely a citizenship-by-investment shortcut.

The country offers an appealing mix of affordability, location, and access to EU opportunities.

If your primary objective is passive investment only for citizenship, you must factor in the active investment requirement, the hold-period, and integration/residence considerations.

If lifestyle, business, or long-term diversification are part of the plan, moving to Romania could make sense.

What are the advantages of living in Romania?

Major advantages of living in Romania include:

• Entry into EU/Schengen zone: As an EU member and Schengen participant, residents (and eventually citizens) gain access to European mobility.
• Cost-friendly living: Compared to many Western European countries, the cost of living in Romania is comparatively lower, giving greater value for money.
• Growth potential: With its developing economy, business and technology sectors may present growth opportunities for entrepreneurs or investors.
• Real estate value-for-money: Property prices remain relatively moderate compared to major Western European cities.
• Cultural and lifestyle: Romania offers a mix of historical cities (like Bucharest), nature, and access to the EU environment while being less saturated.
• Potential tax/business advantages: Depending on your business structure you may benefit from local incentives, and diversifying your residence/investment footprint may carry strategic value.

What are the disadvantages of living in Romania?

Some potential cons of living in Romania include:

• Language and integration: Romanian is the main language of daily life, and English proficiency drops outside major cities. Mastering the language is essential for full integration and eventual citizenship.
• Regulatory uncertainty: Since the Romania Golden Visa remains a draft, future policy changes, such as investment rules or citizenship timelines, could alter long-term investor expectations.
• Bureaucracy and paperwork: Administrative processes can be time-consuming, especially for foreign nationals. Many applicants rely on local legal or accounting support to navigate procedures efficiently.
• Infrastructure gaps: While Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca are modernizing quickly, smaller towns may lack the infrastructure, healthcare, or transport standards seen in Western Europe.
• Economic volatility: As an emerging EU market, Romania is still subject to fluctuations in the leu’s currency value, political shifts, and evolving investment regulations.
• Social adjustment: Outside cosmopolitan centers, expats may find fewer international schools, global brands, or English-speaking networks.
• Weather and climate: Romania experiences cold winters and hot summers, which may be challenging for those used to milder climates.

Conclusion

The proposed Romania Golden Visa programme offers an appealing proposition: access to EU residence via a minimum investment of around €400,000, with a five-year renewable permit and no strict minimum stay requirement.

But because the bill is still under legislative review, interested investors should proceed with caution, monitor regulatory updates, and ensure full due diligence.

If implemented as projected, this scheme could become one of the more competitive investment-residency routes in Europe, especially for those willing to engage actively in the investment and comply with maintenance obligations.

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