I. General information
Romania is a Member State of the European Union. Romania formally became a full member of the Schengen Area on 1 January 2025, which means internal land-border checks with other Schengen countries have been abolished.
Types of visas issued by Romania:
Uniform visa (C-type visas) – valid for the territory of the Schengen Area and is issued for short-term stays, namely 90 days within any 180-day period, calculated from the date of first entry. Regarding the short-stay visa, there are a number of states whose citizens do not need a visa to enter the territory of Romania. For some states, Commission implementing decisions apply, establishing harmonised lists of supporting documents to be submitted by visa applicants from those states for uniform visas. The documents required from third-country nationals residing in these states and citizens of these states who submit applications for a uniform visa can be found in the table on this website: https://www.mae.ro/node/30296. Among the states whose citizens need a visa to enter Romania, there are some for which it is necessary to obtain an invitation approved by the General Inspectorate for Immigration – Ministry of Internal Affairs (IGI-MAI). The documents you need in order to obtain a Schengen visa can be found here: https://eviza.mae.ro/ro_SupportingDocuments.
Long-stay visas (D-type visas) - the authorised stay granted through a D-type visa can be extended by means of a residence permit. In order to apply for the extension of your authorised stay, beyond the maximum 90-day limit, and obtain a residence permit, throughout the first 30 days from the date of entry into Romania, please address the territorial bureau of the Romanian General Inspectorate for Immigration of the Ministry of Interior of Romania. A Romanian long-stay visa allows you to enter Romania only. It does not grant the right to travel or reside in other Schengen or EU countries. Once in Romania, you must apply for a residence permit from the Romanian Immigration Inspectorate (IGI).
Applicants must lodge their application for a Romanian visa, electronically, through the e-VISA electronic portal, available 24/7.
Visa applications are electronically sent to and physically lodged at the Romanian Diplomatic Mission or Consular Post (DMCP) with territorial competency for the country in which visa applicants are legally present. The list of Romanian DMCPs can be found here: https://www.mae.ro/en/romanian-missions.
Please make use of the e-VISA portal, as there is no other manner in which you can set online appointments for the lodging of visa applications.
To the attention of all third-state nationals, irrespective of whether they are required or not to hold an entry visa for Romania:
All aliens who wish to travel to Romania must be in possession of a valid travel document accepted by Romania, on which, should it be necessary, a visa can be affixed.
The validity of the travel document must exceed the validity of the visa you apply for, or, depending on the case, the period of your stay without the visa requirement, by at least 3 months, and must have been issued no later than 10 years ago.
Please consult the conditions that must be fulfilled in order to be allowed entry into Romania: e-VISA.
II. Visa Application Procedures for Romania - How Should I Apply and What Type of Visa Should I Apply For?
Short-term studies, ERASMUS+ for stays that do not exceed 90 consecutive days throughout any 180-day period - uniform short-stay visa
- For short-term studies, traineeship or academic mobilities (such as ERASMUS+) and other forms of training that exceed the stay limit of 90 consecutive days within any 180-day period — for example, training modules or mobilities lasting 1 year — you will need a long-stay visa for other purposes (bearing the symbol "D/AS"), applying according to the category that fits your situation, namely unpaid professional training, volunteer activities, or other activities that do not contravene Romanian law.
- Please note that third-country nationals who hold valid visas (in uniform format) or residence permits issued by a Schengen Member State are exempt from the short-stay visa requirement for Romania. However, for mobilities longer than 90 consecutive days within any 180-day period, third-country nationals must obtain the long-stay visa for other purposes, as this is required in order to extend the right of residence in Romania beyond the 90 days.
- Information regarding these types of visas can be found here: https://www.mae.ro/node/1495?page=6, and the list of documents that must be submitted for each type of visa is available here: https://eviza.mae.ro/ro_SupportingDocuments.
