How long does it take to move to Romania?

There's no fixed number of days - it depends on appointment availability and how much paperwork you're bringing. The guide breaks the move into 4 stages (Before you leave, First three months, Steps for the children, If you are buying property) covering 23 individual steps, so you know what's next instead of guessing.

What catches people out when moving to Romania?

Not needing a visa is not the same as not needing to register. EU/EEA citizens staying beyond 90 days must apply for the registration certificate within 3 months of entry, and missing it carries a fine.

How much of the Romania guide can I see for free?

The first three steps of your route are free to preview, no account needed. The full route - every step, what to bring, the cost and the official source - unlocks with one payment once you've picked where you're moving from.

Settle Steps / Moving to Romania

Moving to Romania, step by step

23 steps for your move to Romania - which office, what to bring, what it costs and how long it takes - checked against official sources where an official answer exists, and marked clearly where it depends on your situation instead.

See the free preview for Romania

How the move breaks down

1
Before you leave
Whether you need a visa at all depends entirely on your citizenship - EU/EEA and everyone else are two different starting points.
9 steps
2
First three months
Romania's registration deadline is three months, not two weeks - but it is still a hard legal deadline, and almost everything else (CNP, bank account, health cover) depends on it.
9 steps
3
Steps for the children
School enrolment and the state child allowance both extend to legally resident foreign children, not just Romanian citizens.
2 steps
4
If you are buying property
Optional - skip if you are renting. EU citizens buy on the same footing as Romanians; non-EU citizens face real restrictions on land specifically.
3 steps

10 of the 23 steps are checked against an official source, with the date it was checked. The rest depend on your own circumstances, or are practical guidance no authority publishes - each step says which.

If you get stuck in Romania

112 General emergency number

Things people don't expect about moving to Romania

EU citizens still face a hard 3-month deadline
Not needing a visa is not the same as not needing to register. EU/EEA citizens staying beyond 90 days must apply for the registration certificate within 3 months of entry, and missing it carries a fine.
Your CNP arrives bundled with your registration, not as a separate errand
Unlike some neighbouring countries, there is no extra office visit to get your personal numeric code - IGI issues it the same day as your registration certificate or residence permit.
What you can buy splits sharply by citizenship and by land type
An apartment is straightforward for almost anyone. Land - especially agricultural or forest land - is a different legal question entirely, and non-EU buyers without a reciprocity treaty generally cannot hold it personally.

Questions people ask about moving to Romania

How long does it take to move to Romania?
There's no fixed number of days - it depends on appointment availability and how much paperwork you're bringing. The guide breaks the move into 4 stages (Before you leave, First three months, Steps for the children, If you are buying property) covering 23 individual steps, so you know what's next instead of guessing.
What catches people out when moving to Romania?
Not needing a visa is not the same as not needing to register. EU/EEA citizens staying beyond 90 days must apply for the registration certificate within 3 months of entry, and missing it carries a fine.
How much of the Romania guide can I see for free?
The first three steps of your route are free to preview, no account needed. The full route - every step, what to bring, the cost and the official source - unlocks with one payment once you've picked where you're moving from.

Moving to Romania from an EU country, or from outside the EU

The steps differ depending on where you're moving from. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens generally register locally with no visa required; moving from outside the EU usually means a visa or residence permit arranged before you travel. Pick your own country on the guide and you'll only see the steps that actually apply to you - not a generic list for everyone.

Get the full guide

Pick where you're leaving from on the main guide, and the first three steps are free. The full route for Romania - every step, what to bring, the cost, the timing and the source - unlocks with one payment, on the page itself.

Choose your route to Romania

Moving to Romania, step by step

How the move breaks down

Before you leave

First three months

Steps for the children

If you are buying property

If you get stuck in Romania

Things people don't expect about moving to Romania

EU citizens still face a hard 3-month deadline

Your CNP arrives bundled with your registration, not as a separate errand

What you can buy splits sharply by citizenship and by land type