Romanian passport: visa-free countries and main advantages in 2026

174 countries without a visa: where a Romanian passport flies

According to the Henley & Partners index for 2026, the Romanian passport is among the top 20 in the world. 174 countries without a visa or with a visa on arrival - this is more than many countries with a higher standard of living. Key destinations without a visa: - USA - under the ESTA program (visa-free entry up to 90 days) - United Kingdom - visa-free stay after Brexit - Canada - visa-free entry - Japan, South Korea, Singapore - without a visa - UAE - without a visa - All Schengen - like for our own people, without queues at the border For my clients from the CIS the difference is felt immediately. Previously, there was a visa center, queues, waiting for an answer. Now I bought a ticket and flew.

Schengen 2025: what has changed with full membership

Romania entered Schengen in stages. Since March 2024, air and sea borders have opened. From January 1, 2025 - in full, including land. What does this mean in practice: - Moving from Romania to Hungary, Bulgaria, Austria - without passport control - A single Schengen visa is valid for entry into Romania - Romanian citizens enjoy all the rights of EU citizens when crossing internal borders Until 2024, Romania was in the Schengen area - technically the EU, but with border controls. Now this is full freedom of movement in 27 countries.

The right to live and work in any EU country

A Romanian citizen is a citizen of the European Union. This is not a metaphor, but a legal status with specific rights. Where to live: Germany, France, Austria, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain - to any of the 27 EU countries without a residence permit. It is enough to register at your place of residence. Where you can work: No work visa, no quotas, no permission from the employer. Full equality with local citizens in labor rights. Entrepreneurship: Open a company in Germany, Estonia, Austria, Portugal - with the same rights as citizens of these countries. No additional investment threshold.

Who is entitled to Romanian citizenship by descent

The main route to a Romanian passport is restoration of citizenship by descent (redobândirea cetățeniei române). Romania recognizes the rights of descendants of citizens who lost their citizenship between 1940 and 1989. Who can submit: - Children and grandchildren (sometimes great-grandchildren) of Romanian citizens who lost their citizenship before 1989 - Persons born on the territory of Romania or Moldova (the former Moldavian SSR was part of Romania) - Descendants from the regions: Bukovina, Bessarabia, Northern Transylvania, Southern Dobrudja What you need to prove: An ancestor's affiliation with Romanian citizenship and family ties through documents - birth certificates, marriage certificates, records from archives. Important: Romania does not require renunciation of current citizenship. Dual citizenship is legal.

Documents: what to collect and where to look

In my practice, the most difficult stage is not legal, but archival. People often don’t know where their ancestors kept documents and what even survived. Standard package: - Birth certificate of a Romanian ancestor - Documents confirming loss of citizenship (deportation, emigration, change of borders) - Your documents linking you with your ancestor (birth certificates along the entire chain) - Apostilled translations into Romanian Where to look: State archives of Romania, archives of Moldova, church registers, regional archives of Ukraine (for Bukovina and Bessarabia). speaking: if the documents are partially lost, this is not a death sentence. Church books restore a lot. The main thing is to start the search systematically, and not chaotically.

Deadlines: how long to wait for a Romanian passport

The official period for consideration of an application by the Romanian Ministry of Justice is up to 12 months. In practice - from 9 to 18 months, depending on the workload and completeness of the documents. Process steps: 1. Collection and apostille of documents - 2–4 months 2. Submitting an application to the Romanian Ministry of Justice (in person or through an authorized representative) 3. Review - 9–12 months 4. Taking the oath (possible through the consulate) - 1–2 months 5. Obtaining a passport - 1–2 months In total, the realistic period from start to passport is 14–20 months. It is impossible to speed up the administrative part, but you can shorten the stage of collecting documents with proper preparation.

Cost: all costs by item

Government fees in Romania are low. The main costs are archival search, translations and legal support. State fees: - Filing an application for restoration of citizenship - about €50 - Registration of a Romanian passport - about €100 - Oath through the consulate - consular fee ~$50 Related costs: - Apostille for each document - from $30 to $150 depending on the country - Notarized translation into Romanian - from $30–70 per document - Archive requests - $50–200 per certificate - Power of attorney for a representative in Romania - $100–200 Legal support (search for documents, archives, filing, conducting a case) - depends on the complexity of the case. Discussed individually. Overall, this is one of the most affordable routes to a European passport at direct government costs.

Education in the EU: resident prices and access to the best universities

This is one of the most powerful arguments for families with children. An EU citizen pays tuition fees at European universities as a local - this is several times less than for foreigners. Examples of differences in tuition fees: - Austria: EU citizens - €750–1500 per year; foreigners - €7,000–15,000 - Germany: most public universities for EU citizens are free or cost €300–500 per semester - Netherlands: EU citizens - about €2300/year; foreigners - €8,000–20,000 Plus access to EU scholarship programs (Erasmus+) and student loans on preferential terms. Children born to a Romanian citizen automatically receive Romanian citizenship. That is, the next generation is already born with a European passport.

Medicine in the EU: EHIC insurance and access to the system

EU citizens are entitled to a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). It gives access to public medicine in any EU country on the same conditions as for local citizens. What does this mean practically: - Emergency assistance in Germany, Austria, France - at state rates, often free - When moving to another EU country - registration in the local healthcare system as an EU citizen - Planned treatment in Europe without the status of “medical tourist” For those planning to live in Western Europe, this removes one of the main risks - expensive treatment without insurance.

Business and investment in the EU: no restrictions for non-residents

One of the frequent requests among my clients is to open a company in Europe to work with European counterparties or obtain a bank account. Without an EU passport it is difficult: banks require residency, regulators require a local director. With a Romanian passport the situation changes: Open a company: Germany, Estonia, Portugal, the Netherlands - no investment threshold, no minimum capital requirements above the standard for citizens. Bank account: EU citizens open accounts in European banks with a minimum set of documents. There is no presumption of “high risk” by default. Real Estate Investments: No restrictions throughout the EU area, no additional permits for foreigners. Tenders and government procurement: Participation in tenders of EU countries on equal terms with local companies.

Children and family: how the transfer of citizenship works

Romanian citizenship is transmitted by blood (jus sanguinis). A child born to a Romanian citizen automatically receives Romanian citizenship - regardless of the country of birth. Practical scenarios: - You have received citizenship - your children born after this are citizens of Romania automatically - Children born before you received citizenship can apply independently or through you - depends on the situation - Spouse - a separate procedure, but simplified if there are joint children or a long marriage This means that the investment in citizenship today is a European passport for all future generations of your family.

Romanian passport vs other European routes: a fair comparison

People often ask me: why Romania and not Bulgaria or Hungary? I will answer . Romania vs Bulgaria: Bulgaria is also an EU and also a citizenship by origin. But Bulgaria entered Schengen later and under a different regime. Romania will be a full-fledged Schengen country from 2025. Bulgaria by air from March 2024, fully from October 2024. Almost equal conditions now. Romania vs Hungary: Hungarian citizenship by descent is faster (6–12 months), but requires knowledge of the Hungarian language (basic level). Romania does not require a language. Romania vs investment programs: Citizenship by descent is not a purchase, but a restoration of rights. The state fee is minimal. This is a fundamentally different mechanism.

Tax aspects: what is important to know

Romanian citizenship in itself does not create tax obligations. You become a tax resident of Romania only if you actually reside for more than 183 days a year or if you have a “center of vital interests” there. Romania has one of the most attractive tax systems in the EU: - Flat tax on personal income - 10% - VAT - 19% (standard), 9% (food, medicine), 5% (certain categories) - Tax on dividends - 8% - Corporate income tax - 16% (for small businesses with a turnover of up to €500k - 1–3%) Comment by Dmitry Sokolov, tax consultant: “With the right structuring - for example, a company in Romania with actual management from another EU country - the tax burden can be effectively optimized. But each case is individual: you need to look at your country’s tax treaty with Romania, your income structure and where you actually live.”

How to check if you have a basis for Romanian citizenship

This is the first question with which any consultation begins. Not “how much does it cost”, but “is there any reason at all.” Signs that the base may be: - Grandparents are from Romania, Moldova, Bukovina, Bessarabia - Ancestors were evicted, deported or emigrated before 1989 - Surname of Romanian origin (-escu, -eanu, -aru - classical suffixes) - Family stories about Romanian roots - even without documents What to do next: 1. Make a list of everything you know about your ancestors up to the third generation 2. Find any documents - even Soviet passports indicating nationality 3. Consult with a lawyer before starting an archival search - so as not to spend money in the wrong direction I often see people come in with “nothing” and leave with the real deal. And vice versa - they come with confidence, but it turns out that the chain is not being built. It's always worth checking.

Bottom line: for whom a Romanian passport makes sense in 2026

The Romanian passport is not for everyone. But for certain situations it is almost ideal. Who it's best suited for: - There are Romanian or Moldavian roots - even partially - Freedom of movement within the EU and Schengen is important - We need access to education and medicine in Europe - Planning a business or investment in the EU - Do you want a European passport for children? When to consider other options: - There is no Romanian origin and there is no desire to look - then this is simply not your path - Need results within 3–6 months - Romanian procedure is longer speaking: of all European citizenships by origin, Romanian is one of the most realistic for immigrants from the former USSR. The territory of historical Romania was large, and there were many descendants.