Living in Romania

What you should do

You should:

• applyregister foras thea new Withdrawal Agreement residency documentresident beforein 31 December 2021Romania
• checkregister you are correctly registered for healthcare. Youas should register for the Romanian National Health House for your healthcare cover. If you are not registered under the local scheme, buy private health insurance that covers all your healthcare needs. If you are a UKresident studentin or have a registered S1 form you may be eligible for a new UK-issued EHICRomania
• check your passport is valid before you travel
• exchange your UK driving license for a Romanian one

Coronavirus

You should follow the advice of the Romanian Government and your local authority. You can also read our Romania travel advice for our latest guidance.

For information on getting a COVID-19 vaccine as a UK national in Romania see our coronavirus travel advice.

Stay up to date

You should:

• sign up for email alerts to this guidance
• follow the British Embassy Bucharest on Facebook and Twitter

Attend a citizen outreach meeting

The British Embassy holds events across Romania for UK nationals. Attend one of our citizens’ outreach meetings to keep up to date on working and living in Romania. Dates for any new events will be advertised on the embassy’s social media channels, including Facebook and Twitter.

You can also:

• read the the Romanian government’s guidance onfor your rights in Romania
• read

The Withdrawal Agreement

The Withdrawal Agreement sets out the Ministryterms of Interiorthe guidanceUK’s withdrawal from the EU and provides for UKa nationalsdeal livingon citizens’ rights. It sets out a transition period which lasts until 31 December 2020. During this time you can continue to live, work and study in Romaniathe (inEU Romanian)

Thebroadly Withdrawalas Agreement

you did before 31 January 2020.

If you wereare legally resident in Romania beforeat 1the Januaryend 2021,of the transition period, you will be covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, and your rights will be protected for as long as you remain resident in Romania.

Any rights that are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement. Youwill mustbe applythe subject of future negotiations. Read this guidance page for more information

In the meantime, make sure you are registered as a newresident residencein statusRomania. byWe 31will Decemberupdate 2021this toguidance secureas yoursoon rights.as more information becomes available.

You should also read our guidance on living in Europe.

Visas and residency

Check the entry requirements for Romania.

Residency

If you are resident in Romania before the transition period ends on 31 December 2020, you will be able to stay.

You must register as a Romanian resident if you want to stay in Romania for more than 3 months. You will obtain a certificate from the General Inspectorate for Immigration (Inspectoratul Roman pentru Imigrari).

All UK nationals resident in Romania beforeby 1 January 2021 will need to apply for a new residency card. YouThe Romanian government has not confirmed the process for obtaining the new residency card, but once it is announced you must apply for the new card before 31 December 2021.

Read the Romanian government’s guidance on residency for UK nationals living in Romania.Romania

We will update these pages with details of the new system as more information is available. You should sign up for email alerts to this guidance.

Healthcare

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State healthcare: S1

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• awill frontierneed workerto whoapply livesfor ina Romaniacertificate andof commutesentitlement toknown workas inan theS1 UKcertificate.

Read our guidance on usinghow to get an S1 form in Romania to ensure you are correctly registered for healthcare..

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you are resident in Romania, you must not use a UK-issued EHIC to access healthcare in Romania.

IfWhen you weretravel livingfrom in Romania beforefor 1a Januarytemporary 2021,stay youin mayanother beEuropean eligibleEconomic forArea a(EEA) newcountry UK-issuedor EHICSwitzerland, ifyou you’re:

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• an EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance

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• for more information you can read our guidancetravel onadvice healthcare when travelling in Europepages and advice on foreign travel insurance

There will be no changes to your healthcare access before 31 December 2020. You can also continue to use your EHIC, as you did before, during this time.

You should also read guidance on:

• healthcare and studying abroad

• finding EnglishEnglish-speaking speaking doctors in Romania

• checking your prescriptions are legal in Romania

Passports and travel

Passports

The rules on travel will stay the same until the end of the implementation period on 31 December 2020. During this time you can continue to travel to countries in the Schengen area or elsewhere in the EU with your UK passport.

Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay.

You can [applyapply for or renew your British passport (https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports)from Romania.

Passports from Romania.1 January 2021

Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip.

YouFrom 1 January 2021, you must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). This requirement does not apply if you are entering or transiting to Romania, and you are in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement.

If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.

You will need to Renewrenew your passport before bookingtravelling your travel if you do not have enough time left on your passport.

As a non-EEA national, different border checks will apply when travelling to other EU or Schengen area countries. You may need to show a return or onward ticket and that you have enough money for your stay. You may also have to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing. YouYour passport may alsobe needstamped tofor showvisits ato returnthese or onward ticket.countries.

Entry requirements

YouFrom can1 January 2021, you will be able to travel to other Schengen area countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa for purposes such as tourism.

To stayThis longeris thana 90rolling days180-day inperiod.

To anystay 180for daylonger, period, to work or study, or for business travel, you mustwill need to meet the entry requirements set out by the country to which you are travellingtravelling. to. This could mean applying for a visa or work permit. You may also need to get a visa if your visit would take you over the 90 days in 180 days limit.

Periods of timestay authorised byunder a visa or permit will not count towardsagainst yourthe 90-day visa-free limit. Travel to the UK and the Ireland will not change.

Different rules will apply to EU countries that are not part of the Schengen area.Area. Check each country’s travel advice page for information on entry requirements.

Travel to the UK and Ireland has not changed.

Working in Romania

If you wereare legallyregistered as a resident in RomaniaRomania, before 1 January 2021, you have the right to work,work asin longRomania. asRead youour remainguidance legallyon resident.working in an EU country.

If you intend to work in Romania, you must register with the Romanian Office for Immigrants. You can also register as self-employed. The General Inspectorate for Immigration has more information.

You may need to apply for a:

• Romanian criminal records certificate (Cazier Judiciar)
• UK police certificate

Frontier workers

If you liveare resident in Romania andon were regularly commuting to work in another EU or EFTA country, before 131 JanuaryDecember 2021,2020, you will needmaintain ayour permitright to provework, youas arelong aas frontier worker.

If you liveremain inresident the UK or another EU or EFTA country and regularly commuted to work in Romania before 1 January 2021 you need a permit. You must apply for the permit at the immigration office where you work.Romania.

Read the Romanian government’s guidance for UK nationals which includes information for frontier workers.

Education and professional qualifications

YouIf will be eligible for broadly the same support as Romanian nationals, as long as you wereare legally resident in Romania beforeon 1or Januarybefore 2021.31 YouDecember must2020, applyyour forright ato residencestudy permitwill instay Romania.

Readthe oursame, guidanceas on:

• continuinglong youras studiesyou inremain theresident EU

• healthcare for students in RomaniaRomania.

Moving

Professional to Romania to studyqualifications

If you arehave planningalready tobeen studyrecognised inby Romania,an makeEU surecountry youas meetholding allvalid visaprofessional requirementsqualifications, beforethis youwill arrive.remain Contactvalid theafter relevant31 HigherJanuary Education provider in Romania to check what fees you have to pay.2020.

ForIf moreyou informationhave readnot studyinghad in the European Union.

Professional qualifications

You may need to get your professional qualificationqualifications recognisedrecognised, if you wantcan tosubmit workan inapplication aunder professionthe thatcurrent isrules regulateduntil in31 Romania.December When doing this, you will be subject to the third country regulations.2020.

Read the Romanian government’sgovernment guidance on how to get your professional qualifications recognised.recognised

If your qualification was officially recognised by the relevant regulator in Romania before 1 January 2021, make sure you understand the terms of your recognition decision by checking with that regulator.

Money and tax

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Romania to ensure you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.

Existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Romania have not changed.

Read guidance about:

• tax if you leave the UK to live abroad
• tax on your UK income if you live abroad
• paying income tax in Romania

You should obtain professional advice on paying tax in Romania. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Romania.

National Insurance

Find out if you needcan to pay National Insurance inwhile theabroad UKso orthat socialyou securityprotect contributionsyour inState Romania.

Banking

WhetherPension UKand banksentitlement can provide services to customersother livingbenefits in the EEA is a matter of local law and regulation.allowances.

If Your bank, or finance provider should contact you ifare theyemployed needor toself-employed makein anythe changesEU to your product or the wayEEA theyand provide it. if you have anya concernsUK-issued aboutA1/E101 whetherform, you mightwill beremain affected,subject contactto yourUK providerlegislation oruntil seek independent financial advice.

Read the Moneyend anddate Pension service guidance on banking,the insurance and financial services changes for more information on cross-border banking.form.

Pensions

Read our guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Romania.

You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.abroad.

If you retire in Romania, you can claim:

• your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. Contact the International Pension Centre to claim
• your Romanian pension if you’ve worked in Romania
• pensions from working abroad, if you’ve worked in other EU countries

Read

Life thecertificates Moneyfor andUK PensionState ServicePensions

If guidanceyou onreceive pensiona and‘life retirementcertificate’ changesform forin morethe informationpost, onyou cross-bordermust pensions.fill it in promptly otherwise your payments may be suspended.

Life

Pensions certificatesafter for31 December 2020

There will be no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on claiming the UK State PensionsPension in the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

If you getare aliving ‘lifein certificate’the fromEU, theEEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020 you will get your UK State Pension Service,uprated every year for as long as you needcontinue to respondlive there. This will happen even if you start claiming your pension on or after 1 January 2021, as soonlong as possible.you Yourmeet paymentsthe mayqualifying conditions explained in the new State Pension guidance..

If you are living in Romania by 31 December 2020, you will be suspendedable to count future social security contributions towards meeting the qualifying conditions for your UK State Pension.

If you work and pay social security contributions in Romania, you will still be able to add your UK social security contributions towards your Romanian pension. This will happen even if you don’t.claim your pension after 31 December 2020.

Benefits

ReadIf you are considering moving to Romania on or after 1 January 2021 and you are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, the rules depend on negotiations with the EU and may change. Check our guidance on entitlementbenefits and pensions in the EU.

You can continue to receive your UK benefitsState andPension pensionsif whileyou live in the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you arecan livingstill inclaim Romania.your UK State Pension.

Benefits

You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.

CheckYou whichmay still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you live in Romania. You must:

• read our guidance on which benefits you can claim whileif you live abroad
• use andour howtool to check which benefits you can claim them.
  while you’re abroad

Many income-related benefits such as pension credit and housing benefit cannot be paid to you if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.

You can request proof of the time you’ve worked in the UK from HMRC if you are asked for this.

Romanian benefits

You may be entitled to Romanian benefits. To find out if you are entitled to Romanian benefits and how to claim, you can:

• read the EU’s guidance on claiming benefits in an EU country like Romania
• speak to a social worker at your local town hall (Primarie)

Benefits after 31 December 2020

There will be no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on claiming UK benefits in the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

If you are living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020, you will continue to receive any UK benefits you already receive. This will continue for as long as you live there and meet all other eligibility requirements.

If you work and pay social security contributions in Romania, your UK social security contributions will be taken into account when applying for Romanian contributions-based benefits. This will happen even if you claim contributions-based benefits after 31 December 2020.

If you are considering moving to Romania on or after 1 January 2021 and you are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, the rules depend on negotiations with the EU. and may change. Read our guidance on benefits and pensions in the EU.

Driving in Romania

Driving licence rules will stay the same until 31 December 2020.

If you are resident in RomaniaRomania, there is currently no requirement to exchange your UK licence for a local one. You can still use your Romanian licence in the UK for short visits or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test if you return to live in the UK.

If you are in Romania and your UK driving licenselicence is lost, stolen or expires, you will not be able to renew it with the UK Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). You will need to apply to the DVLA for a certificate of entitlement in RomaniaRomanian to be able to apply for a Romanian driving licence.

For more information on driving in Romania, read the guidance onon:

• driving licence exchange and renewals

• what you need to drive abroad

• driving rules in Romania

Driving in the UK with a Romanian licence

You can use your Romanian licence in the UK for short visits, or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test.

Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to Romania

Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.

You must read the EU´s guidance on car registration rules and taxes in Romania. You may be exempt from some of these taxes. If so, you will need certificates of exemption.

Voting

You cannot vote in local municipal, national or European Parliament elections in Romania.

You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:

• check if you are able to vote
• register as an overseas voter if you would like to vote

Births, deaths and getting married

If your child is born in Romania, you will need to register a birth abroad.

If someone dies in Romania, you must:

• read our guidance on what to do after someone dies abroad
• read guidance for UK nationals on bereavements in Romania
• find a list of English-speaking funeral directors in Romania

Find out how you can get married abroad.

Find out about notarial and documentary services for UK nationals in Romania.

Accommodation and buying property

Read guidance on how to buy property abroad.

Pets

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Read guidance on:

• on bringing your pet to GB

• travelling with your pet in the EUUK.

• travelling to Northern Ireland with your pet

Check the rules of the country you’re travelling to for any additional restrictions or requirements before you travel.

Emergencies

You can dial the European emergency number 112. It is the only emergency number in Romania.

If you’re the victim of crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact the British Embassy Bucharest.

Returning to the UK

Tell the UK and Romanian authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently.

Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, tax, access to services and bringing family members.

Disclaimer

Note that this information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information must be obtained from the Romanian authorities. The FCDO will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.