Living in Romania
Official information for UKBritish nationalscitizens livingmoving into or movingliving toin Romania, including guidance on residency, healthcare and driving.
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Stay
To stay up to date
You should:date:
- sign up for email alerts
tothisguidance - follow the British Embassy Bucharest on Facebook and Twitter
Attend
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.Romania
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Visas and residency
Check the entry requirements for Romania.
Residency
If you were resident in Romania before 1 January 2021, you need to apply for a new residency card (‘permis de ședere’) to secure your rights under the Withdrawal Agreement. This includes students and family members of UK nationals.
You must apply for the residency card in person at your local Immigration Inspectorate office before 31 December 2021. The card is free of charge. The supporting documents you must provide depend on how long you have lived in Romania.
Read the Romanian government’s guidance on the residency registration process for non-EU family members.
Apply for a new residency card (‘permis de ședere temporară’) if you have lived in Romania for less than 5 years
If you are registered as a temporary resident or have not registered previously, you need to provide:
- your completed application form
- your UK passport, and a copy of it
- proof of valid healthcare cover
- proof of your address
- proof of your means of income or financial support to the value of the minimum guaranteed income in Romania eg. bank statement, payslip, pension slip
Read the Romanian government’s guidance on how to apply for a temporary residence card, which includes a link to the application form.
You will be eligible for permanent residency when you have lived in Romania for 5 continuous years.
Apply for a new residency card (‘permis de ședere permanentă’) if you have lived in Romania for more than 5 years
If you have lived in Romania for more than 5 years and are registered as a permanent resident, you need to provide:
- your completed application form
- your UK passport and a copy of it
- a criminal record police check issued by your local police station
- proof of your address
Your new residency card will be valid for 10 years and will be renewable.
Read the Romanian government’s guidance on how to apply for a permanent residence card, which includes a link to the application form.
Healthcare
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Working in Romania
If you wereare legallyplanning residentto inmove to Romania beforeand 1 January 2021, you have the right to work, as long as you remainmay legallyneed resident.a visa.
IfRead you intend to work in Romania, you must register with the Romanian Officegovernment’s forguidance Immigrants.on Youworking canin alsoRomania register as self-employed.a Theforeign Generalnational Inspectorateand forhow Immigrationto hasget morea information.visa.
You may need to apply for a:
- Romanian criminal records certificate (Cazier Judiciar)
- UK police certificate
Frontier workers
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You youhave willthe needright a permit to provework if you areapplied for a frontierresidence worker.document (‘permis de ședere’).
If you live in theRomania UKand orwere regularly commuting to work in another EU or EFTA countrycountry, andread regularlyour commutedguidance tofor workfrontier inworkers.
Professional Romaniaqualifications
You beforemay 1need Januaryto 2021get youyour needprofessional aqualification permit.recognised Youif mustyou applywant forto thework permitin ata theprofession immigrationthat officeis whereregulated youin work.Romania.
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MovingStudying toin Romania to study
If you are planning to study in Romania, make sure you must meet all visa requirements before you arrive. travel.
Contact the relevant Higherhigher Educationeducation provider in Romania to check what fees you have to pay.
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If yourincludes qualificationspecific wasinformation officiallyfor recognisedthose bywho thewere relevantalready regulatorliving in Romania before 1 January 2021, make sure you understand the terms of your recognition decision by checking with that regulator.2021.
MoneyMoney, tax and taxbanking
The UK has a double taxation agreement with Romania to ensure you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. Ask the relevant tax authority your questions about double taxation relief.
ExistingYou doubleshould taxationget arrangementsprofessional foradvice UKon nationalspaying livingtax in RomaniaRomania. haveFind notan changed.English-speaking lawyer in Romania.
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
National Insurance
Find out if you need to pay National Insurance in the UK or social security contributions in Romania.
BankingUK banking
Whether UK banks can provide services to customers living in the EEA is a matter of local law and regulation. Your bank, or finance provider should contact you if they need to make any changes to your product or the way they provide it. if you have any concerns about whether you might be affected, contact your provider or seek independent financial advice.
Read the Money and Pension serviceService’s Moneyhelper guidance on banking, insurance and financial services changes for more information on cross-border banking.
Pensions
Read our guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Romania.
YouIf willyou needare tomoving or retiring abroad. you must tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and taxtax.
Read our State Pension guidance if you arehave movinglived in Australia, Canada or retiringNew abroad.Zealand and you are claiming or waiting to claim your UK State Pension.
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
fromworkingabroad,
Read the Money and Pension Service guidance on pension and retirement changes for more information on cross-border pensions.
Life certificates for UK State Pensions
If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you need to respond as soon as possible.possible Your- your payments may be suspended if you don’t.
Benefits
Read our guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Romania.
YouIf willyou needare tomoving or retiring abroad you must tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.tax.
Check which UK benefits you can claim while abroad and how to claim them.
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 from HMRC of the time you’ve worked in the UK fromand HMRCyour ifUK youNational areInsurance asked for this.record.
Romanian benefits
You may be entitledeligible to Romanianclaim benefits.some To find out if you are entitled to Romanian benefitssocial andsecurity howbenefits. toYou claim, you can:should:
- read
theEU’sclaimingsocial security benefits inanEUcountrylike - speak to a social worker at your local town hall (Primarie)
Accommodation and buying property
Read guidance on how to buy property abroad.
Driving in Romania
If you are resident in Romania there is currently no requirement to exchange your UK licence for a local one.
If you are in Romania and your UK driving license 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 Romania to be able to apply for a Romanian driving licence.
For more information on driving in Romania, read the guidance on
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
ifyouwouldliketovote
Births, deathsdeaths, marriage and gettingcivil marriedpartnerships
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
readguidanceforUKnationalsonbereavementsbereavement in Romaniafindfindingalistof
Find out how you can get married or get a civil partnership abroad.
Find out about notarial and documentary services for UK nationals in Romania.
AccommodationandbuyingpropertyReadguidanceonhowtobuypropertyabroad.Pets
If you have a pet passport issued by Romania or another EU member state, you can use it to travel with your pet to Great Britain and elsewhere in the EU.
A GB-issued EU pet passport is not valid for travel to the EU or Northern Ireland. You should speak to your vet before you travel to get the necessary pet travel documents and ensure you’re compliant with the EU Pet Travel Regulations.
Read guidance on:
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
112.112 in Romania. 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
TellCheck the COVID-19 travel guidance for entering the UK.Tell
andthe Romanian and UK authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently.To move your pension to the UK, contact the International Pension Centre.
Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things,
tax,bringingaccessfamilytomembers,servicestax andbringingaccessfamilytomembers.services.DisclaimerNoteIfthatyouthisreturninformationtoistheprovidedUKaspermanentlyaandguidemeetonly.theDefinitiveordinarilyinformationresidentmusttest, you’ll beobtainedablefromtotheaccessRomanianNHSauthorities.careThewithoutFCDOcharge.Useful
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notforbeBritishliablenationalsforabroad:anyainaccuraciesguide setsinoutthishowinformation.to stay safe abroad, and explains how the FCDO can support you if you get into difficulty. - what to do after someone dies abroad
Last updated
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Guidance reviewed for Money, tax and banking, Benefits, Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships, and Useful information sections.
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Guidance reviewed for Passports and travel, Healthcare, Working in Romania, Professional qualifications, Studying in Romania, Emergencies, and Returning to the UK sections
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Professional qualifications section updated for British citizens who are moving or moved to Romania after 1 January 2021 and those living there since before 1 January 2021.
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Working in Romania section updated: new guidance for frontier workers
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Healthcare section updated including guidance on the S1 form and applying for EHIC and GHIC cards; working in Romania section updated with link to Department for International Trade (DIT) guidance on working or providing services; and education section updated with link to DIT guidance on recognition of professional qualifications.
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Updated with additional details on how to apply for the new residency card
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Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines
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Updated as the transition period ends with new information on residency, pet travel and moving to Romania
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Healthcare section updated on how to apply for a new UK EHIC as a student or S1 holder. Working section updated with information on frontier workers
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Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021
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Updated to include additional information on residency and a new section about how to get your professional qualifications recognised
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Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.
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Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement.
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Brexit Update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.
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EU Exit update: we have added new information on returning to the UK, updated the passports and visa section and added the latest on pensions post-Brexit
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EU Exit update: Added the latest statement from the Romanian Government on UK Citizens' Rights in Romania in the EU Exit section.
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We have added the latest announcement from the Romanian Government.
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We have added the registration link for the outreach event aimed at UK nationals in Brasov and the surrounding region.
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Registration for Cluj, Bucharest, Iasi and Timisoara outreach events
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EU Exit update: added link to citizens outreach meetings in Romania to EU Exit section
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We have updated the contact details you need to apply for an S1 form.
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EU Exit update - Updated information on access to healthcare
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EU Exit update: new information about voting rights added to Voting section
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EU Exit update: updated information on pensions and driving.
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EU Exit update: New information in residency and visa section on draft withdrawal agreement in principle between the UK and EU. Plus information on travelling with pets in Europe in Pets section.
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Updated March 2018
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First published.
Update history
2024-06-11 14:19
The “Visas and residency” section has been revised to reflect the introduction of the EU Entry/Exit Scheme (EES), scheduled for Autumn 2024.
2024-04-19 18:53
Passports and travel section updated after Romania joined Schengen for border control-free travel by air and sea.
2022-03-11 08:00
Important information in the Working in Romania, and National insurance sections if you work in Romania, even it if it is for an employer based in the UK.
2022-01-01 07:00
Visas and residency guidance updated, following the 31 December 2021 residency deadline for people with rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.
2021-09-30 09:13
Guidance reviewed for Money, tax and banking, Benefits, Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships, and Useful information sections.
2021-03-26 11:13
Updated with additional details on how to apply for the new residency card
2021-03-03 13:48
Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines
2020-09-07 12:02
Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021
2020-08-10 17:23
Updated to include additional information on residency and a new section about how to get your professional qualifications recognised
2020-01-23 16:45
Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.
2019-05-07 13:54
EU Exit update: we have added new information on returning to the UK, updated the passports and visa section and added the latest on pensions post-Brexit