Long-term residence in Romania: conditions, rights and what GEO 32/2026 changes
The long-term right of residence (drept de ședere pe termen lung) is the status that a foreign national from outside the EU can apply for after 5 years of legal and continuous residence in Romania. It is granted for an indefinite period (art. 70 para. (1) of GEO no. 194/2002) and no longer depends on an employer, a contract or a visa.
GEO no. 32/2026 did not change the rights of long-term residents. What it did change is how you prove your knowledge of Romanian when you file the application, and it rewrote the rules under which a foreign national who already has this status is employed. The guide below takes these in turn, with the article of the law cited for each statement.
In brief
| Question | Answer | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| When you can apply | After 5 years of continuous temporary residence | art. 71 para. (1) letter a) GEO 194/2002 |
| For how long it is granted | Indefinitely; the card is renewed every 5 years (10 years for family members of Romanian citizens) | art. 70 para. (1), art. 110 para. (1) |
| How long the General Inspectorate for Immigration (Inspectoratul General pentru Imigrări, IGI) takes to reply | At most 6 months, plus up to 3 months for objective reasons | art. 73 para. (3) |
| What is new from 2026 | A Romanian language certificate at level A2 in the file, for applications filed after 31 December 2026 | art. 72 para. (1) letter f) GEO 194/2002; art. 52 para. (6) GEO 32/2026 |
| How a long-term resident is hired | Directly, on the basis of the permit, with no single application, no agency and no Shortage Occupations List (Lista ocupațiilor deficitare) condition | art. 132^1 para. (1) letter a) GEO 194/2002; art. 4 para. (2) GEO 32/2026 |
What "long-term residence" means
The law defines the long-term right of residence as the right to remain on the territory of Romania for an indefinite period (art. 2 letter i^1) of GEO 194/2002). A person who holds the corresponding permit is a "long-term resident" (art. 2 letter d)). In everyday speech it is also called "permanent residence"; the legal name has been the one above since 2011.
The difference from the single permit (permis unic) is one of substance:
| Single permit (temporary residence for work) | Long-term residence | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration of the right | As long as the employment contract, at most 2 years, then extension (art. 56 para. (2)) | Indefinite (art. 70 para. (1)) |
| Tied to the employer | Yes | No |
| If the contract ends | The right of residence continues for at most 90 days where there is no unemployment benefit (art. 56 para. (6)) | No consequence for residence |
| Changing employer | By resignation only after 6 months, except in the case of a serious breach by the employer (art. 56 para. (13) and (14)); for workers placed through an agency, only through that agency, for up to 2 years (art. 40 para. (2)-(4) GEO 32/2026) | Without these limits, as for any employee |
| Occupation | For D/AM2, only from the Shortage Occupations List (art. 1 para. (3) GEO 32/2026) | Unrelated to the list |
Who can apply and who cannot
The application may be made by a foreign national who, on the date it is decided, holds a temporary right of residence or benefits from international protection in Romania (art. 70 para. (1)).
A long-term right of residence is not granted (art. 70 para. (2)) to:
- holders of a temporary right of residence for studies;
- applicants for international protection;
- applicants for or beneficiaries of temporary protection or of a form of protection other than international protection;
- persons who are in Romania on a short-stay visa, a diplomatic visa or a service visa;
- holders of a right of residence obtained as a seasonal worker or an au pair worker.
The conditions, one by one
All the conditions below must be met together (art. 71 para. (1)):
- 5 years of continuous residence before the application is filed, with a temporary right of residence or international protection (letter a)).
- Means of subsistence at the level of the national minimum gross basic salary guaranteed in payment, proven for at least 12 months. Family members of Romanian citizens are exempt (letter b)).
- Social health insurance (letter c)).
- Legally held accommodation (letter d)).
- Romanian language at least at a satisfactory level (letter e)).
- Not a danger to national security (letter f)).
- Not a threat to public order. The condition is met if the foreign national has not intentionally committed, in Romania, offences for which they received a custodial sentence of more than 5 years (letter g)).
How the 5 years are counted
This is where most applications fail. The rules are at art. 71 para. (1) letter a):
- Absences. No more than 6 consecutive months and no more than 10 months in total, during the 5 years (point (i)).
- International transport drivers. Trips abroad required by the nature of the job do not count as absence, if they are proven with documents (point (i)).
- No removal measure from the territory of Romania during this period (point (ii)).
- Periods of study count at half (point (iii)).
- Not counted are residence as a seasonal worker or au pair, and residence on the basis of a short-stay, diplomatic or service visa (point (iv)).
For beneficiaries of international protection there are separate rules: the period can be reduced to 4 years or to half, and it is counted from the date the application for protection was filed (points (v)-(vii)).
Exceptions
- Minors can be granted the right only if one or both parents hold it, without the conditions above. If only one parent is a long-term resident, the consent of the other parent is needed, in authentic (notarised) form (art. 71 para. (3)).
- Foreign nationals of Romanian origin, those whose residence is in the interest of the Romanian state and minors in the situations under art. 131 para. (6) can be granted the right without the conditions at letters a)-e) (art. 71 para. (2)).
- Investors who prove investments of at least 1,000,000 euro, in line with their own participation share, or more than 100 full-time jobs, can be granted the right without the conditions on length of residence and means of subsistence (art. 71 para. (4)).
- EU Blue Card holders have their own regime: 5 years of residence in the EU, of which the last 2 in Romania (art. 71 para. (5)).
What GEO 32/2026 changed: the A2 language certificate
Before GEO 32/2026, the language level was established through an interview held when the application was filed. The ordinance made two changes concerning language at art. 72 of GEO 194/2002:
- it introduced a new document in the file: a language proficiency certificate issued by accredited institutions in Romania, attesting knowledge of the Romanian language at a level no lower than A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (art. 72 para. (1) letter f), introduced by art. 45 point 51 of GEO 32/2026);
- it repealed the paragraph that provided for the interview (art. 72 para. (2), repealed by art. 45 point 52).
The date that matters is 31 December 2026. Under art. 52 para. (6) of GEO 32/2026, applications for the long-term right of residence filed up to 31 December 2026 are decided under the legislation applicable before the ordinance. In concrete terms:
| When you file the application | How you prove your Romanian |
|---|---|
| Up to 31 December 2026 | Under the old rule: an interview when the application is filed |
| From 1 January 2027 | An A2 certificate from an accredited institution in Romania, submitted with the file |
Anyone who completes the 5 years in 2026 therefore has a reason not to postpone filing and not to leave it to the last days of the year. Anyone who completes them later should plan the language exam well in advance.
Unaccompanied minors under art. 131 para. (3) letters c) and d) are exempt from the certificate (art. 72 para. (3)).
On the date this guide was checked, the IGI page on long-term residence did not yet mention the certificate among the documents. Before filing, ask your IGI territorial unit to confirm what applies to your file.
The link with Romanian language courses paid for by the employer
GEO 32/2026 requires the employer to provide Romanian language courses with elements of cultural and social integration, for at least 6 months from the start of work, at least 6 hours a week (art. 7 para. (1) letter g)). The two rules are connected: the course in the first year prepares the worker for the A2 level required after five years.
Note one difference: the certificate for IGI must be issued by an accredited institution. A course organised by the employer does not take the place of the certificate unless it ends with an assessment at such an institution. Keep your proof of attendance all the same.
The file and the steps
The application is filed in person, at the territorial unit of the General Inspectorate for Immigration; according to IGI, at the one in the county where you live. The documents are those listed at art. 72 para. (1):
- the standard application form;
- the border-crossing document (passport);
- documents proving that the accommodation is legally held;
- documents proving the means of subsistence;
- proof of social health insurance;
- a criminal record certificate issued by the Romanian authorities;
- the A2 language certificate, for applications filed after 31 December 2026.
IGI asks for the passport in original and copy and, where applicable, civil status documents.
Time limits in the procedure:
| Stage | Time limit | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Decision on the application | At most 6 months from registration | art. 73 para. (3) |
| Extension for objective reasons | A further 3 months, with notice to the applicant | art. 73 para. (3) |
| Notification of approval | 15 working days from the decision | art. 73 para. (4) |
| Appearing in person for the permit to be issued | 30 days from receipt of the notification | art. 73 para. (5) |
| Notification of refusal, with reasons | 15 working days from the decision | art. 74 para. (2) |
| Challenging the refusal | 30 days from notification, before the Bucharest Court of Appeal (Curtea de Apel București) | art. 74 para. (3) |
Two important safeguards if the application is refused: the refusal does not affect the right of residence you already hold (art. 74 para. (4)), and the decision must take account of the length of residence and of the ties with Romania, respecting proportionality, and cannot be based on economic considerations (art. 74 para. (5)).
Until you receive a reply, keep extending your temporary permit on time. The application for long-term residence does not replace it.
The permit: validity and cost
The right is for an indefinite period, but the card has a term of validity (art. 110 para. (1)):
- 10 years for family members of Romanian citizens;
- 5 years for everyone else.
It is renewed successively for the same period, and the renewal application is filed at least 30 days before expiry (art. 110 para. (4)). The permit records your domicile (permanent address) in Romania, not your temporary residence address (art. 110 para. (2)).
According to the fee schedule published by IGI, the costs are:
| What you pay | How much | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Fee for granting the long-term right of residence (GO no. 24/1992) | 128 lei | Everyone, except family members of Romanian citizens, who are exempt under art. 73 para. (6) |
| Cost of the permit (the card) | 265 lei | Everyone |
| Renewal of the permit | 265 lei | Everyone |
Check the amounts on the IGI website on the day you pay; they are updated by acts separate from GEO 194/2002.
The rights of a long-term resident
Art. 80^1 para. (1) of GEO 194/2002 provides for equal treatment with Romanian citizens, under the conditions of the law, as regards:
- access to the labour market, including conditions of employment and work, self-employed economic activities (PFA, individual enterprise, family enterprise) and professional activities, except those that involve exercising prerogatives of public authority (letter a));
- access to all forms and levels of education and vocational training, including study grants (letter b));
- equivalence of studies and recognition of diplomas, certificates, attestations and professional qualifications (letter c));
- social security, social assistance and social protection (letter d));
- public health care (letter e));
- deductions from tax on global income and tax exemptions (letter f));
- access to public goods and services, including obtaining housing (letter g));
- freedom of association, affiliation and membership of a trade union or professional organisation (letter h)).
In addition:
- Domicile. A long-term resident may establish or change their domicile in Romania under the same conditions as Romanian citizens (art. 76).
- Family. They can be a sponsor for family reunification (art. 46 para. (1)), and their husband, wife and family members can have their temporary right of residence extended for periods of up to 5 years (art. 62 para. (5)).
- Stability. The right can be revoked only for a threat to public order, in the sense of the sentence of more than 5 years described above, or for a danger to national security (art. 77 para. (2)). Losing your job is not a ground.
"Under the conditions of the law" means that each right is exercised according to the rules of its own field: a contribution period for a pension, income criteria for social benefits, authorisation conditions for regulated professions.
The long-term resident as an employee, after GEO 32/2026
GEO 32/2026 inserted art. 132^1 into GEO 194/2002, which lists the foreign nationals who can be employed on the basis of the residence permit they already hold. The first category is that of holders of the long-term right of residence (para. (1) letter a)).
What is not required:
- a single application on WorkinRomania.gov.ro, a D/AM1 or D/AM2 visa and a single permit;
- a placement agency and a placement contract;
- registration of the employer on the platform: art. 4 para. (2) of GEO 32/2026 expressly exempts employers who hire foreign nationals in the categories at art. 132^1 para. (1) letters a)-h) and j)-m);
- checking the Shortage Occupations List: the condition at art. 132^1 para. (4) concerns only letters i) and n), not letter a);
- limits on hours: the caps of 6 and 4 hours a day concern students and the second contract of single permit holders (art. 132^1 para. (2) and (3)).
Hiring a long-term resident therefore depends neither on the platform nor on the list, and is not affected by the blockages affecting them.
What is more, the law places the long-term resident alongside the local workforce: for a D/AM1 visa for a highly qualified worker, the employer must show that it tried to fill the post with a Romanian citizen, an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, or a foreign national holding the long-term right of residence (art. 27^1 para. (3) letter c)).
What remains mandatory for the employer:
| Obligation | Time limit | Legal basis | Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sending IGI a copy of the contract and of the documents attesting the category, that is, the long-term residence permit | At most 10 days from the start of work | art. 132^1 para. (6) | 10,000-20,000 lei for each person (art. 134 point 19 and art. 135 para. (1) letter h)) |
| Notifying IGI of the amendment or termination of the contract | 5 working days | art. 132^1 para. (7) | Not provided for at art. 134 point 19; see art. 7 below |
| Individual employment contract in Romanian and in the language of the state of origin or in a language of international circulation that the employee understands | On conclusion | art. 16 para. (1^9) Labour Code | 6,000 lei for each contract (art. 260 para. (1) letter e^6)) |
| Registering the contract in REGES-ONLINE | Before the start of work | GD no. 295/2025 | - |
The contract can be signed without the medical fitness certificate, but the employee must obtain it at the latest on the date work starts (art. 27 para. (6) and (7) of the Labour Code).
The obligations in art. 7 of GEO 32/2026. Payment of the salary into a bank account, occupational safety and health (SSM) training in a language the worker understands, Romanian language courses, notifying IGI within 5 working days when the contract ends, and keeping documents for 5 years are worded for "employers who employ foreign nationals on the territory of Romania", with no exception for any category.
Two features of the text, however, point the other way: the article is placed in the section on registered employers, and the fine of 5,000-10,000 lei is provided "for each foreign worker placed, as the case may be" (art. 42 para. (2) letter a)), that is, for a worker who came through an agency. For notifications and keeping documents, the fine is 15,000-30,000 lei (art. 42 para. (3) letter b) point (i)). Until there is an official clarification, the cautious reading is to apply these obligations to long-term residents as well.
The path from the single permit to long-term residence
For a worker who came on a work visa, the years spent on a single permit count in full. What can interrupt the 5 years, under the new regime:
- Contract suspended for too long. The right of residence for work is revoked if the individual employment contract has been suspended, under art. 52 of the Labour Code, for more than 3 consecutive months or 6 months in total during the validity of the permit (art. 77 para. (3) letter i), introduced by GEO 32/2026).
- A gap between employers. After the contract ends, residence remains valid for at most 90 days if there is no unemployment benefit (art. 56 para. (6)). Without a new contract within this period, legal residence ends and, with it, continuity.
- Long absences from the country. More than 6 consecutive months or 10 months in total.
- Expired permit. The law requires a right of residence held "continuously", so do not let your permit expire. See how much the permit costs and what you risk if you are late.
- Seasonal work. It is not counted at all.
For the employer, an employee who becomes a long-term resident means the end of single permit extensions, the end of dependence on the list and the platform, and a person who stays.
How the right is lost
The long-term right of residence ceases in the cases listed at art. 70 para. (3):
- by annulment or revocation (letter a));
- on obtaining a long-term right of residence in another state (letter b));
- on an absence from Romania of more than 12 consecutive months, unless during that time the foreign national held a temporary right of residence in an EU Member State, or is a minor with a parent who is a Romanian citizen or who holds a right of residence in Romania (letter c));
- on an absence from Romania of more than 6 consecutive years, even with a temporary right of residence in an EU Member State (letter d));
- on request or on acquiring Romanian citizenship (letter e));
- on an absence of more than 2 consecutive years from the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, for former EU Blue Card holders (letter f));
- on annulment of international protection, if the right was obtained in that capacity (letter g)).
Annulment occurs, among other cases, if the right was obtained with false information or documents or through a marriage of convenience (art. 77 para. (1)).
If the right has ceased on the grounds at letters b)-d) and the foreign national is in Romania, they have 30 days from notification to apply for a temporary residence permit (art. 70 para. (4)). A new long-term right of residence can be granted after a new period of continuous residence of at least 12 months (art. 70 para. (5)).
Frequently asked questions
After how many years can I apply for long-term residence?
After 5 years of continuous temporary residence in Romania, with at most 6 consecutive months and 10 months in total of absence. Years of study count at half, and seasonal work is not counted.
Do I need a Romanian language certificate?
For applications filed up to 31 December 2026 the old rule applies, with an interview when the application is filed. For those filed after that date, the law requires the file to include a certificate of at least level A2, issued by an accredited institution in Romania.
If I lose my job, do I also lose my long-term residence?
No. The right is for an indefinite period and does not depend on an employment contract. It can be lost, among other cases, through long absences from Romania, through annulment, or through revocation on grounds of public order or national security.
Can I change employer whenever I want?
Yes. The limits of 6 months and 2 years concern single permit holders and workers placed through an agency. A long-term resident has access to the labour market under the same conditions as a Romanian citizen.
I am hiring a long-term resident. Do I have to be registered on WorkinRomania?
No. Art. 4 para. (2) of GEO 32/2026 exempts employers who hire holders of the long-term right of residence. What remains is the obligation to send IGI, within at most 10 days from the start of work, a copy of the contract and of the long-term residence permit.
Does it matter whether the occupation is on the Shortage Occupations List?
No. Among foreign nationals who work on the basis of the permit they already hold, the list condition applies only to the second contract of a single permit holder and to family members of a foreign national.
If my application is rejected, do I have to leave Romania?
No. The refusal has no effect on the right of residence you already hold. You can challenge it within 30 days before the Bucharest Court of Appeal, and you can file a new application when you meet the conditions.
Is long-term residence the same thing as citizenship?
No. You remain a citizen of your state of origin, with its passport. Romanian citizenship is obtained through a separate procedure, and when it is acquired the long-term right of residence ceases.
This guide is for information purposes and does not replace legal advice. Legal bases: GEO no. 194/2002 on the regime of foreign nationals in Romania, as amended by GEO no. 32/2026 (Official Gazette no. 335/27.04.2026), Law no. 53/2003 - the Labour Code, and the information published by the General Inspectorate for Immigration. The law approving GEO no. 32/2026 is under parliamentary debate and may bring changes. Date checked: 9 October 2026.
Do you have questions about your file or about hiring a long-term resident? Call or write on WhatsApp at 0750 238 304 or at office@wantjob.eu.