Background information

The digital nomad visa can be granted to those who want to work remotely from Romania for foreign companies. If they meet the conditions of the law 22/2022, foreigners who obtain this type of visa are expressly exempted from tax and social security contributions on their earned income, but only until Romanian law labels them as tax residents in Romania.

The main purpose of the visa is to legalise the stay of digital nomads working online without taking local jobs. It offers the possibility to settle comfortably in the chosen country, develop a career and benefit from all the advantages of working remotely.

Content of measure

Law 22/2022 has introduced in the ordinance on the regime of foreigners in Romania a new subtype of visa that can be granted to foreigners who want to come and stay in Romania: the long-stay visa for the digital nomad. According to the law, a digital nomad can be either an employee of a foreign company or the owner of a foreign company, i.e. one that is not registered in Romania (but has been registered for at least three years in the foreign country). Both have in common that it provides services using information and communication technology and choose to settle in Romania, applying to the Romanian state for such a visa.

Applicants must fulfill, cumulatively, the following conditions: • have means of subsistence obtained from the activity carried out, in the amount of at least three times the average gross monthly gross salary in Romania for each of the last six months preceding the date of submission of the visa application, as well as for the entire period entered in the visa, • carry out the activities from which they obtain income, remotely, using information and communication technology.

The average gross earnings in 2023 were RON 6,789 (approx. €1,358), according to law 369/2022 on the state social insurance budget for 2023.

Use of measure

The first extension of the right of temporary stay for digital nomads is granted, as stated in the law, for a period of six months. Further extensions of the right of temporary stay may be granted if the foreigner continues to fulfill the necessary conditions and presents a proof of income issued by the competent tax authority.

Those with a digital nomad visa do not owe, for the first six months of stay in Romania, either income tax or social security contributions. The special regime is valid only if the foreigner stays in Romania for a maximum of 183 days (a single period or several periods cumulated) during any period of 12 consecutive months ending in the calendar year concerned.

After 183 days over 12 consecutive months of stay in Romania, the digital nomad working here will be considered by the Tax Code as having tax residence in Romania. As such, he will be subject to tax and contributions on the salary earned in Romania.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Applies to all workers	Solo-self-employed SMEs Larger corporations	Migrants or refugees

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	No special funding required

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

There is no publicly available information about the social partners' involvement in designing, implementing and monitoring the measure

Views and reactions

There is no publicly available information about the social partners' views or reaction on the measure

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 14 January 2022: Law no 22/ 2022 amending and supplementing the Government Emergency Ordinance No 194/2002 on the regime of foreigners in Romania (Legea nr. 22 din 14 ianuarie 2022 pentru modificarea și completarea Ordonanței de urgență a Guvernului nr. 194/2002 privind regimul străinilor în România (legislatie.just.ro)