Information of interest to British nationals, starting with January 1st2021
PLEASE NOTE! As of January 1st 2021, the United Kingdom shall be considered as a third country for the purpose of Council Recommendation amending Council Recommendation (EU) 2020/912 on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU and the possible lifting of such restriction, therefore nonessential travel from the United Kingdom to the European Union, including Romania will not be possible. The limited categories of essential travellers may be consulted in the section dedicated to the preventive measures taken by Romania in the context of the COVID19 pandemic.
Nevertheless, British nationals, holders of documents attesting their right of residence in Romania, as well as beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement, are considered essential travellers, in keeping with the national legislation in force.
BRITISH NATIONALS – EXEMPTION FROM THE AIRPORT TRANSIT (MARKED A), TRANSIT (MARKED B) AND SHORT-STAY (MARKED C) VISA:
Starting January 1st 2021, British nationals are exempt from the obligation of obtaining Romanian entry visas for airport transit, for transit and short-stay visas – for stays of no more than 90 days throughout any 180-day period that precedes each day of stay on the territory of Romania.
For the calculation of the stay into Romania, the calculator of the authorised stay can be accessed at
http://eviza.mae.ro/VisaDetails
To exemplify, entry into Romania for short stays can be undertaken, for instance, for the following purposes:
- official mission of short duration;
- tourism;
- visit;
- business;
- transport;
- sports activities;
- cultural, scientific, humanitarian activities, medical treatment of short duration or other activities that do not breach Romanian law.
Although visa exempt, third-state nationals, British nationals included, must fulfil the legal conditions of entry into the country, in line with the national legal framework and as established by the Schengen Borders Code. For details regarding the conditions of entry into Romania, the following link can be consulted: http://eviza.mae.ro/ConditionsOfEntry
BRITISH NATIONALS – LONG-STAY VISA REQUIREMENT (MARKED D):
Starting January 1 st 2021, British nationals are required to obtain a Romanian long-stay visa (marked D), when they intend to remain in Romania for stays of more than 90 days throughout any 180-day period that precedes each day of stay. These rules are not applicable to British nationals who are beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement (who already are in Romania on December 31st 2020 and continue to reside in Romania after January 1st 2021).
Obtaining a D-type visa allows holders to apply for the extension of their temporary authorised stay, after having entered Romania. The extension of the right of stay is materialised through the issuance of a residence permit. It is recommended that the residence permit be applied for throughout the first 30 days after the date of entry into Romania. Details related to the extension of stay can be obtained from the Inspectorate General for Immigration of the Ministry of Interior - http://igi.mai.gov.ro/en.
The long-stay visa is applied for depending on the purpose of the trip/on the activity bound to be carried out in Romania.
The purposes for which the long-stay visa can be applied for are as follows:
- Economic activities (marked D/AE) - this type of long-stay visa is granted to third-state nationals who will carry out economic activities on the territory of Romania as organised and regulated through the dedicated legislation in force;
- Professional activities (marked D/AP) - this type of long-stay visa is granted to third-state nationals who are bound to exercise liberal professions on the territory of Romania as regulated through the dedicated legislation in force;
- Commercial activities (marked D/AC) - this type of long-stay visa is granted to third-state nationals who are or are bound to become shareholders or associates in management and administrative positions within Romanian companies;
- Employment (marked D/AM) - this type of long-stay visa is granted in view of the employment of third-state nationals in Romania. This type of visa is also issued to sportsmen bound to play in clubs or teams from Romania on the grounds of an individual work contract or of a legal agreement as provided for by law.
- Secondment (marked D/DT) – this type of long-stay visa is granted to third-state nationals in view of carrying out lucrative activities in Romania with a beneficiary of the provided services. The long-stay visa for secondment attests the third-state national’s right of work in Romania.;
- Studies (marked D/SD) - this type of long-stay visa is granted to third-state nationals who intend to travel to Romania either for pre-graduate, graduate and postgraduate studies, or in view of obtaining academic degrees within state or accredited private institutions, in line with the provisions of the legal framework in force. This type of visa is also granted to third-state nationals who apply for such a visa as students, trainees, pupils, or to those who partake in a pupil exchange scheme or in an educational project, as well as to third-state nationals accepted for studies based on international documents to which Romania is party.
- Family reunification (marked D/VF ) - this type of long-stay visa is granted to third-state nationals who intend to travel to Romania in view of regaining the family unit.
- Religious activities (marked D/AR ) - this type of long-stay visa is granted to third-state nationals who intend to travel to Romania in order to carry out activities in the field of acknowledged faiths, upon request.
- Scientific research (marked D/CS ) - this type of long-stay visa is granted to third-state nationals who intend to travel to Romania in order to carry out activities of scientific research.
- Other purposes (marked D/AS) – this type of long-stay visa is granted to third-state nationals designated as administrators of a company; to third-state nationals who wish to enter Romania in order to carry out unpaid professional training, with an accredited professional training provider or within a public or private company, authorised to carry out such activities, in line with legal provisions; to third-country nationals who carry out activities within volunteer programs; to third-country nationals who undergo long-term medical treatment within public or private medical institutions, provided that they submit a letter of acceptance from the respective institutions - this type of visa may also be granted to a potential companion who assists the primary visa holder , should they not be able to support themselves; to third-country nationals who carry out activities that do not breach the Romanian legislation in force, provided they justify their presence in Romania; to third-state nationals who undergo professional sports activities within a sports club registered in Romania and submit the corresponding framework contract for sports activities.
Details regarding the documents necessary for lodging applications for each type of long-stay visa can be consulted here: http://eviza.mae.ro/SupportingDocuments
The visa processing fee for the long-stay visa is in amount of 120 EURO or the equivalent sum in convertible currency. Details regarding the visa processing fees can be consulted here: http://eviza.mae.ro/VisaFees
For short guidance with regard to the procedure of applying for the visa online, please go to: http://eviza.mae.ro/HowTo
In order to apply for a long-stay visa, online, please access the following link: https://evisa.mae.ro/Home?lang=en-US#