Guide to temporary entry into Romania under CETA

This guide is for a Canadian business person temporarily travelling to Romania to do business. It provides general information about temporary entry and stay requirements for business people under the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and under Romanian law. This guide aims to facilitate the entry of Canadian business people into Romania for the purposes of exploring, entering and expanding operations in the Romanian market. You will find relevant links and summaries of main steps for work permit and visa applications, including costs and lengths, for the categories of business people covered in CETA.

Text of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement – Chapter 10: Temporary entry and stay of natural persons for business purposes

CETA entered into force provisionally in 2017, which means that Romania is bound by the Temporary Entry Chapter. However, there are still significant differences between CETA requirements and the national Romanian laws regulating temporary entry. As such, some of the paths for entry identified in this guide do not fully overlap with the categories of business people covered in CETA.  

For any questions regarding Romania's temporary entry commitments under CETA, please contact: enquiry-demande.TE@international.gc.ca

Under CETA, a short-term business visitor is a Canadian traveling to Romania and for one of the following activities:  

• meetings and consultations
• research and design
• marketing research
• training seminars
• trade fairs and exhibitions
• sales negotiations (cannot deliver goods or services themselves)
• purchasing
• after-sales or after-lease service
• commercial transactions
• travel/tourism operations
• translation and interpretation

The detailed list of activities can be found under Annex 10-D of CETA. No application process is required as these are work permit exempted activities. For more information, consult the requirements for a short-stay in Romania.

Short-term business visitors cannot have their main residence in Romania or be under the direct control of an entity in Romania.

A short-term business visitor cannot:

• sell a good or a service to the general public
• receive payment from a source located in Romania
• provide any other service to a consumer in Romania that is not listed under activities of a business visitor

Under CETA, Canadian short-term business visitors can stay in Romania for 90 days in a 180-day period.

Under CETA, an eligible short-term Canadian business visitor does not need a work permit and is exempt from entry visa requirement in Romania. Under Romanian law, Canadian short-term business visitors do not need a business visa for a stay up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

No application process is required as these are work permit exempted activities. For more information, please refer to the EU Immigration Portal for Romania.

Canadian companies can also send non-Canadian nationals locally hired in Canada for short-term business travel in Romania. In this case, a Romania entry visa may be required if they are not nationals of a visa exempt country.

The business visitors for investment purposes category is covered under CETA but does not exist under Romanian law. Canadian investors can stay in Romania for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. If you have encountered problems entering Romania as a business visitor for investment purposes, please contact enquiry-demande.TE@international.gc.ca.

Under CETA, a Canadian business visitor for investment purposes is a Canadian manager or specialist responsible for setting up an enterprise in Romania.

A Canadian business visitor for investment purposes cannot:

• work directly with the general public in Romania
• receive compensation from a source located within Romania

Under CETA, Canadian business visitors for investment purposes can stay in Romania 90 days within a 180-day period.

Under CETA, a Canadian business visitor for investment purposes does not need a work permit.

Under Romanian law, there is no specific definition for a business visitor for investment purposes under Romanian legislation. A Canadian business visitor for investment purposes may qualify under the short-term business visitor category. To explore other paths for entry into Romania, please consult the EU Immigration Portal for Romania.

No application process is required as these are work permit exempted activities.

Under CETA, an investor is a Canadian supervisor or executive, responsible for establishing, developing, or operating an investment, that they or their employing enterprise have committed, or are in the process of committing, a substantial amount of capital to.

Under CETA, Canadian investors can stay in Romania for up to 1 year, with possible extensions at the discretion of Romania’s officials.

Under CETA, Canadian investors do not need a visa or work permit to enter Romania for investment purposes at the time of entry but may require a work permit and may need visa to stay in Romania for investment purposes.

Under Romanian law, the main admission program for investors is the Romania-Canada Agreement for the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments.

Per Romanian legislation, an investor must be either a:

• Director, with the legal capacity of a director (Administrator) in a Romanian company; - the director/administrator position cannot be combined with that of a shareholder or associate within the company at the time of the permit request or for a period of 2 years prior to the permit request
• Shareholder of a commercial company having managerial or administrative duties. The Shareholder’s investment must be transferred into capital or technology contribution worth EUR 70,000 and must create at least 15 full-time jobs. The shareholder must also prove a revenue of at least EUR 700 monthly, obtained from the investment in Romanian territory
• Associate of a commercial company having managerial or administrative duties. The Associate’s investment must be transferred into capital or technology worth EUR 50,000 and must create at least 10 full-time jobs. The associate must also prove a revenue of at least EUR 500 monthly, obtained from the investment in Romanian territory

The process for obtaining this permit consists of the following steps:

Step 1: Prepare application file

Step 2: Create applicant’s profile on the Immigration Office portal (Romanian only)

Step 3: Create a request for the work permit

Step 4: File submission at the counter based on the appointment received from Immigration Office

Step 5: Payment of the legal fee

Step 6: If approved, collect the work permit once it is issued by the Immigration Office

Canadian nationals are exempted from complying with other requirements such as obtaining an expert technical business plan for more information, consult the why invest in Romania website.

The cost of the application is EUR 180.

The approval process is highly variable and can take up to 6 weeks. Consult the EU Immigration Portal on Romania for more information about the application process and eligibility conditions.

Under CETA, a contractual services supplier is a Canadian service supplier employed by an enterprise in Canada with a contract to provide a service to a consumer in Romania in an eligible service sector. A list of eligible services sectors under CETA is found under CETA Annex 10-E, number 9.

A Canadian contractual service supplier must also:

• have provided services as an employee of the contracted Canadian enterprise for at least one year before the date of their application for entry into Romania
• have a university degree or an equivalent qualification
• have at least three years of professional experience since the age of 18 in the sector of the contracted activity
• have any professional qualifications required to practice the activity according to the laws or requirements in Romania

For engineering technologists seeking entry as a contractual service supplier, a three-year post-secondary degree from an officially recognised institution in engineering technology is considered equivalent to a university degree.

For scientific technologists seeking entry as a contractual service supplier, a three-year post-secondary degree from an officially recognised institution in the disciplines of agriculture, architecture, biology, chemistry, physics, forestry, geology, geophysics, mining and energy is considered equivalent to a university degree.

A Canadian contractual service supplier cannot get paid for their services during their stay in Romania other than what is paid to them by their Canadian employers.

The Canadian enterprise that employs a Canadian contractual service supplier cannot have any establishment in Romania.

Fulfillment of the contract must require the temporary presence of the Canadian contractual service supplier in Romania.

Under CETA, a Canadian contractual service supplier can stay in Romania for up to 12 months, or for the duration of the contract, whichever is less.

Under CETA, a Canadian contractual service suppliers need a work permit and a visa.

The most appropriate work permit scheme for Canadian contractual service supplier aiming to deliver services in Romania is the secondment permit.

The process for obtaining a secondment permit consists of the following steps:

Step 1: Prepare application file

Step 2: Create applicant’s profile on Immigration Office portal (Romanian only)

Step 3: Create request for the work permit

Step 4: File submission at the counter based on the appointment received from Immigration Office

Step 5: Payment of the legal fee

Step 6: If approved, collect the work permit once it is issued by the Immigration Office

The application cost is EUR 100. There is an additional fee for diploma recognition: EUR 20.

Consult the requirements for contractual service suppliers on the EU Immigration Portal on Romania for more information about the application process and eligibility conditions.

Processing is typically completed within 30 days, however, cases requiring additional verifications can add an additional 15 days to this processing period.

Please note: the independent professional category is covered in CETA but does not exist under Romanian law. There are no specific work permit or visa options for a Canadian independent professional seeking temporary entry into Romania.

Under CETA, an independent professional is a self-employed Canadian service supplier with a contract to supply a service to a consumer in Romania in an eligible sector. A list of eligible sectors under CETA is found under CETA Annex 10-E, number 9.

A Canadian independent professional must also have:

• At least 6 years of professional experience in the sector of the contracted activity at the date of application of entry
• A university degree or equivalent qualification
• Any professional qualifications required to practice the activity according to the laws or requirements in Romania

For engineering technologists seeking entry as a contractual service supplier, a 3-year post-secondary degree from an officially recognised institution in engineering technology is considered equivalent to a university degree.

For scientific technologists seeking entry as a contractual service supplier, a 3-year post-secondary degree from an officially recognised institution in the disciplines of agriculture, architecture, biology, chemistry, physics, forestry, geology, geophysics, mining and energy is considered equivalent to a university degree.

Other requirements:

• A Canadian independent professional must not have established an enterprise in Romania
• Fulfillment of the contract must require the temporary presence of the independent professional in Romania

Under CETA, a Canadian independent professional can stay in Romania for a total period of up to 12 months, or for the duration of the contract, whichever is less.

The independent professional category does not exist under Romanian law. The most appropriate scheme is the long-term visa and residence permit for carrying out professional activities.

You have secured an approval for a residence permit for carrying out professional activities from a Romanian diplomatic mission or consular office:

Step 1: Obtain Approval from the the Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism (Romanian only)

Step 2: Collect all other necessary documents (criminal record check, medical insurance, and proof of the conditions of accommodation)

Step 3: Make appointment at diplomatic mission or consular office and submit your application

Step 4: If approved, travel to Romania and submit an application for a residence permit at the General Inspectorate for Immigration or the online portal.

For more information, see the business activies webpage of the General Inspectorate for Immigration’s website.

The application cost is EUR 120.

Processing is typically completed within 30 days, however, cases requiring additional verifications can add an additional 15 days to this processing period.

Consult the requirements for independent professionals on the EU Immigration Portal on Romania for more information about the application process and eligibility conditions.

Under CETA, Canadian intra-corporate transferees are senior personnel, specialists, or graduate trainees at a Canadian enterprise who are being temporarily transferred to a subsidiary, branch, or head company of the Canadian enterprise in Romania.

Senior personnel are Canadian business people in a senior position within an enterprise who:

• primarily direct the management of the enterprise or a department or sub-division of the enterprise
• make a wide range of decisions, including recruitment, promotions and dismissals
• receive only general supervision or direction principally from higher-level executives, the board of directors, or stockholders of the business or their equivalent or supervise and control the work of other supervisory, professional or managerial employees and exercise discretionary authority over day-to-day operations

Specialists are Canadian business people who have:

• uncommon knowledge of the enterprise's products or services and its application in international markets, or
• an advanced level of expertise or knowledge of the enterprise's processes and procedures such as its production, research equipment, techniques, or management

In assessing such expertise or knowledge, Romania's officials will consider abilities that are unusual and different from those generally found in a particular industry and that cannot be easily transferred to another business person in the short-term. These abilities are obtained through specific academic qualifications or extensive experience with the enterprise.

Graduate trainees are Canadian business people who:

• have a university degree
• are being temporarily transferred to an enterprise in Romania for career development purposes, or to obtain training in business techniques or methods

Canadian companies can transfer highly skilled managers, specialists and graduate trainees to an entity in Romania belonging to the same group by obtaining an EU Intra-Corporate Transferees permit for their employees. This permit also grants the employees the right to work at a client site as well.

Under CETA, Canadian managers and specialists can stay in Romania for whichever is shorter, 3 years or the length of the contract.

Canadian graduate trainees can stay in Romania for whichever is shorter, 1 year or the length of the contract.

Under CETA, you may need a work permit and a visa. Under Romanian law, the main route for intra-corporate transferees is the secondment permit.

The process for obtaining a secondment permit consists of the following steps:

Step 1: Prepare application file

Step 2: Create applicant’s profile on Immigration Office portal

Step 3: Create request for the work permit

Step 4: File submission at the counter based on the appointment received from Immigration Office

Step 5: Payment of the legal fee

Step 6: If approved, collect the work permit once it is issued by the Immigration Office

The application cost is EUR 100. There is an additional fee for diploma recognition: EUR 20.

Processing is typically completed within 30 days, however, cases requiring additional verifications can add an additional 15 days to this processing period.

Consult the requirements for intra-corporate transferees on the EU Immigration Portal for Romania for more information about the application process and eligibility conditions.

Entry into Romania for Canadian business people not belonging to any of the categories covered under the CETA is subject to Romania's acts and regulations governing entry and stay.

To explore other paths for entry into Romania, please consult the General Inspectorate for Immigration’s website.

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is current as of July 2023 (national immigration legislations may change, sometimes at short notice). It is offered for informational purposes only and does not constitute general legal advice. The information: (i) must be regarded as a practical guide for general information and not a process guide for determining the specific immigration requirements of the countries covered, (ii) should not be a substitute for a more in-depth analysis of applicable facts and circumstances (including, without limitation, criminal or health-related circumstances) conducted by competent professionals, (iii) indicated processing times and fees herein are approximate, are subject to the specific case circumstances, and  change. The information herein does not guarantee the outcome or approval of any particular immigration application.