Visa field guide · RO
Plan your Romania application
The eVisa portal first, then the local IGI office after entrySee the common routes, understand the hand-offs, then confirm every requirement on the official website.01 / ROUTES
Choose the route that matches your trip
These are starting points—not an eligibility decision. Open the official route before you apply.- ↗Short-stay Schengen visa
Visits of up to 90 days in any 180-day period when Romania is the main destination.
- ↗Long-stay visa (symbol D)
Work, study, family reunification or other approved purposes for a stay beyond 90 days.
02 / JOURNEY
What the application journey usually looks like
The exact order can vary by visa, nationality and application location. “If asked” steps are conditional.- 01Check the route on the eVisa portal
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' eVisa portal lets you prepare a Schengen or long-stay application and upload documents before travelling to a mission.
- 02Upload documents before the appointment
Consular staff review the uploaded file and give online feedback before an in-person slot is offered.
GUIDELENS HELPS HERE - 03Get online feedback from the consulate
Once the file looks complete, the portal is used to book an appointment to verify original documents.
- 04Book the in-person verification
Attend the diplomatic mission or consulate in your country of domicile to have the application formally registered.
IF ASKED - 05Attend & register the application
A long-stay visa decision follows a fixed statutory timeline once the file is complete.
- 06Apply to IGI after entry
Holders of a long-stay visa apply to the local territorial office of the General Inspectorate for Immigration for the residence permit that covers the actual stay.
03 / BEFORE YOU START
Four things to know before you start
- Official starting point
- The MAE's eVisa portal (evisa.mae.ro) supports both Schengen and long-stay applications with document upload ahead of the mission visit.
- Short or long stay
- Up to 90 days in 180 days uses the Schengen route; longer stays for work, study or family reasons use the long-stay visa, symbol D.
- Long-stay decision window
- A long-stay visa application is decided within 60 days of submission, with a review fee of roughly €120.
- After arrival
- The General Inspectorate for Immigration's local territorial office issues the residence permit; applying at least 30 days before the visa-based stay right expires is expected.
04 / PRACTICAL GUIDE
Romania visa details that differ from the regional guide
Romania front-loads document review through its eVisa portal before any in-person visit, and treats the residence permit as a separate step handled by immigration authorities, not the consulate.- 01
Upload documents before travelling to the mission
The eVisa portal lets applicants upload the required file and receive online feedback from consular staff before an in-person appointment is booked, reducing the risk of an incomplete submission at the counter.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania · eVisa portal ↗ - 02
A long-stay visa follows a fixed 60-day, domicile-based process
The long-stay (D) visa is submitted at the Romanian mission responsible for your country of domicile or residence and is decided within 60 days of submission, distinct from the faster short-stay route.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania · Long-stay visa (symbol D) ↗ - 03
The residence permit comes from IGI, not the consulate
After entering Romania on a long-stay visa, apply for the residence permit at the local territorial office of the General Inspectorate for Immigration in the county where you live, not through the mission that issued the visa.
General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) · Residence permit ↗ - 04
Keep the Schengen rule in view
For a multi-country trip, apply to the country that is the main purpose or longest stay. Use the first country only when stays are equal. The 90 days in any 180-day period are counted across the whole Schengen area.
European Commission · Applying for a Schengen visa ↗
05 / PREPARE
Information worth gathering before you open the form
Not every item applies to every route. Use the official checklist generated for your application.Passport and previous travel-document details
Travel dates, itinerary and accommodation
Travel medical insurance for the Schengen stay
Evidence of funds and the purpose of the trip
Employment, study or sponsor information where relevant
Translations and route-specific documents requested locally
06 / OFFICIAL
Continue with the official authority
You remain responsible for reviewing and submitting your application.