Living in Romania as a digital nomad
Romania is definitely an up-and-coming destination for digital nomads. The Balkan nations are commonly overlooked when people are looking into European holiday spots, however, they offer the same amenities, culture, and infrastructure as other places but at a more economical cost.
Digital Nomad Hotspots
Romania has lots of appealing spots that draw digital nomads’ interest. Bucharest, the capital city, is often referred to as “Little Paris”. Bucharest has a population of 1.8million people. If you thrive on the energy of a bustling urban area, Bucharest is the ideal destination for you. The IT sector in the area is quite substantial, making it an attractive location for many major corporations and numerous startups.
Bucharest is not only known for its picturesque historic center, but also for its lively nightlife and positive vibes. Of course, not everything is perfect in the city. In common with many major metropolitan areas, it has its unseemly aspects and residents often gripe about congestion. If you’re aspiring to live and have a job in an urban area, Bucharest would be an ideal spot for you.
Cluj Napoca is an excellent spot for digital nomads to base themselves in Romania. This city houses many universities. Residents of this metropolis take pleasure in the lively nightlife and stimulating living environment Cluj Napoca provides. This city boasts an impressive coffee scene, with a plethora of coffee shops and eateries that are ideal for getting work done while savoring local cuisine. Cluj Napoca is also renowned for its ancient monuments that were constructed during the time of Hungarian and Saxon control.
Timisoara has been the most in-demand city for nomads in Romania in recent years. This is the third-largest city in Romania. Many people are drawn to it due to its pedestrian-friendly, historic atmosphere. The area has three sizable plazas filled with numerous eateries and pubs. To one’s surprise, there are not a lot of individual stores, with most of them being located in larger shopping malls.
Every one of these towns has a lot of inexpensive co-working spots or cafes and eateries with fast internet. You can anticipate a friendly digital nomad group, where you can make contacts not only with people from the area but also from all corners of the globe.
Cost of Living
One of the biggest draws of Romania is its low cost of living. The typical cost of living is approximately $1500 monthly.
Digital Nomad Essentials
The internet infrastructure in the country is so advanced that it makes it ideal for digital nomads. Romania can boast of having the best internet speed in the area, making it effortless for you to work remotely. You will commonly observe internet speeds of over 100mbps, even in coffee shops!
There’s no shortage of coworking spaces dotted are Romania. In Timisoara, you’ll find Cowork Timisoara and Devplant Cowork. The two most popular places to go in Bucharest are Idea Perpetua Hub and We Love Digital Unirii. In Cluj Napoca, you can visit The Guild Hall and Cluj Cowork.
Visa Overview
Romania is among the most recent nations to provide a visa for digital nomads. The nation began the process of issuing visas far in advance, and these permits were officially made public on December 21, 2021.
The Romanian digital nomad visa functions in a manner similar to the visas provided in other European nations. This program is only available to digital nomads, as defined by Romanian authorities as individuals employed by a business registered outside Romania or who own a company registered outside Romania, and are able to work either as an employee or through the company remotely.
The purpose of this visa is to boost the nation’s economy. The nation is attempting to revitalize its economy, especially in the wake of the destruction caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
This visa is available to any Non-EU citizen. Their goal is to bring in more than 2000 digital nomads each year with this visa. The country is looking to get their economy going again, making it ideal for a long-term stay since the cost of living is fairly low.
This visa is good for a year and enables individuals to remain in the country without any extra authorization or a distinct visa. The digital nomad visa can be extended for an additional 12 months if the foreigners keep up with the necessary criteria.
Who Can Apply for the Digital Nomad Visa for Romania
A visa for digital nomads is designed for those who work remotely from overseas and would like to remain in the country for an extended period. Non-EU citizens, those employed remotely by an enterprise located outside Romania, and those with consistent income can access it.
Having this in mind, the digital nomad visa is available to those that comply with the following requirements:
Demonstrate that you have been working outside of Romania in either a full-time or part-time capacity for a period of three years or more prior to submitting your application.
Provide evidence of your income over the last six months. This should be three times what the Romanian average gross salary is, which is estimated to be around €3,700 ($4,170) each month.
Have a clean criminal record
Have a place to stay in the country
Provide evidence of a health insurance plan that includes coverage for Romania.
Have identification documents and employment contract.
How to Apply for the Romania Digital Nomad Visa
The application process is fairly easy. To be eligible for the digital nomad visa in Romania, you must apply through a Romanian embassy or on the internet. For those who are applying through the embassy or consulate, the process must take place in the nation they call home or where they hold citizenship. That can be annoying if you’re globetrotting, but it definitely quickens the process.
The procedure for acquiring the digital nomad visa in Romania is quite uncomplicated. The process runs smoothly if you meet all of the necessary conditions.
Previously, it was stated that you could submit an application through the Romanian embassy. You can also submit your application electronically through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ official website. On that website, you can locate the appropriate form to fill out and begin your procedure.
Documents needed to apply for Romania digital nomad visa
To submit an application for the digital nomad visa in Romania, multiple documents must be uploaded. Here is the list of everything you need:
- Proof of self-employment
- Proof of your earnings for the past six months
- Medical insurance that is valid in Romania (It must be valid for the whole duration of your stay)
- Proof that you have a place to live (can be a rental agreement or any other form of proof)
- Proof of ticket to enter the country
- A letter of intention (this must detail the purpose of your travel to Romania and what activities you will be performing in the country)
Additional Digital Nomad Visas in Europe
Several nations from Europe are presenting Digital Nomad Visas to eligible overseas citizens who intend to do their job remotely while in Europe. Some of the most desirable places to work in Europe are Portugal, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Malta, and Norway.
We will provide you with an overview of the requirements for each visa, as each nation has different objectives for its economy that influence the validity and financial conditions.
Portugal
The Portugal Digital Nomad Visa makes it possible for people from outside the European Union or European Economic Area to move to Portugal and work remotely, so long as they are employed by an international business located outside the country and make the equivalent of at least €2,836 ($2,750) monthly, which is four times the minimum wage.
Digital nomads have the option of securing a temporary resident visa for a maximum of one year, or can acquire a residency permit that can be extended for up to five years. They need to demonstrate evidence of their income from the last three months, paperwork associated with their tax residency, and either evidence of a job they have or evidence of them working for themselves.
People who are interested in living and working in Portugal but are not able to meet the economic criteria for the Portuguese Digital Nomad Visa could be eligible to apply for the Portugal D7 Visa and still experience the digital nomad lifestyle, since it necessitates a lower income level. It is essential to be aware that those who receive the Digital Nomad Visa can move around the entire Schengen Zone without needing to go through immigration and without the need for a visa.
The Czech Republic
Individuals who are self-employed or digital nomads that get the Czech Republic’s Freelance Visa (Zivno Visa) and Trade License Visa can remain in the nation for up to one year and may have the ability to extend it for an extra two years. In order to be eligible, applicants must be citizens of a country outside of the European Economic Area and European Union, and must show evidence that they make at least €5,727 (or $5,600) in annual income.
Estonia
Estonia offers foreign remote workers permission to live there for a maximum of one year, provided they are working for themselves or employed by an organization outside of Estonia. In order to be able to be eligible for the Digital Nomad Visa of Estonia, applicants must show evidence of having received a gross salary of €3504 or more a month during the six months before they submitted their application.
Germany
The German Freelance Visa is much more of a hassle to get than other Digital Nomad Visas in Europe, and it only lasts for a brief amount of time. In order to be eligible, applicants must be independent contractors or freelancers in the fields of healthcare, law, taxes, business advising, science, technology, or linguistics and data transmission.
Candidates must demonstrate evidence of having enough money to pay for their stay, usually by displaying that they have an amount somewhere between €3,000 and €5,000 in their bank account. People who are successful in gaining a visa to Germany will receive residence rights that are good for three months. During that time, they have the option of changing their stay to a permanent residence permit.
Digital nomads may renew their residence permits for a period of up to three years, as long as they abide by the program’s regulations. It is essential to recognize that if you get the German Digital Nomad Visa, your freelance job must be reported to the taxation authority in Germany instead of the trade office. This implies that you will need to provide a tax identification number for taxation purposes.
Hungary
The Hungary Digital Nomad Visa, also known as the White Card, is valid for a period of one year and digital nomads can extend the period for an additional year. In order to apply for the visa, individuals must be from outside of the European Union, European Economic Area, and Switzerland, be capable of working remotely, and have a monthly income of at least €2,000.
Greece
Non-EU, non-EEA, and non-Swiss citizens who work remotely have the opportunity to live in Greece for up to a year with the Greece Digital Nomad Visa. Once the visa has expired, it can be renewed for an additional year and the application process is quite simple. In order to qualify for Greece’s Digital Nomad Visa, it is necessary to show proof of net income of at least €3,500 each month following deductions of taxes.
Iceland
In order to be eligible for an Icelandic Digital Nomad Visa, applicants must not be citizens of the European Economic Area, the European Free Trade Association, or the European Union, and must be able to fulfill their work remotely and support themselves during their stay. Essentially, people who are applying must originate from a nation that has a treaty permitting them to enter Iceland without a visa. Those who are eligible for the visa must provide evidence that they make a minimum of €6,866 (or 100,000 KR) each month.
Italy
Italy is one of the European Union nations that has yet to implement a Digital Nomad Visa. The Italian government is planning to create the Italy Digital Nomad Visa in the next 12 months, which will allow people from outside of the European Union, European Economic Area, and Switzerland to move to Italy, establish their residency, and work remotely while they are there.
Although the Digital Nomad Visa has not been introduced yet, foreign remote workers wishing to live in Italy can apply for the Italian Self-employment Visa. This visa allows them to stay in the country for a period of twelve months, with the potential of having the period extended. In order to be eligible, applicants must show evidence that they earned a minimum of €8,500 before taxes in the year prior to applying.
Malta
Non-Swiss, non-EEA, and non-EU citizens are eligible to receive a Malta Digital Nomad Visa – or Nomad Residence Permit – which grants them temporary residency rights. This permit is available to those who are able to perform their job duties remotely with a fixed internet connection and are employed in a country outside of Malta.
The Nomad Residence Permit is valid for a period of up to one year when it is first issued. Digital nomads can apply for a renewal of their permits if they still fulfill the criteria for being eligible. They need to show evidence that they make a minimum of €2,700 before taxes each month in order to be eligible.
Norway
The Svalbard Digital Nomad Visa from Norway permits foreign digital employees to live in Svalbard and do their job online from that location. Svalbard is an archipelago belonging to Norway that lies between the North Pole and the mainland of Norway, and is one of the most northernly inhabited places on Earth.
Digital nomads may keep a continuous home in Norway for as long as they prefer to work from a distance. Foreign nationals must demonstrate that they earn a minimum of €35,000 a year in order to be eligible, apart from their non-native status. Moreover, individuals must have at least one Norwegian client.
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