Estimated reading time: 12 minutes

Long-Term Residence in Romania: Conditions, Rights and What Changes Under OUG 32/2026

If you are a foreign worker in Romania, your first years are usually spent on a temporary residence permit — the permis unic — tied to your job and your employer. But Romanian law gives you a clear path beyond that: after 5 years, you can apply for long-term residence (dreptul de ședere pe termen lung), a fundamentally different status regulated by OUG 194/2002 on the regime of foreign nationals in Romania.

This guide explains what that status means, who qualifies, what documents you need, what rights you gain and what changed under OUG 32/2026. It is written in plain language, with the legal basis at every step, so you can plan ahead even if the legal texts feel complicated.

Contents

• What long-term residence means
• Temporary work permit vs. long-term residence
• Who can apply
• Who cannot apply
• All the conditions, one by one
• How the 5 years are counted
• Exceptions: who can skip some conditions
• The new A2 Romanian language certificate (from 1 January 2027)
• Your employer’s Romanian course vs. the A2 certificate
• Documents and procedure
• How long the procedure takes
• The permit: validity and cost
• Your rights as a long-term resident
• How a long-term resident is employed
• The path from work permit to long-term residence
• How the right can be lost
• Frequently asked questions

What long-term residence means

Long-term residence (dreptul de ședere pe termen lung) is the right to remain in Romania for an unlimited period (art. 70(1) of OUG 194/2002). The person holding the corresponding permit is called a “long-term resident” (rezident pe termen lung, art. 2 lit. d)). In everyday speech, people sometimes call it “permanent residence”; the legal name has been the one above since 2011.

The fundamental difference from a temporary work permit is this: your temporary permit says “you may stay because you have this job.” Long-term residence says “you may stay because Romania is your home.” It does not depend on a contract, an employer, or a visa.

Temporary work permit vs. long-term residence

Understanding the difference between these two statuses helps you see why long-term residence matters.

Duration of the right. A temporary work permit (permis unic) lasts as long as your contract, up to 2 years, then requires extension (art. 56(2)). Long-term residence is granted for an unlimited period (art. 70(1)).

Tied to your employer. With a temporary permit, yes. With long-term residence, no.

If your contract ends. With a temporary permit, your right to stay lasts at most 90 days without unemployment benefits (art. 56(6)). With long-term residence, losing your job has no effect on your right to stay.

Changing employers. With a temporary permit, you can only resign after 6 months, except in cases of serious employer violation (art. 56(13)-(14)); workers placed through an agency can only work through that agency for up to 2 years (art. 40(2)-(4) OUG 32/2026). As a long-term resident, none of these limits apply — you can change jobs like any Romanian employee.

Occupation restrictions. For D/AM2 workers, the job must be on the shortage occupations list (art. 1(3) OUG 32/2026). For long-term residents, no such restriction exists.

Who can apply

You can apply if, at the time your application is reviewed, you hold a temporary residence permit or you have been granted international protection in Romania (art. 70(1)).

Who cannot apply

Long-term residence is not available (art. 70(2)) to holders of temporary residence for studies, asylum seekers, people with temporary protection or other forms of protection (other than international protection), people in Romania on a short-stay visa, diplomatic or service visa, and people with residence as seasonal workers or au pairs.

If you are working on a regular work permit (not seasonal), this exclusion does not apply to you.

All the conditions, one by one

All of the following must be met together (art. 71(1)):

• 5 years of continuous stay before applying, with a temporary residence permit or international protection (lit. a)).
• Means of subsistence at least at the level of the national minimum gross salary, proven for at least 12 months. Family members of Romanian citizens are exempt (lit. b)).
• Health insurance (lit. c)).
• Legal accommodation — owned or rented (lit. d)).
• Romanian language at least at a “satisfactory level” (lit. e)).
• No threat to national security (lit. f)).
• No threat to public order. This condition is met if you have not intentionally committed offences in Romania for which you received a prison sentence of more than 5 years (lit. g)).

If you have been working legally, paying taxes and health insurance, and living at a registered address, you are likely already meeting most of these conditions through your normal employment.

How the 5 years are counted

This is where many applications fail. The rules are strict and specific (art. 71(1) lit. a)):

Absences. No more than 6 consecutive months and no more than 10 months in total over the 5 years (point (i)).

International transport drivers. If you are a long-distance driver, trips abroad made as part of your job do not count as absences, as long as you can prove them with documents (point (i)).

No removal order. You must not have had a removal measure from Romania during this period (point (ii)).

Studies. Time spent in Romania for studies is counted at half — 2 years of study count as 1 year toward the 5 (point (iii)).

What does not count at all. Time as a seasonal worker, au pair, or on a short-stay, diplomatic or service visa is excluded entirely (point (iv)).

International protection beneficiaries. Special rules apply — the period can be reduced to 4 years or to half, and it is counted from the date the protection application was filed, not from its approval (points (v)-(vii)).

If you go home to visit family for a month or two each year, that is fine. What matters is that Romania remains your main place of life and that you stay within the 6-month / 10-month limits.

Exceptions: who can skip some conditions

The law provides several exceptions:

Minors. A child can receive long-term residence without meeting the above conditions if one or both parents already have it. If only one parent is a long-term resident, the consent of the other parent is required in authenticated form (art. 71(3)).

Persons of Romanian origin, persons whose stay is in the interest of the Romanian state, and unaccompanied minors in specific situations can receive the right without meeting conditions a) through e) (art. 71(2)).

Investors who can prove investments of at least 1,000,000 euros (according to their own share of participation) or who have created more than 100 full-time jobs can receive the right without the duration-of-stay and means-of-subsistence conditions (art. 71(4)).

EU Blue Card holders have their own regime: 5 years of stay in the EU, of which the last 2 must be in Romania (art. 71(5)).

The new A2 Romanian language certificate (from 1 January 2027)

This is one of the most important changes introduced by OUG 32/2026.

Until now, your Romanian language level was assessed through an interview at the time of application. OUG 32/2026 changed this in two ways: it introduced a new document — a linguistic competence certificate issued by an accredited institution in Romania, proving at least A2 level on the Common European Framework (art. 72(1) lit. f), introduced by art. 45 point 51 of OUG 32/2026); and it abolished the interview (art. 72(2), abrogated by art. 45 point 52).

The date that matters is 31 December 2026. According to art. 52(6) of OUG 32/2026, applications filed before this date are processed under the old rules (with an interview). Applications filed from 1 January 2027 onwards require the A2 certificate.

If your 5 years are completed in 2026, you have a strong reason not to delay your application. If your 5 years are completed later, plan your language exam well in advance.

Unaccompanied minors covered by art. 131(3) lit. c) and d) are exempt from the certificate requirement (art. 72(3)).

Note: At the time of writing (October 2026), the IGI website page dedicated to long-term residence does not yet mention the certificate among the required documents. Before you apply, ask your local IGI office to confirm what applies to your file.

Your employer’s Romanian course vs. the A2 certificate

This distinction is important. Under OUG 32/2026, your employer is legally required to provide you with a Romanian language course — at least 6 hours per week, for at least 6 months, including cultural and social integration (art. 7(1) lit. g)). This course prepares you for A2 level.

However, the employer’s course does not automatically replace the A2 certificate. The certificate for IGI must be issued by an accredited institution. An employer-organised course only counts toward the certificate if it ends with a formal evaluation at such an institution.

What this means for you: take the course, attend it seriously, and keep all proof of participation. But when the time comes to apply for long-term residence after 2027, you will also need to pass an A2 evaluation at an accredited institution. The course prepares you for the exam; it does not replace it.

Documents and procedure

You apply in person at the territorial office of the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI / Inspectoratul General pentru Imigrări) — usually the one in the county where you live. The documents required by art. 72(1) are:

• Application form (cererea-tip)
• Passport (original and copy)
• Proof of legal accommodation (rental contract or property deed)
• Proof of means of subsistence (employment contract, pay slips)
• Proof of health insurance
• Criminal record certificate issued by Romanian authorities
• A2 Romanian language certificate — for applications filed after 31 December 2026

IGI may also request civil status documents depending on your situation.

How long the procedure takes

The law sets clear deadlines (art. 73-74):

• Processing the application: maximum 6 months from registration, with a possible 3-month extension for objective reasons (art. 73(3)).
• Communication of approval: 15 working days from the decision (art. 73(4)).
• Collecting the permit: you must appear within 30 days of receiving the approval (art. 73(5)).
• If refused — communication: 15 working days from the decision, with written reasons (art. 74(2)).
• If refused — appeal: 30 days from communication, at the Bucharest Court of Appeal (art. 74(3)).

Two important protections if your application is refused: the refusal does not affect the residence right you already have (art. 74(4)), and the decision must consider the duration of your stay and your ties to Romania, respecting proportionality, and may not be based on economic grounds (art. 74(5)).

Important: while waiting for the answer, continue to renew your temporary permit on time. The long-term residence application does not replace it.

The permit: validity and cost

The right itself is for an unlimited period, but the physical card has a validity (art. 110(1)):

• 10 years for family members of Romanian citizens
• 5 years for everyone else

The card is renewed successively for the same period, and you must apply for renewal at least 30 days before it expires (art. 110(4)). The address recorded on the permit is your domicile in Romania, not a temporary residence address (art. 110(2)).

According to the fee schedule published by IGI:

• 128 lei — fee for granting long-term residence (taxa de acordare, under OG 24/1992). Family members of Romanian citizens are exempt (art. 73(6)).
• 265 lei — cost of the permit card
• 265 lei — for each renewal

Verify these amounts on the IGI website on the day you pay — they are updated through separate legislation.

Your rights as a long-term resident

Art. 80¹(1) of OUG 194/2002 provides for equal treatment with Romanian citizens, under the conditions of the law, in the following areas:

• Access to the labour market, including employment conditions, independent economic activities (sole trader, individual enterprise, family enterprise) and professional activities — except those involving the exercise of public authority (lit. a)).
• Access to all forms and levels of education and vocational training, including study scholarships (lit. b)).
• Recognition of diplomas, certificates, qualifications and professional credentials (lit. c)).
• Social security, social assistance and social protection (lit. d)).
• Public healthcare (lit. e)).
• Tax deductions and exemptions on global income (lit. f)).
• Access to public goods and services, including housing (lit. g)).
• Freedom of association, affiliation and membership in trade unions or professional organisations (lit. h)).

In addition:

• Domicile. You can establish or change your domicile in Romania under the same conditions as Romanian citizens (art. 76).
• Family. You can sponsor family reunification (art. 46(1)), and your spouse and family members can have their temporary residence extended for periods of up to 5 years (art. 62(5)).
• Stability. The right can only be revoked for threats to public order (meaning a prison sentence of more than 5 years) or national security (art. 77(2)). Losing your job is not a reason.

“Under the conditions of the law” means each right is exercised according to its own rules: contribution periods for pensions, income criteria for social benefits, licensing conditions for regulated professions.

How a long-term resident is employed

OUG 32/2026 introduced art. 132¹ into OUG 194/2002, listing the categories of foreign nationals who can be employed based on their existing residence permit. Long-term residents are the first category (art. 132¹(1) lit. a)).

What is not needed when hiring a long-term resident:

• No application in WorkinRomania.gov.ro, no D/AM1 or D/AM2 visa, no permis unic
• No placement agency and no placement contract
• No employer registration on the platform — art. 4(2) of OUG 32/2026 explicitly exempts employers hiring workers from the categories listed in art. 132¹(1) lit. a)-h) and j)-m)
• No need to check the shortage occupations list
• No hourly limits — the caps of 6 and 4 hours per day apply to students and second contracts of permis unic holders (art. 132¹(2) and (3))

In other words, hiring a long-term resident does not depend on the platform, the shortage list, or the annual quota — and is not affected by any delays or blockages on those systems.

What remains mandatory for your employer:

• Notify IGI within 10 days of the start of your employment, sending a copy of the contract and of your long-term residence permit (art. 132¹(6)). Failure to do so carries a fine of 10,000–20,000 lei per person (art. 134 point 19 and art. 135(1) lit. h)).
• Notify IGI within 5 working days if the contract is modified or terminated (art. 132¹(7)).
• Employment contract in Romanian and in a language you understand — your native language or an international language (art. 16(1⁹) Labour Code). Fine: 6,000 lei per contract (art. 260(1) lit. e⁶)).
• Register the contract in REGES-ONLINE before you start work (HG 295/2025).

The law also treats you as equivalent to local labour: when an employer applies for a D/AM1 visa for a highly qualified worker, they must show they tried to fill the position with a Romanian citizen, an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen, or a long-term resident (art. 27¹(3) lit. c)).

The path from work permit to long-term residence

If you came to Romania on a work visa, your years with a permis unic count in full toward the 5-year requirement. But several things can interrupt the continuity under the new regime:

• Contract suspended too long. Your residence right is revoked if your employment contract was suspended for more than 3 consecutive months or 6 cumulative months during the permit period (art. 77(3) lit. i), introduced by OUG 32/2026).
• Gap between employers. After your contract ends, your temporary stay is valid for at most 90 days without unemployment benefits (art. 56(6)). If you do not find a new contract within this period, your legal stay ends — and with it, the continuity.
• Long absences from Romania. Over 6 consecutive months or over 10 months in total.
• Expired permit. The law requires “continuous” legal stay, so do not let your permit expire. Renew it on time, every time.
• Seasonal work. Not counted at all toward the 5 years.

If you keep your contract active, your permit current and your absences within the limits, the 5 years will accumulate naturally. Every year brings you closer.

How the right can be lost

Long-term residence can end in the following cases (art. 70(3)):

• Through annulment or revocation (lit. a))
• When you obtain long-term residence in another state (lit. b))
• Absence from Romania for more than 12 consecutive months, unless you had a temporary residence permit in another EU member state or you are a minor with a parent who is a Romanian citizen or a resident (lit. c))
• Absence from Romania for more than 6 consecutive years, even with a temporary residence in an EU state (lit. d))
• At your own request or upon acquiring Romanian citizenship (lit. e))
• For former EU Blue Card holders: absence of more than 2 consecutive years from the EU, EEA and Switzerland (lit. f))
• Annulment of international protection, if the right was obtained in that capacity (lit. g))

Annulment can happen if the right was obtained using false documents or through a marriage of convenience (art. 77(1)).

If the right is lost for reasons b) through d) and you are in Romania, you have 30 days from the notification to apply for a temporary residence permit (art. 70(4)). A new long-term residence right can be granted after a new continuous stay of at least 12 months (art. 70(5)).

Frequently asked questions

After how many years can I apply?

After 5 years of continuous temporary stay in Romania, with no more than 6 consecutive months and 10 months total of absence. Years of study count at half, and seasonal work does not count at all.

Do I need an A2 Romanian language certificate?

For applications filed before 31 December 2026, the old rule applies — an interview at the time of filing. For applications filed after this date, the law requires a certificate of at least A2 level issued by an accredited institution in Romania.

If I lose my job, do I lose long-term residence?

No. The right is for an unlimited period and does not depend on an employment contract. It can be lost through long absences from Romania, annulment, or revocation for public order or national security reasons.

Can I change employers freely?

Yes. The 6-month and 2-year restrictions apply to permis unic holders and workers placed through an agency. As a long-term resident, you have access to the labour market under the same conditions as a Romanian citizen.

Does my employer need to register on WorkinRomania to hire me?

No. Art. 4(2) of OUG 32/2026 explicitly exempts employers hiring long-term residents. The obligation to send IGI a copy of the contract and the permit within 10 days remains.

Does the shortage occupations list matter for me?

No. Among workers employed based on an existing permit, the list condition applies only to certain second contracts and family members — not to long-term residents.

If my application is refused, do I have to leave Romania?

No. A refusal does not affect the residence right you already have. You can appeal within 30 days at the Bucharest Court of Appeal and you can file a new application when you meet the conditions.

Is long-term residence the same as Romanian citizenship?

No. You remain a citizen of your country of origin, with your own passport. Romanian citizenship is obtained through a separate procedure, and upon acquiring it, your long-term residence right ceases automatically.

Start learning Romanian now

Whether you are in your first year or your fourth, learning Romanian is one of the best investments you can make for your future in this country. It makes your daily life easier, your workplace safer and — from 2027 — it is a formal condition for long-term residence.

At INDORA, we provide practical Romanian language courses for foreign workers — built around the situations you actually face at work and in daily life, not abstract grammar exercises. Our courses meet the requirements of OUG 32/2026 and include cultural and social integration, preparing you for the A2 level you will need. When the time comes, you will still need to pass the evaluation at an accredited institution — but the course gives you the skills to do it confidently.

Read more about our Romanian language course for foreign workers.

More help for your life in Romania

• Your rights at work in Romania: hours, breaks, overtime, leave and public holidays
• Working legally in Romania: a complete guide for foreign workers
• Romanian language course for foreign workers in Romania

New in Romania? Start with the basics.

Download a short guide with practical Romanian phrases and first-month tips for foreign workers.

---

This article is based on OUG 194/2002 on the regime of foreign nationals in Romania (as amended by OUG 32/2026), OUG 32/2026, Ordinul 655/2026 and the Labour Code (Law 53/2003). It is for general information and does not constitute legal advice. Fees and procedures may change — always confirm current requirements with the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) before applying.