Is there a digital nomad visa for Romania?
Yes, but it doesn't apply to German nationals. Romania created a dedicated legal status for "digital nomads" by adding Art. 2(n⁴) to OUG 194/2002 (introduced by Legea nr. 22/2022) – explicitly for third-country nationals. The official legislative portal of Romania's Ministry of Justice defines the term as follows: a "digital nomad" is a foreign individual employed by a company registered outside Romania who provides services remotely via IT and communication technology, or who owns such a company and performs their activity remotely.
German nationals are EU citizens, not third-country nationals. The provision belongs to Romania's foreign-nationals law (OUG 194/2002, the "regime for foreigners") and therefore does not apply to them at all – they need no visa for a workation in Romania.
Requirements for the Romanian digital nomad visa
For third-country nationals, the official eViza portal of Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists the requirements. Central to this is the employment contract: "The employment contract, in original form, [...] concluded with a company registered outside Romania, proving the provision of remote services through the use of information and communication technology, [...] for at least three years at the date of his visa application" – meaning at least three years of continuous employment with the foreign employer.
An income threshold also applies: "Proof of means of subsistence [...] in the amount of at least three times the average gross monthly salary in Romania for each of the last 6 months prior to the date of submission of the visa application, as well as for the entire period covered by the visa." That means at least three times Romania's average gross salary, proven over six months. Further documents per eViza: a letter of intent, proof of tax residency, travel health insurance with at least €30,000 coverage, proof of accommodation, and a clean criminal record certificate.
Germans as EU citizens: free movement instead of a visa
For German nationals, this question doesn't arise. Romania has been a full EU member state since 2007. As EU citizens, Germans enjoy full freedom of movement in Romania – no visa requirement, no work-permit requirement, no immigration-law limit on length of stay. Anyone working remotely from Romania for a German employer, or posted there, needs no residence permit to do so.
The question that actually matters for German employers isn't the right of residence, but social security – and here the same logic applies as for any other EU country.
A1 certificate instead of a visa: Romania is an EU member state
Deutsche Rentenversicherung describes the basic rule for postings within the EU as follows: "If these persons are only temporarily active in another Member State of the European Union (EU), in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (a so-called posting), the law of the sending state exceptionally continues to apply." And further: "Employees, civil servants, and self-employed people regularly need an A1 certificate when they are temporarily active across borders within the EU [...]."
As an EU member state, Romania falls under the coordination regime of Regulation (EC) 883/2004 with no special treatment – the same form, the same process as a business trip to France or Poland. premote's existing Country Explorer entry for Romania confirms this for posting practice: if an A1 certificate is in place, the employee remains insured in their home country; without an A1 certificate, Romanian social security rules apply instead.
The 183-day tax exemption for "digital nomads" – not for posted workers
Romania also has a separate tax rule that is often confused with the A1 logic. CECCAR Business Magazine (the official professional body for Romanian accountants and auditors) describes the rule introduced by Legea nr. 69/2023: the exemption from income tax and social security contributions applies to "digital nomads present on Romanian territory for a period [...] not exceeding 183 days within any 12 consecutive months" – i.e., to digital nomads with a stay of up to 183 days per 12-month period.
Critically for employers: this exemption applies to exactly the same narrow "digital nomad" status under foreign-nationals law (OUG 194/2002) – i.e., to third-country nationals holding a visa. It does not automatically apply to someone posted from Germany who remains covered by German social security with an A1 certificate. Confusing the two risks an incorrect tax classification of the assignment.
Romania compared: EU citizens vs. third-country nationals
| Feature | EU citizens (e.g. Germany) | Third-country nationals (e.g. USA) |
|---|---|---|
| Right of residence | Free movement, no visa required | "Digital nomad" visa under OUG 194/2002 |
| Income threshold | None | 3x Romania's average salary, proven over 6 months |
| Minimum employment tenure | Not relevant | At least 3 years with the foreign employer |
| Social security | A1 certificate under Regulation (EC) 883/2004 | Not covered by the visa |
| 183-day tax exemption (Legea 69/2023) | Does not automatically apply to posted EU employees with A1 | Applies to the "digital nomad" status, up to 183 days/12 months |
What this means for employers
For HR and global mobility teams, this gives a clear order of checks: first, establish nationality – German and other EU nationals need no visa for Romania. Second, ensure an A1 certificate for postings and workations, since Romania falls under regular EU scope. Third: don't automatically extend the 183-day tax exemption under Legea 69/2023 to posted EU employees – it applies to the narrow third-country "digital nomad" status, not to A1 cases. Only if third-country nationals on the team plan to work remotely from Romania does the eViza process, with its income and tenure thresholds, become relevant. Tools like premote help capture A1 certificates for EU countries like Romania automatically and distinguish them from the more complex third-country cases.
FAQ
Do German nationals need a digital nomad visa for Romania?
No. As EU citizens, Germans enjoy full freedom of movement in Romania. Romania's "digital nomad" visa under OUG 194/2002 applies exclusively to third-country nationals.
Does the A1 certificate apply to Romania?
Yes. Romania has been an EU member state since 2007 and therefore falls under regular A1 coordination per Regulation (EC) 883/2004 – like any other EU country.
Does the 183-day tax exemption apply to posted German employees?
Not automatically. The exemption under Legea nr. 69/2023 applies to the narrow "digital nomad" status under foreign-nationals law (third-country nationals) – not to regularly posted EU employees covered by social security with an A1 certificate.
Who can apply for the Romanian digital nomad visa?
Only third-country nationals with at least three years of employment with an employer registered outside Romania, and income of at least three times Romania's average salary, proven over six months.
What applies if there is no A1 certificate?
According to premote's Country Explorer, Romanian social security rules then apply, and the foreign employer must act as if it were a Romanian employer.
The information provided on this website does not constitute legal advice and is not intended to address any legal issues or problems that may arise in individual cases. The information on this website is of a general nature and is provided for informational purposes only. If you need legal advice for your individual situation, you should seek the advice of a qualified attorney.
"