Romania opens to more travellers

Digital nomads and travellers from more countries are to be allowed into Romania without quarantine. Outbound travel is still restricted however, as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends that Romanians travel abroad only if absolutely essential.  This has impacted outbound medical and health tourism.

 Implementing a Digital Nomad Visa

Romania is seen as one of the best countries for remote working, mainly because of its high internet speed and the low monthly rent of a one-bedroom apartment.

Romanian MPs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Research, have recently submitted to the Romania Parliament a draft law regulating the implementation of the digital nomad visa for remote workers in Romania.

The legislative project aims to introduce a new reason for obtaining a visa permit in the country.

Digital nomads are defined as foreign citizens who want to live in Romania for a longer period, while still working remotely for an international employer or for a company they have registered in a third country.

The aim is to invite international citizens to live in Romania for several months, but without moving there permanently.

The main conditions for applying for such a visa include proof of being an employee or the owner of a company registered outside of Romania; proof of health insurance for the period of time for which the visa was obtained; and proof of no criminal record.

Opening to more travellers

On 21 May Romanian authorities introduced a new classification of countries with epidemiological risk, according to the Covid-19 incidence rate of new cases over the past 14 days. It also updated the country lists.

Countries are classified as red, yellow or green.

The Red List includes countries and territories where the cumulated Covid-19 incidence rate of new cases over the past 14 days is higher than or equal to 3 per 1,000 inhabitants.

The Yellow List includes countries and territories where the incidence rate is between 1.5 and 3 per 1,000 inhabitants, while the Green List covers countries where the rate is lower than or equal to 1.5 per 1,000 inhabitants.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) recommends that Romanians travel abroad only if absolutely essential; greatly reducing outbound medical and health tourism.  But Romanians who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 can travel abroad without having to quarantine on their return.

Travellers arriving from countries on the Green List do not need to quarantine. Bulgaria, Poland, and Hungary are among the countries included on Romania’s latest green list.

The yellow list includes countries that are key sources of health and medical tourists, notably Italy and Spain, two countries with large Romanian communities.

The UK is on the green list but Romania is on the UK’s amber list where people are advised not to travel and have to quarantine on return.

Those arriving from countries on the Yellow List must show a negative PCR test carried out at most 72 hours before entering the country.

Travellers who arrive from countries on the Yellow or Red lists need to quarantine for 14 days at home or a stated location. Travellers can exit quarantine earlier, on the tenth day, if they undertake a Covid-19 test on the eighth quarantine day and it comes back negative.

Those who arrive from countries on the Yellow or Red lists but were fully vaccinated against Covid-19 at least ten days before arriving in Romania are exempt from the quarantine requirement.  This applies to those who received the second dose at least ten days before entering Romania.