Romania TRC card benefits

“Temporary Residence Card” (TRC) in Romania is a document for foreign citizens who intend to stay in Romania for a period longer than 90 days within 6 months.

Obtaining a TRC in Romania gives the holder legal and social advantages.

Firstly, the TRC grants the foreign citizen the legal right to live in Romania for a determined period, usually between 1 and 5 years, with the possibility of further extension of this document.

To access the same rights as Romanian citizens within the country’s territory (in addition to TRC), foreign nationals must obtain both a visa and additional permits from the General Inspectorate of Immigration.

We note that the TRC, as well as the visa, can only be obtained by proving a specific purpose that justifies the stay in a state. For example, you can apply for a TRC for studies, for work or for family reunification.

Therefore, according to art. 109 para. (1) from Emergency Ordinance (OUG) no. 194/2002 „The temporary residence permit is issued to foreigners upon granting or extending the right of temporary residence. The address at which the foreigner declares that he resides on the territory of Romania is entered in the temporary residence permit.”

A TRC alone does not grant unrestricted access to Romania’s job market – this is only guaranteed by a permanent residence permit. Without such permanent status, you must obtain both a work visa and a work permit from the General Inspectorate of Immigration to be employed or self-employed in Romania.

Other types of TRC can also provide the right to work in Romania, such as, for example, the one for family reunification, but it is recommended to check the exact purpose of the visa in terms of the benefits offered.

When the first residence permit is issued, the foreign citizen will be assigned a Personal Numeric Code (CNP). This unique identifier can become useful in administrative procedures in Romania, making it easier to interact with institutions.

After a period of 5 years in Romania, the foreign citizen who has been legally in the national territory during all this time, can obtain a permanent residence permit, which offers free access to the labour market and almost complete benefits similar to those of Romanian citizens.

Romania TRC card processing time

The process of obtaining a temporary residence permit in Romania involves certain procedural deadlines that must be taken into account by the applicants. 

The submission of the application, when renewing the residence permit, must be made at least 30 days before the expiration of the right of residence granted by the visa or the previous permit.

Normally, applications for the issuance of a temporary residence permit are resolved within 30-45 days from the date of submission of the complete application. This interval may vary, depending on the complexity of the case and the volume of requests registered at the time.

In exceptional situations, when the authorities consider it necessary to request additional information, the process can be extended. It is important to note that for certain categories of applicants, such as EU Blue Card holders, there may be faster processing times, in accordance with the specific regulations applicable to this category.

Romania TRC card fees

Obtaining a temporary residence permit in Romania also involves some costs that applicants must consider:

• The residence permit is issued based on a visa obtained from the Romanian Embassy in the foreigner’s country of residence. The consular fee for obtaining a visa is 120 EUR. This can be paid in cash at the Treasury or CEC in the state budget account no. 20A20330102 fiscal code 8609468 or by bank settlement, from the own account opened at a credit institution in Romania, to the account of the state treasury; the IBAN codes related to the expenditure and budget revenue accounts opened at all State Treasury units can be accessed on the website of the Ministry of Public Finance – www.anaf.ro. 
• A fee of 259 RON, representing the value of the residence permit, can be paid by natural persons: through the cashiers of CEC BANK SA units, through the CEC BANK SA payment machines or via the application provided by www.ghiseul.ro. By legal entities, the tax is paid to account RO35CECEB00030RON1278595.

In addition to these, other costs may be charged for obtaining the necessary documents, such as legalized translations or apostilles. These additional costs also vary depending on the applicant’s country of origin and the nature of the documents required.

For the extension of the residence permit, the applicant must pay only the fee of 259 RON which represents the value of the residence permit. If the extension application is submitted on time (at least 30 days before expiry of the previous permit), the citizen does not need to get another visa for the residence permit’s extension.

Therefore, obtaining a TRC is a facility granted by the Romanian state for foreign citizens who wish to settle in the country. Through it, foreign citizens have access to a number of benefits, however, obtaining the TRC requires attention to procedural details and compliance with deadlines.

To successfully complete the application process, candidates must have all required documentation and meet the financial requirements.