Your first 90 days in Romania: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · September 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
The 90-day driving window after taking up residence is much shorter than people expect, and it starts from residence, not from the licence's own expiry date. Also budget real time for IGI appointments — the queue, not the paperwork, is the constraint.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
Apply for the residence permit at the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) territorial office for your county
At least 30 days before your current right of stay expires — the long-stay visa holder applies from inside Romania during its validity
IGI appointments are county-specific and the Bucharest office is by far the busiest; the file wants proof of accommodation registered with the tax authority, health insurance, and evidence of means, all in Romanian or with authorised translation.
Get your CNP (personal numeric code) or NIF for non-residents
Payroll, banking, property, the health insurance house (CNAS) and every ANAF filing key off it.
The CNP is assigned with the residence permit; a NIF (fiscal identification number) is issued by ANAF where a CNP does not apply, and self-employment (PFA) is registered separately at the Trade Register.
Open a bank account
Banca Transilvania, BCR and ING open accounts on the residence permit and CNP, and Romanian retail banking is genuinely modern — instant transfers, good apps, low fees. Before the permit lands, a passport-only account is possible at some banks but comes with limits that make it awkward for salary.
Enrol in healthcare
CNAS covers contributors and their dependants; employees are enrolled automatically, while the self-employed and inactive residents pay the annual contribution to get a card. Register with a family doctor as soon as you are insured, because they gatekeep referrals and prescriptions. Private networks (Regina Maria, MedLife) handle most expatriate routine care.
Sort your driver's license
EU/EEA licences remain valid. Non-EU licences may be used for up to 90 days from establishing residence and must then be exchanged at the DRPCIV, with a medical certificate; exchange without testing depends on a reciprocity agreement, and licences outside those agreements require the Romanian exams.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Romania: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Romania?
Apply for the residence permit at the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) territorial office for your county — At least 30 days before your current right of stay expires — the long-stay visa holder applies from inside Romania during its validity. IGI appointments are county-specific and the Bucharest office is by far the busiest; the file wants proof of accommodation registered with the tax authority, health insurance, and evidence of means, all in Romanian or with authorised translation. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the CNP and do I need one?
CNP (personal numeric code) or NIF for non-residents is Romania's personal tax/ID number. Payroll, banking, property, the health insurance house (CNAS) and every ANAF filing key off it. The CNP is assigned with the residence permit; a NIF (fiscal identification number) is issued by ANAF where a CNP does not apply, and self-employment (PFA) is registered separately at the Trade Register.
Can I drive in Romania on a US license?
EU/EEA licences remain valid. Non-EU licences may be used for up to 90 days from establishing residence and must then be exchanged at the DRPCIV, with a medical certificate; exchange without testing depends on a reciprocity agreement, and licences outside those agreements require the Romanian exams. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Romania?
CNAS covers contributors and their dependants; employees are enrolled automatically, while the self-employed and inactive residents pay the annual contribution to get a card. Register with a family doctor as soon as you are insured, because they gatekeep referrals and prescriptions. Private networks (Regina Maria, MedLife) handle most expatriate routine care. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Romania's system treats foreign residents.