If you hold a temporary residence permit valid for one year, an EU Blue Card, an ICT permit, a “mobile ICT” permit, a long-term residence permit or if you are a beneficiary of refugee status or subsidiary protection, you are entitled to apply for family reunification in Romania.
Your family members include:
- your spouse;
- your unmarried minor children (including adoptive);
- your spouse's minor children, including those adopted, if they are under his/her care. If your spouse and the other parent have joint custody, you will require the consent of the other parent;
- your dependent relatives of first degree in ascending line and those of your spouse if they are not capable of caring for themselves;
- your unmarried adult children and those of your spouse if they are not capable of caring for themselves for medical reasons.
Your family members must obtain:
- a long-stay visa for family reunification, identified by the symbol D/VF;
- a temporary residence permit if they intend to stay in Romania for more than 90 days.
Where and how to apply | Family reunification application You must apply for family reunification with your family members at the territorial formation of the General Inspectorate for Immigration from their residence place. Approval of your application for family reunification will be communicated to you and you should forward this to your family members residing in the non-EU country. The certificate approving the request should be submitted to the Romanian Embassy in the country where the family members are residing, together with their visa application. Long-stay visa for family reunification Your family members must apply for a long-stay visa for family reunification at the Romanian Embassy in their country of origin or residence. Temporary residence permit Upon arrival, your family members must apply for an extension of the right to reside in Romania, and will be issued with a temporary residence permit by the General Inspectorate for Immigration. |
Documents required | Family reunification application To apply for family reunification, you must first receive a certificate of approval from the General Inspectorate for Immigration. You must provide:
Long-stay visa The initial visa for the purpose of family reunification is issued for a period of 90 days. To apply for a long-stay visa, your family members must provide the following documents:
Temporary residence permit To extend their right to stay in Romania, your family members must apply for a temporary residence permit for family reunification when they arrive in Romania. The spouse must show the following documents:
Other family members must present the following documents:
Other documents may be requested by the Romanian Inspectorate for Immigration. |
Duration of validity of permits | The family member's residence permit will be aligned with the duration of your residence permit. |
Further information | More on reuniting with your family in Romania (in Romanian). |
Autonomous residence status | Family members may obtain an extension of their right of residence independently if:
Under these conditions, the right of residence for family members is extended for a period of up to six months. Further extensions of the right of residence will be granted under the conditions and for one of the purposes foreseen in the third-country nationals' legislation. |
Long-term residence | To be granted a long-term residence permit, the family member must show that his/her temporary stay in Romania has been legal and continuous for at least five years. During the five-year period, the family member must not have left Romania for more than six months in one year or for more than ten months in total. It is not considered absence from the Romanian territory if, by the service's nature, the third-country national has travelled abroad for development of international transport activities and presents documents proving this situation. He/she must show:
The family member must also do a language test to prove he/she has a satisfactory level of knowledge about Romanian language. If the family member obtains a permanent right to stay, he/she will be issued with a long-term residence permit, renewable every five years. Long-term resident status gives the holder equal treatment with Romanian citizens regarding the conditions for access to the labour market, (except public prerogatives), education and vocational training, social security, social and health care, social protection and medical assistance. More on long-term resident status (in Romanian). |