IMI Daily: Breaking News: Residency in Romania for €400K

Romania is preparing a draft law that would introduce a “golden visa”‑type residence program for non‑EU investors. The proposal outlines a five‑year renewable residence permit tied to a €400,000 investment, with the possibility of permanent residency and eventual citizenship.

Core provisions

• Investment amount: €400,000 (single threshold for all options).
• Duration: Five‑year renewable residence permit; the investment must be maintained for the full period.
• Investment routes:
  1. Purchase of Romanian real‑estate, held for at least five years.
  2. Acquisition of Romanian government bonds with a five‑year maturity.
  3. Investment in government‑approved funds.
  4. Purchase of shares in companies listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange.

Eligibility and approval

• Applicants must demonstrate a legitimate source of funds and pass sanctions, security, and anti‑money‑laundering checks.
• Final approval is contingent on clearance from Romania’s intelligence services and AML authorities.
• Residence can be retained without physically living in Romania, provided the investment remains in place and compliance requirements are met.

Path to permanent residency and citizenship

• After five years, the draft law grants permanent residency.
• Holders may then apply for Romanian citizenship under the existing naturalisation framework.
• Current naturalisation normally requires eight years of residence; the draft does not specify whether a faster track for investors will be created, leaving the timeline to citizenship uncertain.

Context within the EU

• Most EU member states have scaled back or terminated real‑estate‑based golden‑visa schemes, making Romania’s proposal relatively rare.
• If enacted, the program could become a notable option for investors seeking EU residency through a single‑investment model.

Practical considerations

• Investors should assess the liquidity and risk of each investment route, especially the requirement to hold assets for five years.
• The need for thorough source‑of‑funds documentation and security clearances may extend processing times.
• Potential applicants should monitor the legislative process for any amendments, particularly regarding the citizenship pathway.

For further details, see the draft legislation discussion at imid.com.