Business & InvestmentResidency via Business

Residency for Company Director and Shareholder

Source: General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) — igi.mai.gov.ro — Last reviewed: August 2026

Setting up a company in Romania does not automatically grant a residence permit to its foreign shareholders or directors. To legally reside in the country based on business activities, non-EU entrepreneurs must apply for a specific commercial residency permit through the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI). This process requires presenting a viable business plan, demonstrating a genuine economic impact, and proving a minimum level of actual investment or job creation to show that your business adds value to the Romanian economy.

1Important Note

Registering a company alone does not grant residency.
A separate application for commercial residency must be submitted to IGI, typically requiring a business plan and proof of actual investment.
This must be verified based on current regulations and individual circumstances.

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Your Role in the Company	Minimum Investment (per Art. 55, OUG 194/2002)	Or Minimum Jobs Created
SRL Partner/Associate (asociat)	€50,000	10 full-time jobs
SA Shareholder (acționar)	€70,000	15 full-time jobs
Enhanced tier (3-year permit instead of annual)	€500,000	50+ full-time jobs

These figures apply to the residency renewal stage (Art. 55) — either the investment OR the job-creation threshold is sufficient, not both. Note: the initial entry threshold with ARICE (before travel) is somewhat higher — €100,000/10 jobs for an SRL and €150,000/15 jobs for an SA — see the "Investment Residency" page for the full ARICE pathway. Amounts are calculated proportionally to your ownership share.

Process & Timeline

The renewal application must be filed with IGI — based on available information, the Sector 5 Bucharest office for applicants resident in Bucharest — along with a certificate from the local labor inspectorate on employee headcount.
IGI's official processing timeline is stated as "within 30 days," extendable by up to 15 more days if supplementary documents are needed.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does buying shares in a Romanian company give me residency?

No, simply holding shares is insufficient; you must prove substantial investment and active involvement in managing the business.

How much investment is required?

For an SRL partner: €50,000 or 10 full-time jobs. For an SA shareholder: €70,000 or 15 full-time jobs — these figures come directly from Article 55 of the Foreigners Regime (OUG 194/2002).

Why is the figure on the "Investment Residency" page higher?

Because that page covers the initial entry threshold with ARICE (before getting the visa and traveling), while this page covers the annual residency renewal after you're already established in Romania — two different stages with two different thresholds.