Romania Pre-Departure Guide
Your complete checklist and guide for all essential preparations before traveling to Romania for your studies.
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An example pre-departure plan
Getting Ready to Study in Romania
Preparing for Romania means getting your Letter of Acceptance, your visa, insurance, housing and proof of money ready in the right order. Many fees and amounts are in euros (EUR).
Start Early
What to Prepare
- Visa and papers: A long-stay visa for studies (called D/SD), your passport, apostille stamps and translations.
- Health insurance: Travel medical insurance with at least 30,000 euros (EUR) of cover for the visa.
- Housing: A dorm place or a private rental, needed for the visa.
- Money: Tuition for one year, and proof of money to live on.
Order of Steps
After admission
Your university sends your papers to the Ministry of Education. It usually takes about 30 working days (weekdays).
When you have the letter
Fill in e-Viza and upload your papers. Send the file for checking, wait until it is marked Valid, then book the embassy appointment.
Within 30 days after you arrive
Apply for your residence permit (the card that lets you live in Romania as a student) at the IGI office in your county.
Your University's Own Steps
Each university has its own dates and fees. It also tells you what to do to keep your place.
Its international office sends the Letter of Acceptance and helps you after you arrive.
Pre-Departure Checklist
Tick these off before you fly to Romania.
Papers
Passport
Valid for 3 months after your visa ends, and no more than 10 years old.
Letter of Acceptance to Studies
From the Ministry of Education.
Apostille and translated study papers
Translations into Romanian, English or French, by an approved translator.
Criminal record certificate
Translated, and stamped by the right office to show it is real.
Money
Tuition paid for one year
Keep the payment proof.
Proof of money to live on
Money for each month of your visa: at least the gross minimum wage (the lowest legal monthly pay, before tax), 4,325 Romanian lei (RON) a month since 1 July 2026.
Health
Travel medical insurance
At least 30,000 euros of cover, valid in all Schengen countries.
Housing
Dorm place or private rental
Needed for the visa. If you rent privately, you must also register the rent contract with the tax office (ANAF) after you arrive. The permit needs it.
Travel
Visa in your passport
Check the dates before you fly.
Some Romanian lei (RON)
For your first days.
India and Pakistan
Pre-Departure Guides
Read each guide for the full steps.
Staying Connected
Get ready to call for help and to reach your university.
Important Contacts & Resources
Emergency Contacts in Romania
In Romania, call 112 for police, ambulance or firefighters. The call is free. The person who answers can speak English and French.
Save These Contacts Before Departure
Your university's international office
Your first contact for papers and help.
The Romanian embassy where you applied
For visa questions before you travel.
Before You Fly
Save 112 in your phone. It is the one emergency number in Romania.
Save your university international office's phone and email.
Plan to buy a local SIM card (a phone number) in your first days.
Key Tips Before You Go
Apply for admission early. The Ministry of Education review for your Letter of Acceptance usually takes about 30 working days (weekdays).
Get an apostille (an official stamp from your own government that shows a paper is real) on your school and degree papers. Then get them translated. India and Pakistan are both in the Apostille Convention.
Start your e-Viza form when you have the Letter of Acceptance.
Book a dorm early. Dorms can fill up, so you may not get the one you want.
Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after your visa ends, and be no more than 10 years old.
Plan money for your first weeks. IGI asks for a Romanian bank statement for the residence permit.
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Common Questions
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