Semi-Official information for UK nationals moving to or living in Romania, including guidance on residency, healthcare, driving and the Withdrawal Agreement. Moving to or living in Romania – do not underestimate the mamaliga.
What you should do
- register as a resident in Romania
- register for healthcare as a resident in Romania
Study in Romania
Stay up to date
Attend a citizen outreach meeting
The British Embassy regularly holds events across Romania for UK nationals. Attend one of our citizens’ outreach meetings to keep up to date on working and living in Romania.
You can also:
The Withdrawal Agreement
The Withdrawal Agreement sets out the terms of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and provides for a deal on citizens’ rights. It sets out a transition period which lasts until 31 December 2020. During this time you can continue to live, work and study in the EU broadly as you did before 31 January 2020.
If you are resident in Romania at the end of the transition period, you will be covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, and your rights will be protected for as long as you remain resident in Romania.
Any rights that are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement will be the subject of future negotiations. Read this guidance page for more information
In the meantime, make sure you are registered as a resident in Romania. We will update this guidance as soon as more information becomes available.
You should also read our guidance on living in Europe.
Visas and residency
Check the entry requirements for Romania.
Residency
If you are resident in Romania before the transition period ends on 31 December 2020, you will be able to stay.
You must register as a Romanian resident if you want to stay in Romania for more than 3 months. You will obtain a certificate from the General Inspectorate for Immigration (Inspectoratul Roman pentru Imigrari).
If you were registered as resident in Romania before 31 January 2020, you will need to change your registration document for a new card/certificate.
If there are changes to residency registration processes, we will update this guidance as soon as information is available.
Healthcare
If you are living in Romania or move there permanently before 31 December 2020, you’ll have life-long healthcare rights in Romania as you do now, provided you remain resident.
You must register for healthcare as a resident in Romania.
Read our guidance on who can access healthcare in Romania and how to register.
State healthcare: S1
If you live in Romania and receive an exportable UK pension, contribution-based Employment Support Allowance or another exportable benefit, you may currently be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK. You will need to apply for a certificate of entitlement known as an S1 certificate.
You can apply for an S1 certificate through the Business Services Authority.
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
If you are resident in Romania, you must not use a UK-issued EHIC to access healthcare in Romania.
When you travel from Romania for a temporary stay in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, you may use an EHIC to access state-provided healthcare. During that short stay:
- the EHIC covers treatment that is medically necessary until your planned return home
- an EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance
- for more information you can read our travel advice pages and advice on foreign travel insurance
There will be no changes to your healthcare access before 31 December 2020. You can also continue to use your EHIC, as you did before, during this time.
You should also read guidance on:
- healthcare and studying abroad
- finding English-speaking doctors in Romania
- checking your prescriptions are legal in Romania
Passports and travel
The rules on travel will stay the same until the end of the implementation period on 31 December 2020. During this time you can continue to travel to countries in the Schengen area or elsewhere in the EU with your UK passport.
You can apply for or renew your British passport from Romania.
Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay.
You’ll need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport.
We will update these pages with details of any changes to the rules as soon as information is available. You should sign up for updates to this guidance.
Working in Romania
If you are registered as a resident in Romania, you have the right to work in Romania. Read our guidance on working in an EU country.
If you intend to work in Romania, you must register with the Romanian Office for Immigrants. You can also register as self-employed. The General Inspectorate for Immigration has more information.
You may need to apply for a:
- Romanian criminal records certificate (Cazier Judiciar)
- UK police certificate
If you are resident in Romania on or before 31 December 2020, you will maintain your right to work, as long as you remain resident in Romania.
Money and tax
The UK has a double taxation agreement with Romania to ensure you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.
Existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Romania have not changed.
Read guidance about:
- tax if you leave the UK to live abroad
- tax on your UK income if you live abroad
- paying income tax in Romania
You should obtain professional advice on paying tax in Romania. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Romania.
National Insurance
Find out if you can pay National Insurance while abroad so that you protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.
If you are employed or self-employed in the EU or the EEA and you have a UK-issued A1/E101 form, you will remain subject to UK legislation until the end date on the form.
Pensions
You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.
If you retire in Romania, you can claim:
- your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. Contact the International Pension Centre to claim
- your Romanian pension if you’ve worked in Romania
- pensions from working abroad, if you’ve worked in other EU countries
Life certificates for UK State Pensions
If you receive a ‘life certificate’ form in the post, you must fill it in promptly otherwise your payments may be suspended.
Pensions after 31 January 2020
There will be no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on claiming the UK State Pension in the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.
You can continue to receive your UK State Pension if you live in the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you can still claim your UK State Pension.
If you are living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020 you will get your UK State Pension uprated every year for as long as you continue to live there. This will happen even if you start claiming your pension on or after 1 January 2021, as long as you meet the qualifying conditions explained in the new State Pension guidance..
If you are living in Romania by 31 December 2020, you will be able to count future social security contributions towards meeting the qualifying conditions for your UK State Pension.
If you work and pay social security contributions in Romania, you will still be able to add your UK social security contributions towards your Romanian pension. This will happen even if you claim your pension after 31 December 2020.
Read our guidance on benefits and pensions in the EU.
Benefits
You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.
You may still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you live in Romania. You must:
- read our guidance on which benefits you can claim if you live abroad
- use our tool to check which benefits you can claim while you’re abroad
Many income-related benefits such as pension credit and housing benefit cannot be paid to you if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.
You can request proof of the time you’ve worked in the UK from HMRC if you are asked for this.
Romanian benefits
You may be entitled to Romanian benefits. To find out if you are entitled to Romanian benefits and how to claim, you can:
- read the EU’s guidance on claiming benefits in an EU country like Romania
- speak to a social worker at your local town hall (Primarie)
Benefits after 31 January 2020
There will be no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on claiming UK benefits in the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.
If you are living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020, you will continue to receive any UK benefits you already receive. This will continue for as long as you live there and meet all other eligibility requirements.
If you work and pay social security contributions in Romania, your UK social security contributions will be taken into account when applying for Romanian contributions-based benefits. This will happen even if you claim contributions-based benefits after 31 December 2020.
Read our guidance on benefits and pensions in the EU.
Driving in Romania
https://youtu.be/QJw7JyRS410
Driving licence rules will stay the same until 31 December 2020.
If you are resident in Romania, there is currently no requirement to exchange your UK licence for a local one. You can still use your Romanian licence in the UK for short visits or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test if you return to live in the UK.
If you are in Romania and your UK driving licence is lost, stolen or expires, you will not be able to renew it with the UK Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). You will need to apply to the DVLA for a certificate of entitlement in Romanian to be able to apply for a Romanian driving licence.
For information on driving in Romania, read the guidance on:
Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to Romania
Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.
You must read the EU´s guidance on car registration rules and taxes in Romania. You may be exempt from some of these taxes. If so, you will need certificates of exemption.
Voting
You cannot vote in local municipal, national or European Parliament elections in Romania.
You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:
- check if you are able to vote
- register as an overseas voter if you would like to vote
Births, deaths and getting married
If your child is born in Romania, you will need to register a birth abroad.
If someone dies in Romania, you must:
- read our guidance on what to do after someone dies abroad
- read guidance for UK nationals on bereavements in Romania
- find a list of English-speaking funeral directors in Romania
Find out how you can get married abroad.
Find out about notarial and documentary services for UK nationals in Romania.
Accommodation and buying property
https://youtu.be/UbLxyZm4jVk
Read guidance on how to buy property abroad.
Pets
Current pet travel rules will stay the same until 31 December 2020.
If you’re travelling with your pet for the first time you must visit your vet to get a pet passport.
Read guidance on bringing your pet to the UK.
Emergencies
You can dial the European emergency number 112. It is the only emergency number in Romania.
If you’re the victim of crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact the British Embassy Bucharest.
Returning to the UK
Tell the UK and Romanian authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently.
Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, tax, access to services and bringing family members.
Disclaimer
Note that this information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information must be obtained from the Romanian authorities. The FCO will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.