Opening a company in Romania: the complete 2026 guide
Opening a company in Romania now takes less than a week and does not require residency. Here is the whole path, with nothing hidden: what to choose, what it really costs, and what happens after registration.
Who can open a Romanian company
Romanian residency is not required. An Italian citizen — or any other — can be a shareholder and director by presenting an ID card or passport, and there is no need to travel: the file is signed electronically.
The file is submitted to the trade registry electronically, so it has to be signed digitally. That does not mean you need a signature: you can give a power of attorney to whoever files on your behalf. If you would rather sign yourself, a qualified certificate takes a day or two to obtain.
SRL or PFA: the first decision
The SRL is the limited liability company: liability stops at the share capital, it can have several shareholders, hire staff and be sold. It suits anyone building a real business.
The PFA is the authorised natural person, closer to a sole trader: simpler and cheaper to run, but you are liable with personal assets and hit operational limits sooner.
The documents you actually need
Two: an identity document for each person involved, and the title to the space where you set the registered office — a deed, a land registry extract, a lease or a loan-for-use agreement.
If you have no address in Romania, the registered office can be hosted: around €120 a year, with the hosting contract generated and filed alongside the rest.
How long it takes
From signing, the trade registry takes 3 to 7 working days. The part that depends on you — data, activity codes, signature — is minutes.
What stretches the timeline is almost always the same: badly chosen activity codes or incomplete office documents.
What happens after registration
Once the tax code arrives, four things remain: the company bank account, access to the tax authority's SPV portal, the control register and, if you trade inside the EU, an intra-EU VAT number.
From then on the ongoing duties begin: e-Factura invoicing, periodic filings and monthly accounting.
Frequently asked
Do I need to be a Romanian resident?
No. You can be a shareholder and director without residency — an ID card or passport is enough. The file is signed digitally, but you can authorise someone to file on your behalf, so a signature of your own isn't required.
How much does it cost?
Fees for an SRL start at 799 lei plus 152 lei of registry duties; a PFA costs 499 lei. With an accounting plan the formation is free.
Can everything be done online?
Yes. Documents are generated and signed electronically, and the file is submitted digitally.