The right of long-term stay is granted, upon request, indefinitely, to foreigners who are holders of a short-term residence permit in Romania.

The right of permanent residence is not granted to the following categories of foreigners:

a)Holders of the right of temporary stay for study purposes

b) Asylum seekers

c)Beneficiaries of temporary humanitarian or temporary protection

d)Holders of the right of residence conferred by the short stay visa, diplomatic visa or visa for professional activities.

The right of permanent residence is granted to foreigners who are holders of a right of residence, if they meet the following conditions:

a)They had the right of permanent residence on the territory of Romania during the last 5 years before submitting the application, as follows:

i)During this period they have not been absent from the territory of Romania for more than 6 consecutive months and do not exceed a total of 10 months of absence

ii) During this period there was no measure of removal from the national territory taken against the foreigner

iii) When determining this period, half of the period of stay for study purposes shall be taken into consideration

iv) When determining this period, the right of stay conferred by the short stay visa, diplomatic visa or visa for professional activities or for carrying out activities as a seasonal worker shall not be taken into account

v)This period may be reduced to 4 years for persons who have been granted refugee status or have been granted subsidiary protection in Romania under the conditions of the law as well as to citizens of the Member States of the European Union and the European Economic Area

vi)This period is reduced by half in the case of persons who have been recognized as refugees or have been granted subsidiary protection in Romania, who have been married for at least 5 years with a Romanian citizen

b)They prove the means of subsistence at the level of the minimum net salary on the economy, except for foreigners who are family members of Romanian citizens

c)They provide proof of health insurance

d)They provide proof of the legal possession of a living space, in accordance with the law

e)They know Romanian language at a satisfactory level

f)They do not pose a threat to public order and national security.

Foreigners of Romanian origin or born in Romania, as well as those whose stay is in the interest of the Romanian state, may be granted the right of permanent residence without meeting the conditions stipulated in letters a) -e)

Minors whose parents are holders of a right of permanent residence may be granted the same status without meeting the conditions set out above.

Likewise, foreigners who prove that they have made investments of at least EUR 1 000 000 or have created more than 100 full-time jobs may be granted the right of permanent residence without the need to fulfil the conditions of letters a)-e)

The right of long-term stay is granted to EU Blue Card holders, who have had the right of continuous residence in the territory of the Member States of the European Union, the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation in the last 5 years preceding the submission of the application, as Holders of the EU Blue Card, of which the right of continuous residence in the last 2 years prior to the filing date of such application, as holders of the EU Blue Card on the territory of Romania, if they meet, cumulatively, the following conditions:

a) during this period, they have not been absent from the territory of the Member States of the European Union, the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation for more than 12 consecutive months and do not exceed 18 months of total absence

b) During this period, no measures to remove them from the territory of the Member States of the European Union, the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation have been taken against these foreigners.

c) They provide proof of the means of subsistence at the level of the minimum gross salary guaranteed for payment, with the exception of the foreign family members of Romanian citizens

d) They provide proof of being insured in the social health insurance system

e) They provide proof of legal possession of the living space, under the law

f) They know Romanian language at least satisfactorily

They pose no threat to public order and public health.

The right of permanent residence ceases in the following situations:

a) In case of cancellation or revocation

b) In the case of obtaining a right of permanent residence in the territory of another state

c) In the case of absence from the territory of the Romanian State for a period longer than 12 consecutive months, except in the situation in which, during this period, the foreigner has been granted a right of temporary stay in a Member State of the European Union.

d) In the case of absences from the territory of the Romanian State for more than 6 consecutive years, even though during this period he has been granted a right to temporary stay in a Member State of the European Union.

e) Upon request or when obtaining Romanian citizenship

f) in the case of absence from the territory of the Member States of the European Union, the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation for more than 2 consecutive years of the long-term resident holding a long-term residence permit with the mention „he/she used to be a holder of the EU Blue Card” or its family members who have been granted long-term resident status.

Foreigners who are in one of the situations of cessation of activity according to letters b and d of the Labour Code and are present on the territory of Romania within 30 days from the date of communication may apply for the issuance of a temporary residence permit for the purposes and under the conditions stipulated by the law.

The lawyers of Jurimed Centre are available with additional information at the telephone number: +40723.575.737.