03 Apr 2020
Military Ordinance no. 2 / 21.03.2020 and Military Ordinance no. 3 / 24.03.2020 have introduced, among other aspects, restrictions regarding the entry and stay of foreign nationals on the territory of Romania, with additional provisions regarding the validity of documents issued by public authorities, including those issued for foreign nationals, if they expire during the state of emergency.
In accordance with the provisions of Military Ordinance no. 2/2020, foreign nationals and stateless individuals are forbidden from entering the territory of Romania through Romanian state border crossing points, with a few exceptions, such as those who:
All the above restrictions are applicable starting as of 22:00 on 22 March 2020, Romanian time.
The provisions of Military Ordinance no. 3/2020 established the measure of isolation at home or, as the case may be, of quarantine for all individuals entering Romania as of 12:00 on 25 March 2020, including foreign nationals, if they fall into the above-mentioned exempt categories of individuals.
The travel restrictions imposed by the Romanian authorities also apply to foreign nationals present on the Romanian territory. During the emergency period, they will be able to leave their residence only in limited situations, expressly provided by law and only by presenting supporting documentation, such as an employee certificate from their employer or an affidavit.
Trips can be made only under certain conditions, such as:
Additional travel restrictions apply to all individuals over 65 years old. They are allowed to leave their residence for certain activities and within certain time intervals.
Military Ordinance no. 3/2020 also introduced an additional provision regarding documents issued by public authorities expiring during the state of emergency period, allowing them to be extended within 90 days as of the date when the state of emergency is lifted.
The above provision also applies for documents issued to foreign nationals by the Romanian public authorities, such as the competent territorial offices of the General Inspectorate of Immigration and the consular sections of Romanian Embassies abroad, if they are due to expire during the state of emergency period. All such documents can be extended within 90 days as of the date when the state of emergency is lifted, if the conditions provided by law for their extension are fulfilled.
Source: Military Ordinance 2/2020, published in Official Gazette no. 232 dated 21 March 2020, Military Ordinance 3/2020, published in Official Gazette no. 242 dated 24 March 2020
In the context of the measures taken by the Romanian authorities for preventing the spread of COVID-19, foreign individuals’ entry into and stay on the territory of Romania has been restricted, as detailed above.
Documents issued by the public authorities to foreign individuals, such as temporary or permanent residency permits, short-term or long-term visas, work authorisations and registration certificates, due to expire during the state of emergency, are considered to be valid both during the state of emergency and up to 90 days after the state of emergency is lifted. Foreign nationals should initiate the process for regulating their right of stay on the territory of Romania by requesting the extension of the expired documents, within 90 days as of the state of emergency end dates. In that same period of 90 days, foreign nationals not fulfilling the conditions needed to extend their right of stay should leave the Romanian territory.