Questions foreign founders usually ask before opening a Romanian SRL

How to use this Romanian SRL FAQ

The questions below are written for foreign citizens who want to register and run a Romanian SRL without living in Romania full-time. They complement the accordion of common questions on this page and focus on the situations that, in our experience, cause the most confusion: documents, timing, banking, and what changes after your company is registered. For the broader picture of how the service works, see our overview of the Romanian SRL for foreigners process.

Treat these answers as general guidance rather than a binding legal opinion. The right approach in your case depends on your citizenship, your current country of residence, the number of shareholders, and whether any shareholder is an individual or a foreign legal entity. We confirm the specifics after reviewing your documents.

What documents does a foreign founder usually need?

In many standard cases, an individual foreign shareholder needs a valid passport or national ID, proof of a current address abroad, and a signed declaration accepting the role of shareholder and, where applicable, administrator. If you cannot travel, a power of attorney is typically prepared so we can act on your behalf during the registration. Where the founder is a foreign legal entity rather than a person, the Trade Register will usually expect company extracts, articles of association, and a decision authorising the Romanian setup, with apostille and certified Romanian translation where required. The exact list is confirmed after document review, because requirements vary by country of issue and by document type.

Do my foreign documents need translation or an apostille?

Often, yes. Documents issued abroad usually need a certified Romanian translation, and depending on the issuing country they may also require an apostille or, for non-Hague countries, super-legalisation. Some countries with bilateral treaties are treated more simply, so this is one of the first things we check before any filing. Budgeting for translation and legalisation early avoids delays, and where translations are required they affect both the timeline and the final quote.

How long does registration usually take?

Once a complete and correct file is submitted to the Trade Register, a decision in many standard cases follows within a few business days. The part that takes longer is almost always preparation: gathering documents from abroad, arranging translations and any apostille, and signing powers of attorney. We give a realistic estimate after seeing your documents, and we avoid promising a fixed turnaround, because foreign-document processing times are outside our control.

Can I be the sole shareholder and also the administrator?

In most cases a single foreign individual can be both the sole shareholder and the administrator of a Romanian SRL. There are a few structural rules worth knowing early, such as restrictions that can apply when a person is the sole shareholder of more than one single-member SRL, and additional considerations when the shareholder is a foreign company. These are exactly the kinds of questions setting up business Romania founders should raise before documents are drafted, so the structure is correct from the start rather than corrected later.

What about a bank account, accounting, and VAT?

A Romanian SRL will generally need a business bank account, and banks apply their own onboarding and identity checks, which may require the administrator's involvement; we cannot guarantee any particular bank's decision. After registration, the company is expected to keep accounting records and meet ongoing filing obligations, and VAT registration may or may not apply depending on your activity and turnover. We can point you toward accounting support, but tax outcomes depend on your specific situation and should be confirmed with an accountant.

What does the service cost, and what changes later?

Romanian SRL formation for foreign citizens starts from €300, a registered office starts from €150/year, a combined remote SRL and registered office package starts from €450, and later company changes start from €200. Each figure is a starting point: the final quote depends on your citizenship, your documents, the number of shareholders, whether translations are required, and whether the shareholder is an individual or a foreign legal entity. Full details are on our prices page. After your company exists, amendments such as changing the registered office, the activity code, the administrator, or the shareholding structure are handled as Trade Register changes rather than a new registration.

Still have a question? Ask us

If your situation is not covered above, the fastest way to get a clear answer is to send us a few details. For a tailored response on your Romanian SRL FAQ question, message us via WhatsApp or the contact form and include your citizenship, your current country of residence, whether you need a registered office, and the business activity you have in mind. With that, we can confirm the documents, a realistic timeline, and a firm quote for your case. Ask on WhatsApp and we will follow up after reviewing what you send.