How to register a company in Romania for foreigners

Can a foreigner register a company in Romania?

Yes. Knowing how to register a company in Romania for foreigners starts with one reassuring fact: you do not need to be a Romanian citizen, a resident, or even physically present in the country to become a shareholder in a Romanian SRL (the limited liability company that most foreign founders choose). Citizens of EU and non-EU countries alike can hold shares and act as administrator. What changes from case to case is the document route, the level of identity verification, and whether translations are required, rather than your underlying right to incorporate.

The nuances sit in the details. Your citizenship and your current country of residence determine which identity documents are accepted and how they must be certified. The structure you choose, whether a single foreign individual, several shareholders, or a foreign legal entity as parent, affects the paperwork and the timeline. None of these are obstacles in themselves, but each shapes how your file is assembled, which is why we review your specifics before quoting a firm price.

Choosing the SRL and your shareholder structure

For the large majority of foreign founders, the SRL is the right vehicle. It offers limited liability, allows one or more shareholders, and accepts both individuals and companies as owners. If you are weighing the options, our overview of the Romanian SRL for foreigners explains who it suits and how ownership and management responsibilities are typically split.

Before drafting begins, it helps to settle a few structural decisions. The shareholder structure matters because a foreign legal entity as parent usually requires corporate documents that an individual shareholder does not. Consider the following early:

• whether you will be a sole shareholder or set up with partners
• whether the shareholder is an individual or a foreign company
• who will act as administrator (this can be you or an appointed person)
• two or three preferred company names, in order of preference
• the CAEN activity codes that match what the business will actually do

Getting these aligned at the start avoids reworking the file later and keeps the incorporation moving.

The documents and the registered office

A clean, consistent set of documents is the single biggest factor in a smooth filing. Identity papers must be legible and the names must match across every document, because the Trade Register checks for exact consistency. Depending on your citizenship and the type of shareholder, some papers may need certified translation into Romanian, and in certain cases an apostille or legalisation. We confirm exactly what your case needs after document review rather than asking you to guess. Our required documents page sets out the typical checklist so you can begin gathering what is relevant to you.

Every Romanian SRL also needs a registered office (sediu social) before the file can be submitted. If you do not have a Romanian address, we can provide a compliant registered office from €150/year, which many non-resident founders rely on so they can complete the foreigner setup SRL Romania process without renting physical premises. The final figure 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.

How the process runs, step by step

Non-resident company formation Romania follows a defined sequence, and in many standard cases a good part of it can be handled remotely after we have reviewed your documents. The typical path looks like this:

• you send your citizenship, residence, activity and shareholder details for an initial review
• we confirm the document list and reserve your chosen company name
• the incorporation file is drafted, including the articles of association
• documents are signed, often remotely where your case allows, and may require a power of attorney
• the file is submitted to the Trade Register and the registration certificate is issued

Where everything is in order, this is a predictable process. Where a document needs translation, an apostille, or a corporate parent's paperwork, the timeline extends accordingly, and we will flag that at the review stage so there are no surprises.

What it costs

SRL formation for foreign citizens starts from €300, and a combined remote SRL plus registered office package is available from €450. Later adjustments, such as changing the administrator, address, or activity codes, are handled as company changes from €200. As with the office fee, these are starting points: 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.

Check your case

The clearest way to understand how to register a company in Romania for foreigners in your situation is to let us review the specifics. Send your citizenship, your current country of residence, whether you need a registered office, and the business activity you have in mind, either via WhatsApp or through the contact form. We will tell you whether your case looks standard or complex, outline the documents you will need, and give you a firm, no-obligation quote.