Romania at a glance
Romania is one of the EU jurisdictions founders most often use today, especially while the EU-wide 28th Regime (EU Inc) is still a proposal. Below are the verified essentials: company types, tax, capital, timing and whether you can set up remotely.
Company types in Romania
- SRL (Societate cu Raspundere Limitata) The default private limited company for foreign founders. Minimum capital RON 500 (about EUR 100) from 2026, 1 to 50 shareholders, a director with no residency requirement, and eligibility for the 1% micro-enterprise tax.
- SA (Societate pe Actiuni) Joint-stock company for larger or investor-backed ventures. Minimum capital RON 90,000 (about EUR 18,000), at least 30% paid at incorporation, with a board structure.
- PFA (authorised natural person) Sole trader for individuals only, with unlimited personal liability and 10% income tax plus social contributions. Not eligible for the micro-enterprise regime.
| Corporate tax | Standard corporate income tax is a flat 16% on profit. Qualifying micro-enterprises pay 1% on gross revenue instead, available up to EUR 100,000 of annual turnover and conditional on having at least one full-time employee. From 1 January 2026 the micro regime was simplified to a single 1% rate, removing the former 3% rate and lowering the threshold from EUR 250,000 to EUR 100,000. |
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| VAT rate | Standard VAT is 21%, raised from 19% on 1 August 2025, with a single reduced rate of 11% on items such as food, medicines, water and accommodation. VAT registration is mandatory once annual turnover exceeds RON 395,000 (about EUR 80,000). |
| Minimum share capital | An SRL needs only RON 500 (about EUR 100) from 1 January 2026; if annual net turnover later exceeds RON 400,000, the capital must rise to RON 5,000 (about EUR 1,000). An SA requires RON 90,000 (about EUR 18,000), 30% paid up. |
| Setup time | About 1 to 2 weeks end to end. The National Trade Register Office (ONRC) processes the file in roughly 3 to 5 business days and issues the registration certificate; the rest covers document preparation and bank account setup. |
| Remote setup | Yes. Name reservation, Trade Register filing and tax registration can all be done remotely with a notarised and apostilled power of attorney, with no visit to Romania and no residence permit required. |
| Director / residency | At least one director is required, with no nationality or residency requirement, so a non-resident foreigner can be both sole shareholder and sole director of an SRL. A natural person may be the sole shareholder of only one SRL at a time. |
| Banking options | A Romanian corporate account must be opened within 60 business days of registration. Major banks include Banca Transilvania (which offers online or video account opening), BCR, BRD, ING and Raiffeisen; EU fintechs such as Wise and Revolut are common as interim accounts. |
| Our formation service | from around €100 to €200 (estimated). You get a fixed quote in your free plan before you commit. |
The headline draw is the 1% micro-enterprise tax on turnover up to EUR 100,000, conditional on employing at least one person. From 1 January 2026 the dividend tax rose from 10% to 16% and minimum SRL capital rose to RON 500. Romania mandates RO e-Factura B2B e-invoicing and has full EU single-market access.
How to register a company in Romania
The process is straightforward and, in Romania, largely digital. In outline:
- Choose your company type and name. Most founders pick the SRL (limited); we confirm the name is available.
- Verify your identity. Yes. Name reservation, Trade Register filing and tax registration can all be done remotely with a notarised and apostilled power of attorney, with no visit to Romania and no residence permit required.
- File the incorporation. Once documents are signed, registration usually completes in around 1-2 weeks.
- Open a business account and register for tax/VAT. A Romanian corporate account must be opened within 60 business days of registration. Major banks include Banca Transilvania (which offers online or video account opening), BCR, BRD, ING and Raiffeisen; EU fintechs such as Wise and Revolut are common as interim accounts.
We handle each step with licensed local counsel, so the paperwork, registered address and filings are done correctly the first time.
Form your Romanian company in days
Tell us where you live and what you are building. Our formation service starts from around €100 to €200 (estimated); we confirm the right structure for Romania, give you a fixed quote, and form the company with licensed counsel.
Get your free planWho can form a company in Romania
Founders from outside the EU can own and run a Romanian company, with the cross-border requirements handled for you. We flag any residency or local-agent rule for Romania up front, so there are no surprises.
Romania and the 28th Regime (EU Inc)
EU Inc, the proposed 28th Regime, would let you register one company valid across all 27 EU member states. It is not law yet (expected around 2027-2028), so a Romanian company is one of the ready options you can use today. Forming an EU company now also positions you to adopt EU Inc later, as we cover in how to prepare an EU Inc company. To weigh Romania against other countries, see company formation in Europe.