This guide explains the process in plain English, with a focus on foreign founders, the most common company type (SRL), required documents, practical timelines, and compliance tips.
Romania offers several legal structures, but the most popular option for entrepreneurs and foreign investors is the SRL (limited liability company) due to flexible governance and limited liability for shareholders.
Typical options include:
If you’re unsure, legal counsel can help you pick the structure that matches your activity, risk level, and tax profile.
Name reservation is usually the first formal step. In practice, you submit several name options and reserve one through ONRC procedures/portal before filing the full incorporation package.
Your incorporation file normally includes:
Foreign founders often need apostilled and translated documents, depending on the jurisdiction and document type.
Romanian companies must have a registered office address, supported by a valid right of use document (commonly a lease, commodatum/hosting arrangement, or a virtual office contract, depending on your situation). Many online incorporation flows highlight this as a core requirement.
Historically, SRLs were commonly formed with very low share capital. However, in 2026 there have been major legislative discussions and measures proposing/setting higher minimum capital requirements for newly established SRLs and capital increases tied to turnover (e.g., figures like 500 lei for new companies are referenced in 2026 reporting, with further scaling rules). Because these rules can change through adoption/promulgation and entry-into-force dates, you should verify the current applicable requirement when you file.
If you want, tell me the month you plan to file and I’ll check the latest official/legal updates and reflect them accurately in your final site copy.
You can file the registration application and supporting documents at trade register offices and, in many cases, electronically, following ONRC rules on electronic format and qualified e-signature requirements.
Once accepted, ONRC issues the company’s registration documents (including the registration certificate).
After incorporation, you typically handle:
Many 2026 guides also emphasize planning your compliance early (accounting, payroll, licenses) to avoid delays when you start operating.
If your file is correct and complete, some legal resources indicate the trade registry certificate may be issued in ~3 working days, while the end-to-end setup often falls in a broader range depending on documents, translations, and banking steps.
In general, Romania allows non-residents to own Romanian companies, and there are legal resources stating there are no special restrictions on foreign shareholders (no mandatory local partner requirement).
Important practical note: incorporating a company does not automatically grant residency rights for non-EU citizens (visa/residence is a separate legal track).
Legal support typically helps you: