My Journey to getting a Residence Card for my Non-EU Partner in Romania - My Life in Romania

Learn how I obtained a legal residence card for my non-EU partner in Romania, even without marriage — and how you can do it too.

Disclaimer

As an EU citizen living in Romania, I wrote this article specifically to help fellow EU citizens understand the process of obtaining a Residence Card for their non-EU partners. The guidance provided is based on personal experience, practical research, and real interactions with Romanian institutions.

While the article focuses on the EU–non-EU dynamic, many of the insights, tips, and strategies shared here may also be useful for other mixed-nationality couples—regardless of the citizenship of the EU partner. If you’re an expat navigating Romania’s residency rules with your partner, you may still find valuable support in the information presented.

Please note that laws and procedures can change, so always double-check with the relevant authorities or legal professionals before making decisions.

Introduction

Moving to a new country is never simple — especially when your partner comes from outside the European Union and you’re not even married. In this article, I want to share the real story of how I helped my non-EU partner obtain a legal residence card in Romania, navigating unclear rules, bureaucratic resistance, and even surprise home visits from the authorities. If you’re an EU citizen living in Romania with a third-country partner, this might help you avoid stress, delays, or even deportation risks. Here’s how we did it — and how you can, too.

I met my wife, Josephine, in 2016. She had arrived in Romania from the Philippines a year earlier and had just lost her job after working for a family for nearly a year. We were concerned about the risk of deportation — especially after a friend of hers was deported in a brutal manner because her employer had failed to complete the necessary paperwork.

Her previous employer, a Romanian lawyer, didn’t respect the hiring contract at all: they didn’t grant her at least two years of work, they didn’t grant her a plane ticket to go home to Philippines and didn’t even grant her the minimum amount of money needed to leave the country. Moreover, they just asked her to sign a termination letter in Romanian language (a language that she, obviously, didn’t even understand).

So, from our first meeting at a coffee shop, I understood that my mission, from then on, would have been saving her from the Romanian system and, mostly, from the Romanian people. That was quite OK for me, since my life was in a sentimental stall, since the death of my previous partner, in 2013.

I must say that her ex employees acted before I had the time to call them: they probably tried to close her employment with that illegal letter and called Josephine, asking for a softer, even financially, separation, by signing a translated letter in which they assumed their responsibilities.

💡 Wisdom Pearl #1:

Never blindly trust what someone — even a lawyer — puts under your nose. Take your time to check the law before signing any document or even following advice. When I tried this in the past, it was quite complex — it required a good understanding of Romanian and some knowledge of local laws.

Now, tools like ChatGPT — which is helping me write this blog — are incredibly useful for avoiding scams or confusion in a foreign country.

By the way, asking a foreigner to sign a document in Romanian without explanation or translation can be considered illegal in Romania.

The Law and the Reality

💡 Wisdom Pearl #2:

Be careful who you ask for help. Desperate to resolve the issue, I Googled “Bucharest immigration lawyer” and contacted the one who seemed best. At his luxurious office near Calea Moșilor (Bucharest), he asked me for €100 just to start listening. I was so anxious that I accepted without questioning why someone would charge money before offering any advice. Sadly, I was right to be concerned — the so-called specialist couldn’t help me at all. In the end, I wasted both time and money.

To avoid problems, we went to the I.G.I. (General Inspectorate for Immigration) office, which was then located on Strada Nicolae Iorga, Bucharest. What happened there was extremely stressful. The officers gave her only a few days to find a new employer and warned me in harsh terms that I could be in trouble for “hiding an illegal immigrant.”

On our way out, I noticed a poster stating that a Romanian citizen can declare cohabitation with a third-country national and request a Residence Card on their behalf, even if they are not married.

Since Josephine and I were not married but living together, I asked whether this applied to EU citizens like me. The officer’s answer was blunt:

“Sir, you live in Romania, a country where laws are made for Romanian people.”

💡 Wisdom Pearl #3:

You’ll likely hear this sentence more than once during your time in Romania:
“Sir, you live in Romania, a country where things are made for Romanian people.” It’s usually a sign of ignorance. Informed individuals understand Romania’s role as a member of the European Union since 2007, and the rights EU citizens have here. Trying to have a civilized dialogue with people who speak like this — especially in public institutions or banks — is often pointless. Instead, just let it go, look for another solution, or ask to speak with someone higher up.

As someone who’s been fighting with Romanian public administration since 2005, I decided to take action and submitted a formal petition to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI). Today, you can file a petition online at igi.mai.gov.ro/formular-petitii.

💡 Wisdom Pearl #4:

Yes, semantically speaking, EU citizens who are not Romanian nationals may be considered “foreigners” (străini) in everyday language. However, when it comes to European laws and rights, Romanian legislation clearly distinguishes between EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and third-country nationals in its legal definition of a “foreigner.”

This distinction is outlined in Government Emergency Ordinance no. 194/2002 (Ordonanța de Urgență a Guvernului nr. 194/2002) regarding the legal status of foreigners in Romania. According to Article 2(a) of this ordinance, a “foreigner” is defined as:

“A person who does not have Romanian citizenship, the citizenship of another Member State of the European Union or of the European Economic Area, or the citizenship of the Swiss Confederation.”

In other words, EU/EEA citizens and Swiss nationals are not considered “foreigners” under Romanian law. This legal distinction became particularly significant after Romania joined the EU on January 1, 2007, aligning national legislation with European standards.

However, if you live in Romania long enough, you may notice that the term străin is still commonly used—even in official contexts—to include EU or Swiss citizens, and sometimes even EU citizens who have acquired Romanian citizenship. This mislabeling can lead to discriminatory practices, especially in public institutions (as I personally experienced), and also in private sectors, such as banks or credit card companies, where “non-native” status can result in unequal treatment.

Our Petition and the Official Response

The official reply confirmed that EU citizens have the same right to declare cohabitation and support a residence application for their non-EU partners.

Here you can find the translation of the answer of the General Inspectorate for Immigration to my petitions 8600/DGPDC/SM/ctr/31.08.2016 and no. 18902/06.09.2016. Feel free to mention it in your documentation or even to download a copy here.

How-to-obtain-a-Residence-Card-for-Extra-UE-partners

Translation

UNCLASSIFIED
No: 2675096ISS
Bucharest, 27.09.2016
Copy No. 1
Following your requests addressed to the Ministry of Labor, Family, Social Protection and Elderly Persons, registered under no. 8600/DGPDC/SM/ctr/31.08.2016 and no. 18902/06.09.2016, which were redirected for competent resolution to the General Inspectorate for Immigration, we inform you that these were registered at our institution under no. 2675096/SS on 08.09.2016 and no. 2675098/SS on 09.09.2016.
At the same time, we inform you that through address no. 3317072/DM/S2/SNR of 08.09.2016, the specialized department within the Directorate for Migration has responded to the requested clarifications.
However, considering a positive response and the information sent by the Ministry of Labor, Family, Social Protection and Elderly Persons – ANPDCA, we inform you of the following:
“The Filipino citizen (Author’s note: any extra UE citizen) may fall under the legal regime applicable to citizens of the EU/EEA/Swiss Confederation and their family members, as stipulated by Emergency Ordinance no. 102/2005 (republished, with subsequent amendments and completions), provided that the conditions to certify the status of partner of a Union citizen are met.”
To that end, the Filipino citizen must request registration in the “family members/partners” section, and must present the following documents, as applicable:
a) A completed standard application form (can be downloaded electronically from the IGI website or filled out at the counter);
b) A valid passport, original and copy;
c) A copy of the ID card/travel document and a copy of the document issued by IGI for the Union citizen whose partner the Filipino citizen is;
d) The residence permit issued by IGI attesting the right to carry out work activities;
e) A document proving the status of partner.
* In the case of a registered partnership, the document must be issued by the competent authority from the member state of origin or provenance.
* In the case of an unregistered partnership, the Union citizen must provide a declaration on their own responsibility that neither partner is married or registered with someone else, and must attach documents considered sufficient to prove cohabitation.
f) Proof of means of subsistence and health insurance, which are the responsibility of the Union citizen whose partner is the third-country national;
g) Proof of payment of the related fees.

The Notary and Application

I found a reliable notary with experience working with foreigners: Rațiu Janina Gabriela, located in central Bucharest near Piața Romană (Str. Mendeleev 35). I signed a declaration per the MAI’s instructions, and we successfully obtained the Residence Card within 30 days.

Unfortunately, I no longer have a copy of that document, but the staff at the notary office said they were familiar with it and were able to prepare it within a few hours.

It wasn’t easy. I had to convince the officer at the counter that my partner didn’t need to submit any personal declaration. But the response from the General Inspector was clear, and eventually they had to comply.

Pay attention: The Surprise Visit

About a week later, we received a surprise visit from the police — they arrived at 7:00 AM to conduct an anchetă socială (social inquiry) to confirm that we were really living together.

The officers were polite and respectful. They asked us questions about our relationship and requested photos. Oddly, they didn’t take the photos with them — instead, they asked us to bring them later to the office in a sealed envelope. Having lived here for many years, I didn’t comment. I simply delivered an envelope containing pictures of us and nothing else.

What You Must Know

The process won’t go as smoothly as you expect.
They usually don’t check your documents when you first submit the request.
You’ll be given an appointment — during which you may be asked for extra or unexpected documents. To avoid delays, bring all relevant documents with you from the start.
Given current delays, the receipt of your request can serve as proof in case of police checks while waiting.

Final Thoughts

This experience showed me how persistence and knowledge of the law can overcome even the most discouraging bureaucratic barriers. If you’re an EU citizen in Romania with a non-EU partner, remember: you have the right to apply for a Residence Card even without marriage.

Definitions

For legal definitions about EU and Third-nations Citizens, please access my Blogspot article What is a “foreigner” in Romania? Is an EU citizen a foreigner in Romania?

Disclaimer: This article reflects my personal experience and should not be considered legal advice. Immigration laws and procedures may change. Always consult official sources or a legal expert if needed.

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