Company formation in Romania from €499

Written by Attorney Cristian Darie, Darie, Manea & Associates · Last updated: 10 October 2026

Romania treats Romanian and foreign investors in the same way: both can set up a company, own all of its shares and run it from abroad. A Romanian company is a separate legal entity, with its own assets, name, registered office, share capital, management and bank account, distinct from its shareholders. This guide explains how company formation in Romania works in 2026: the steps, the time and the costs involved, the rules for non-residents, the minimum share capital and the taxes your company will pay.

How to open a company in Romania in 2026, step by step

Most investors choose the limited liability company (SRL). The registration steps are:

1. Choose the type of company – SRL, joint stock company (SA), or a branch or subsidiary of a foreign company (see below).
2. Check and reserve the company name – you propose up to three names, in order of preference. The name reservation is usually issued within one working day and is valid for one month.
3. Choose the registered office – an address in Romania where the company receives official correspondence (your own space, a rented space or a registered office service).
4. Prepare the documents – the articles of association, with the name, the shareholders, the managers, the share capital and the activity codes (CAEN Rev. 3), plus the proof of the registered office and the statement on the beneficial owner.
5. File the application with the Trade Register – the National Trade Register Office (ONRC) checks the file and registers the company.
6. Receive the registration certificate – it contains the unique registration code, used both at the Trade Register and with the tax authority. The company exists, and may start operating, from the date of its registration.
7. After registration – open the company's bank account, pay the share capital, register for VAT if needed and set up the accounting (details below).

How much does it cost to open a company in Romania?

Our company formation service starts from €499 for an SRL, €799 for a joint stock company (SA) and €899 for a branch of a foreign company. The total cost depends on the type of company and on what you need besides the registration itself – for example a registered office, translations of foreign documents or accounting after incorporation. State fees and the lawyer's or service provider's fee apply. Ask for a quote and you will receive the full price for your case before we start. More details: how much it costs to open an SRL.

How long does company registration take?

Your company is registered in 3 working days once we have the signed power of attorney and the shareholders' documents. The name reservation is usually ready within one working day. If you sign abroad, add the time needed to sign the power of attorney before a notary and send it to us by courier.

Can a foreigner or a non-resident open a company in Romania?

Yes. Foreign individuals and foreign companies can own 100% of the shares of a Romanian SRL, whether they live in Romania or abroad. Romania does not require a Romanian shareholder or a local director. One person can be the sole shareholder of an SRL, and the same person can be the sole shareholder of several SRLs.

100% remote, through a power of attorney

You do not need to travel to Romania. The procedure works like this:

1. You tell us the company details – up to three proposed names, the activities, the shareholders, the director and the share capital – and we reserve the name.
2. We prepare the documents – the articles of association, the statement on the beneficial owner and the power of attorney – and send them to you.
3. You sign the power of attorney in your country – before a notary, or at a Romanian embassy or consulate – and send us the originals by courier.
4. We file the application – we arrange the sworn translation into Romanian, and our lawyers file the application with the Trade Register on your behalf.
5. The company is registered in 3 working days – we send you the registration certificate and the company documents.

Apostille or legalisation

A power of attorney signed before a notary abroad needs an apostille if the country is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention (most European countries, the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, Turkey, India and many others), or a legalisation by the authorities of that country and the Romanian embassy or consulate in the other countries. A power of attorney signed at a Romanian embassy or consulate does not need an apostille.

Owning a Romanian company does not by itself give a right of residence: if you plan to move to Romania, the visa and residence permit are a separate procedure.

Which type of company should you choose?

The SRL is the right choice for most investors: it is simple to set up, needs little capital and keeps the shareholders' assets separate from the company. The SA is used for larger projects. A foreign company can also do business in Romania through a branch, which is not a separate legal entity, or through a subsidiary, which is a Romanian company owned by the foreign parent. See all the legal business entities.

What is the minimum share capital in 2026?

Since 18 December 2025, a new SRL must have a share capital of at least 500 RON. An SRL whose net turnover exceeds 400,000 RON must have at least 5,000 RON; companies registered before that date have until 18 December 2027 to comply. The capital does not have to be deposited before registration: at least 30% must be paid within 3 months of registration and before the company starts operating, and the rest within 12 months (contributions in kind within 2 years). The minimum share capital of an SA is 90,000 RON.

Which documents do you need?

• for an individual shareholder or manager: a copy of the passport (an identity card is also accepted for EU citizens);
• for a company shareholder: a recent certificate from the commercial register of the parent company and its decision to set up the Romanian company and appoint the director;
• the power of attorney, if you sign from abroad (with an apostille or legalisation and a sworn translation);
• the articles of association;
• the proof of the registered office (lease, title deed or loan-for-use contract) and the standard declaration that the conditions for operating there are met;
• the statement on the beneficial owner;
• the name reservation.

Specimen signatures and separate sworn statements are no longer required: the founders' declarations are included in the articles of association, and the Trade Register obtains the tax record information directly from the tax authority. See the complete list of documents for setting up a Romanian company.

Do you need a registered office in Romania?

Yes. Every company needs a registered office in Romania: a real address (not a P.O. box) where it receives official letters and keeps its corporate and accounting documents. It can be your own space, a rented space or a space made available under a loan-for-use contract. If the office is in an apartment building, the owners' association has to give its opinion only when the use of the apartment changes. If you do not have an office yet, you can use a registered office in Bucharest or a virtual office.

How are companies taxed in Romania in 2026?

• Profit tax: 16% of the taxable profit.
• Micro-company regime: 1% of revenue instead of the profit tax, for companies with revenue of up to EUR 100,000 and at least one employee or a remunerated administrator. See micro-companies in Romania.
• Dividend tax: 16% for dividends distributed from 1 January 2026, subject to the double tax treaties signed by Romania.
• VAT: 21% standard rate and 11% reduced rate. Registration is mandatory once the annual turnover exceeds 395,000 RON and can be requested voluntarily before that. See registration for VAT purposes.

More on corporate taxation: taxes in Romania.

What happens after registration?

• Bank account: every company must open a payment account with a bank in Romania within 60 working days of its incorporation. Many banks accept a representative acting under a power of attorney; the requirements depend on the bank. See opening a company bank account.
• Share capital: paid within the terms above.
• VAT: registration when the threshold is exceeded, or voluntarily.
• Accounting: double-entry bookkeeping, periodic tax returns and annual financial statements – most foreign owners work with a local accounting office.
• Employees: employment contracts are recorded in the electronic employee register.
• Licences: some activities need permits before they start – see business licences in Romania.

Why work with Darie, Manea & Associates?

We are a Bucharest law firm active on the Romanian market since 2006, and we have set up more than 2,000 companies, branches and representative offices for clients from Romania and abroad. A lawyer handles your file from the first consultation to the registration certificate and stays available afterwards for changes, accounting and compliance. Ask for a free case evaluation or get a quote.