Company Formation Planner for Non-Residents: Open an SRL in Romania
Planning to open a company in Romania from abroad? Answer six quick questions and get a tailored plan: the right legal structure, the documents you need from your home country (passports, apostilles, translations), what can be done remotely, the official 2026 costs, a realistic timeline and the steps after incorporation.
Question 1 of 6
Who will own the Romanian company?
Subsidiary, branch or representative office?
| Structure | Legal status | Liability | Can it trade? | Tax | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subsidiary (SRL) | Separate Romanian legal entity | Limited to the share capital | Yes — any registered activity | Profit tax 16% or micro-enterprise tax 1%; dividends 16% | Most foreign investors |
| Branch (sucursală) | Part of the foreign company, no legal personality | The parent company is directly liable | Yes | Taxed as a permanent establishment of the parent | Groups that want one legal entity |
| Representative office | Authorised presence, no legal personality | The parent company | No — only preparatory / promotional activities | Flat tax of 18,000 lei per year | Market research, promotion |
How the planner works
What the plan is based on
The planner applies the Romanian rules in force in 2026: the Companies Law 31/1990, the Trade Register Law 265/2022 (fully online registration, no specimen signature), Law 239/2025 (minimum share capital of 500 lei and the mandatory Romanian bank account) and the Fiscal Code. Your answers decide which documents, legalisation steps and follow-up obligations appear in your plan.
Foreign documents
Documents issued abroad must carry an Apostille (Hague Convention countries) or full consular legalisation, and must be translated into Romanian by a certified translator, with the translation legalised. EU documents follow the same rule unless an EU regulation exempts them. A foreign company shareholder files a recent excerpt from its commercial register and the resolution to set up the Romanian company.
A plan, not legal advice
Every case has details — activity licences, the director's situation, group structures, tax residence. ADISAF checks your plan with you, prepares the documents through its partner law office and files them with the Trade Register — in English, remotely.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner open a company in Romania?
Yes. Foreign individuals and foreign companies, from the EU or from outside the EU, can be shareholders and directors of a Romanian SRL (societate cu răspundere limitată — a Romanian limited liability company, similar to an LLC, Ltd or GmbH). Company law sets no residence or visa requirement for shareholders or directors, and the rule limiting a person to a single one-shareholder SRL was repealed in 2020.
Can I register a Romanian company without travelling to Romania?
Yes. The application can be signed with a qualified electronic signature issued in any EU member state, or by a representative in Romania based on a notarised and apostilled power of attorney. The registrar can ask for physical presence only if identity fraud is suspected.
How much does it cost to open a company (SRL) in Romania in 2026?
The Trade Register charges no registration fee at the moment; the Official Gazette publication costs 152 lei per page, paid after the application is admitted, and the minimum share capital is 500 lei, which stays with the company. Translations, apostilles, the registered office and professional fees come on top and depend on your situation.
How long does company formation in Romania take?
The registrar decides within one working day of a complete file. Including the preparation of documents, a non-resident typically receives the registration certificate in one to two weeks, and two to six weeks when documents must be obtained and apostilled abroad and the bank account is opened.
Do I need a Romanian bank account?
Yes. Since 2026 a new company must open an account with a bank in Romania within 60 working days of incorporation. At least 30% of the share capital (minimum 500 lei) must be paid in within three months and the rest within twelve months, and salaries, taxes and most local payments are made from the Romanian account.
Ready to open your Romanian company?
ADISAF prepares the documents, books the company name and files with the Trade Register — remotely, in English, with a registered office in Bucharest if you need one.