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Family Reunification in Romania

family reunification Romania

Family Reunification: Bringing Loved Ones Closer

Globalworker provides comprehensive support for family reunification, helping non-EU residents in Romania navigate each step of the process. They assist with essential documentation, application submissions, and liaise with the Romanian General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) to streamline approvals.

Globalworker.ro also offers ongoing guidance for families applying for long-stay visas, ensuring smoother transitions and legal compliance for sponsors. This service eases the complexities of reunification, allowing clients to focus on reconnecting with loved ones while meeting Romania’s residency requirements.

Family reunification is a process that allows individuals residing in the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) to bring their close family members from non-EU countries to live with them. With an increasing number of global workers migrating for better career opportunities, family reunification has become essential to support personal well-being and foster stable family lives. Here, we’ll explore how family reunification works in Romania, the steps involved, and the documentation required.

Who Can Request Family Reunification in Romania?

In Romania, citizens from outside the EU or EEA may be eligible to bring their families if they have a valid temporary residence permit for at least one year. This permit could be an EU Blue Card, an ICT (Intra-Corporate Transfer) permit, a Mobile ICT permit, or a long-term residence permit. Additionally, refugees or individuals with subsidiary protection may also sponsor family reunification. These categories allow qualified sponsors to request the reunification of immediate family members, including spouses, minor children, and first-degree relatives who depend on the sponsor.

Eligible Family Members

Romanian legislation allows sponsors to apply for the following family members under the family reunification program:

  • Spouses: Husbands or wives of the sponsor.
  • Children: Unmarried minor children of the sponsor or their spouse, including adopted children.

Special Cases

Certain situations may expedite the family reunification process in Romania. For example, holders of residence permits for scientific research, EU Blue Cards, or ICT permits may sponsor family members even if their permits are valid for less than one year. Additionally, unaccompanied minors with refugee status may apply to bring first-degree relatives or legal guardians.

Steps for Family Reunification

Bringing a family member to Romania involves multiple stages and strict documentation requirements. The following steps outline the general process:

Step 1: Application for Family Reunification

To initiate family reunification, the sponsor must first obtain approval from Romania’s General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI). This involves submitting an extensive set of documents to the IGI’s local office. The application package includes:

  • Proof of marriage or kinship.
  • Proof of joint living arrangements.
  • Copy of the sponsor’s residence permit.
  • Documentation of legal housing and sufficient financial support.
  • Medical insurance proof.
  • Consent from joint custody holders for minor children (if applicable).
  • Valid travel documents for the family members applying.

Once all documents are submitted, the IGI will review the application. Processing typically takes up to three months, with a written response provided upon approval.

Step 2: Conditions for Approval

Romanian authorities require that specific conditions are met before family reunification is granted:

  • Proof of Monogamous Marriage: The sponsor must confirm they are in a monogamous marriage (no bigamy or polygamy).
  • Sufficient Living Arrangements: The sponsor must own or lease housing deemed appropriate for their family size.
  • Adequate Financial Support: Sponsors need to prove they have income beyond what is needed for themselves, at a level at least equivalent to the minimum wage for each family member.

Additional security requirements apply, including valid travel documentation and no entry bans for the applicant family members. Approval of family reunification is subject to the family member’s ability to meet these criteria.

Step 3: Long-Stay Visa Application

Once family reunification is approved, the next step is for family members to apply for a long-stay visa for family reunification at a Romanian consulate in their home country. This application must be submitted within 60 days of receiving the IGI approval. Family members should present:

  • The IGI’s approval document.
  • valid passport.
  • Additional proof of family ties and relationship to the sponsor.

Visa processing may vary, so it’s advisable to start the application early and ensure all requirements are met.

Why Family Reunification Matters

Family reunification is critical to fostering social stability and well-being, especially for international workers. The program allows individuals to integrate more fully into Romanian society by reducing stress associated with long-term separation from loved ones. By reuniting families, Romania gains residents who are more motivated, mentally stable, and connected to their communities.

As Romania faces workforce shortages in various sectors, family reunification also strengthens the commitment of foreign workers who might otherwise relocate to other countries where family life would be more feasible. This aspect of immigration policy helps Romania retain talent and reinforce its economy by ensuring the emotional and social needs of foreign workers are met.

How Family Reunification Supports Workforce Goals

In recent years, the European Union has faced labor and skill shortages across multiple sectors. Family reunification is an essential component in attracting and retaining non-EU workers by addressing one of the most critical needs of expatriate workers: family stability. For Romania, which is experiencing its own workforce demands, family reunification policies serve as an incentive for foreign professionals, skilled laborers, and specialized workers to commit to long-term residence.

Programs such as family reunification align with EU objectives to encourage skilled migration, particularly in countries where workforce gaps hinder economic growth. By providing legal pathways for family unity, Romania enhances its appeal as a destination for skilled and semi-skilled workers, helping fill critical labor gaps in healthcare, construction, information technology, and agriculture.

Challenges and Considerations in Family Reunification

While family reunification is beneficial, navigating the process can be complex. The administrative procedures, coupled with rigorous documentation requirements, may be daunting for some applicants. In certain cases, delays or denials may arise due to incomplete applications, insufficient housing proof, or lack of required income. To ease the process, Romania continues to refine its policies and provide guidance to sponsors, ensuring smoother transitions for families.

Additionally, Romania’s family reunification policies must balance security measures and the need to support family integrity. Rigorous checks are in place to verify marriage authenticity and ensure that family members do not pose security risks.

Final Thoughts on Family Reunification

Family reunification in Romania is a multifaceted process designed to support the social and economic integration of foreign workers. By offering a structured path for non-EU residents to bring their loved ones, Romania strengthens its workforce and builds a more inclusive society. Although the process requires careful planning and adherence to regulations, family reunification provides invaluable support for foreign workers who wish to establish a life and contribute meaningfully in Romania.

Whether through employment, education, or skilled labor, foreign nationals in Romania are becoming an integral part of the country’s social and economic landscape. Family reunification not only improves the well-being of these workers but also reinforces Romania’s commitment to attracting diverse talent from around the world.

Globalworker Suport

Globalworker Team offers specialized support for family reunification, guiding non-EU residents through every step of bringing their family members to Romania. From handling crucial documentation to assisting with application submissions, they simplify the legalities and work directly with the General Inspectorate for Immigration to expedite approvals. 

Ours services extend to coordinating long-stay visa applications, ensuring families transition smoothly and maintain legal compliance throughout the process. Globalworker.ro’s comprehensive assistance allows clients to focus on reuniting with family while navigating Romania’s residency requirements confidently. Contact us today.

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