Immigration to Romania – General Information
Romania is a pastoral country located in Europe’s Balkans area. The country can impress visitors with breathtaking scenery of uninhabited nature, and on the other hand also boasts a strong economy, which has experienced a significant growth in recent years. In early 2007 it became a member of the European Union. With its entry into the union, it has become an attractive destination for Israelis interested in acquiring a European passport due to their Romanian heritage.
Our law firm located in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv specializes in immigration law. Our firm provides its clients with representation services and comprehensive legal support. We also have extensive experience in acquiring citizenship for people with origins from different countries, such as Portugal, the United Kingdom, Austria and more.
Immigration to Romania – History and General information
Romania was formed in 1859, as a result of the unification of the Wallachian and Moldavian principalities. However, its borders as we know them today were determined only after World War I. Approximately 75% of the country’s land still stands as unspoiled green nature landscapes, which makes the area an attractive destination for nature lovers. Right before World War II, the number of Romanian Jews amounted to 750,000, most of whom resided across the northern part of the country.
Immigration to Romania – Useful Information
An Israeli wishing to immigrate to Romania needs to realize that up until 1989 the country operated under an independent communist regime. During this period, Romania closed itself off and attempted to build a strong economy through the exploitation of citizens, especially the peasants. Today, however, the country invites visitors, investors and immigrants from all around the world, while its economy is based on exports of electronic products (for which it is considered the largest manufacturer in Central and Eastern Europe), machinery equipment, metals, agriculture products, footwear, textiles, chemicals, minerals, fuel and more. These products are mainly exported to Western European countries, such as: Italy, France, Germany, Great Britain and so forth.
Due to the history of communism that prevailed in the country in the past, it can be seen that large areas of Romania have not yet accepted modern Western advancement. This is reflected in the local ancient traditional clothing, means of transportation and in other cultural factors. However, if you are planning to immigrate to Romania’s capital, Bucharest, or to other metropolitan areas such as Cluj, Timisoara or Yashi, you can enjoy a western quality of consumer goods and cultural attitudes.
Romania’s Real Estate Prices
Real estate prices are considered significantly cheaper than those we are accustomed to in Israel. Take for example the capital Bucharest, where apartment prices range from $35,000 to $75,000 for standard apartments. If you are thinking of buying a luxury apartment, prices start at approximately $170,000 and can even reach to approximately $2,500,000 for a penthouse or villa.
In case you were thinking of renting an apartment, the average monthly rent in Bucharest ranges from $300 – $450 or even less. On the other hand, there are more prestigious housing options that resemble the pricing in Western Europe and Tel Aviv.
Wages in Romania
Average salaries in Romania are lower than those in Israel and other developed countries. A junior employee earns the minimum wage which stands at approximately 2,070 lei, an amount equal to 1,650 ILS per month. On the other hand, if you are an academic (holding a university degree marks you as part of the educated elite in Romania) you will enjoy a more respectable salary, which can reach up to a sum of 68,000 lei, a sum equivalent to approximately 54,000 ILS (the highest wage), which includes housing, transportation and other living expenses that are considered relatively high.
Unemployment Index
Statistics show that the Romanian unemployment index is at 4.16 percent (as of 2019).
Climate
The weather in Romania is very diverse and sometimes also prone to drastic changes in the winter and summer seasons. In the Summer (July-August) the weather is usually mild with average temperatures ranging between 23 – 29 degrees Celsius, depending on the specific region. However, the temperature can reach up 35 degrees. The Winter (January) however is considered more challenging where the average temperatures range from 3 to 5 degrees, again depending on the region. Keep in mind that the temperatures can drop to as much as minus 20 degrees. The annual average temperature in Romania is approximately 11 degrees.
The Romanian language
Many people wonder if learning the Romanian language is a simple or complicated process. According to the charts of the US Department of State, the Romanian language is considered one of the easiest of the existing languages. Romanian is a Romance dialect, very close to Latin (actually the closest).
Therefore, if you are acquainted with some other European language it will be easier for you to learn Romanian. If you speak one of the so-called “Roman-Latin” languages such as French, Italian, Spanish or Portuguese, you will soon discover how easy the language is for you. You will not be required to put in the same amount of effort that would be required to learn Arabic or Chinese.
Minorities in Romania
Over ten percent of the total population living in Romania is associated to immigrants. Most of them are of Hungarian and Gypsy descent, but there are also tens or hundreds of thousands of Poles, Germans, Ukrainians, Serbs, Bulgarians, Tatars and more.
Benefits of a Romanian Citizenship
In order to obtain Romanian citizenship, you will have to move to Romania or to waive your Israeli citizenship or any other additional citizenship. If you were born in Romania or you are a descendant of the country’s natives, you can enjoy a Romanian – European passport. This passport will provide you with a subsidy for higher education in many of the leading European academies and sometimes even at no cost at all. You will be able to work and reside in countries such as the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Germany, etc.
In addition, according to forecasts, Romania is expected to soon enter into an agreement with the United States due to its accession to the European Union and NATO. Due to the aforesaid, and along with other decisions made by the United States, Romanian citizens are supposed to be exempt from the visa issuance process to the United States. However, as of today, May 2021, a Romanian passport holder is required to obtain a visa to the United States in advance. Nevertheless, as mentioned above, this process may possibly change.
It should be noted that a Romanian citizen enjoys significant benefits in obtaining a visa to the United States for business purposes or for a tourist visit.
Contact a Romanian Immigration Attorney
If you require legal advice or assistance regarding immigration to Romania or obtaining a Romanian passport we can help. Our firm specializes in immigration to Israel, European countries and North America and has extensive experience in the various law fields. For any question or request do not hesitate to contact us by phone or by email. Thank you.
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