Surviving Romania

🧾 How to Get a Romanian Residence Card for a British Partner Without Marriage After Brexit, British nationals became third-country citizens in the EU. That means their right to stay in Romania — even as partners of Romanian citizens — is no longer automatic. But if you're in a stable, unmarried relationship with a Romanian citizen , you can still obtain a residence card , provided you follow the proper steps and can demonstrate your relationship. Here’s what you need to know, based on real experience and local legal sources. ✅ Who Can Apply for a Residence Card as a Partner? A British citizen (or other non-EU national) who is in a long-term, unmarried relationship with a Romanian citizen can apply for a residence card as a “family member” under specific conditions. Although Romania does not legally recognize common-law marriage, the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) accepts applications based on proven cohabitation . 📑 Requirements for the Application To app...

My Journey to Getting a Residence Card for My Non-EU Partner in Romania Important Update: I’m moving all of my blogs to my personal website lifeinromania.eu . You can now read this article, with the latest updates, here: https://lifeinromania.eu/my-journey-to-getting-a-residence-card-for-my-non-eu-partner-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...

Introduction This article was created based on a dialogue between myself and ChatGPT, an advanced language model developed by OpenAI. Through a series of questions and answers, we explored the concept of what it means to be a "foreigner" in Romania, particularly in the context of European Union citizens. The goal is to clarify legal definitions, common misconceptions, and the everyday implications for EU residents living in Romania. Q : technically, an EU citizen can be defined "Străin" by a Romanian authority? ChatGPT : Yes — technically, under Romanian law, even an EU citizen can be referred to as a "străin" (foreigner), but with a legal distinction. Here’s how it works: General Use of "Străin": The word "străin" in Romanian means foreigner, and it can be used broadly to refer to any non-Romanian citizen, including both EU and non-EU nationals. Legal Specificity: In legal terms, Romanian legislation differentiates between: Străini din...