Key takeaways
Romania has become a genuine destination for expat families – not just a transit point. Affordable cost of living, a rich cultural heritage, EU membership, and a growing job market in tech and services have made Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca particularly attractive for internationally mobile households. But moving abroad with children adds layers to the relocation process that adults-only moves don't have. Schools, residency registration, visa categories, and educational continuity all need planning. This guide covers the essentials.
- EU citizens can move to Romania without a visa; non-EU nationals need to apply for the appropriate visa or residence permit before or shortly after arrival
- Children of compulsory school age (6–17) are subject to Romanian education law; expat families should verify their schooling obligations with a qualified local professional
- Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca are the main expat hubs – both have international schools and English-speaking service providers
- Legacy Online School offers an accredited American curriculum online for families who need educational continuity during and after relocation
Contents
We are a US-accredited international online school that coexists with local schooling. Families are responsible for ensuring compliance with any local education requirements applicable to their situation.
Why Families Are Moving to Romania
Romania’s appeal has shifted in the past decade. It’s no longer only expats posted here involuntarily. Families are choosing Romania – for the cost of living, the safety record (low crime rates in most urban areas), the natural environment, and increasingly, the tech sector job market concentrated in Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca.
Romania became a full Schengen Area member in 2024 – a significant change that eased cross-border movement for residents and visitors. The country has a rich cultural heritage: traditional Romanian architecture, cuisine, festivals, and landscapes that take years to fully explore. The food, particularly in regional variations, is genuinely distinctive. None of that is incidental to family life – it shapes the daily experience of children growing up in a new environment.
Cost of living is one of the most frequently cited reasons families choose Romania over Western European alternatives. Housing, food, transport, and private schooling all cost considerably less than in Germany, France, or the UK. That financial margin matters for families making long-term relocation decisions.
Visa and Residency: What You Need to Know
The rules depend on where you’re coming from. No single answer covers everyone.
EU/EEA citizens: No visa required to move to Romania. EU citizens can live and work in Romania freely. However, if staying longer than 90 days, you’ll need to register with the Romanian authorities and obtain a registration certificate. This is not a visa – it’s administrative registration confirming your right of residence.
Non-EU nationals: A visa is required before entry for most non-EU citizens. The type of visa depends on the purpose – work visa, long-stay visa for family reunification, digital nomad visa, or others. The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Romanian embassies and consulates handle visa applications. Deadlines, required documents, and processing times vary by nationality.
Residence permit: Non-EU nationals who stay beyond their visa validity need to apply for a Romanian residence permit. The renewal process depends on the permit type. Work permits are typically tied to a specific employer. British citizens – post-Brexit – are treated as non-EU nationals for Romanian immigration purposes.
Required documents typically include passport copies, birth certificates, proof of accommodation, and depending on the type of visa or permit, employment contracts or proof of income. A notary is often involved in document authentication. Several documents require certified translation into Romanian.
“Citizens of EU/EEA/Swiss Confederation may enter and stay in Romania according to the right to free movement and residence guaranteed by the Romanian state legislation in line with European provisions. If you stay in Romania longer than 3 months you must register your residency to the territorial units of the General Inspectorate for Immigration.”
— General Inspectorate for Immigration
Taxation is a separate matter. Romania has double taxation agreements with many countries, but the specifics depend on residency status, income source, and citizenship. National insurance contributions and medical insurance arrangements also differ for expats. Consult a qualified Romanian tax advisor – not a relocation blog.
Schools and Education for Expat Children
This is where relocation planning most commonly falls short. Parents research visas and housing thoroughly. Schools get left until after arrival.
Romanian public schools teach in Romanian. Children who don’t speak the language face a genuine integration challenge – particularly at secondary school level where the curriculum is demanding. Some families choose this path deliberately, viewing it as the fastest route to Romanian language acquisition. Others find the transition too disruptive, especially for children who reached the age of 9 or older before moving.
International schools in Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca offer English-medium instruction. Tuition costs are significant – typically €8,000 to €18,000 per year depending on the school and level. Waiting lists at established institutions are common, particularly for secondary school places.
Some schools offer the International Baccalaureate program; others follow British or American-aligned curricula. Families should verify what each school actually delivers before assuming curriculum alignment.
For families who need immediate enrollment – going to school on day one of arrival, without waiting for local intake cycles – Legacy Online School provides a practical alternative. Enrollment can begin within 48 hours of application. No waitlists. No intake calendar. The admissions team handles onboarding directly.
For Expats in Romania: What Legacy Offers
Legacy is a WASC-accredited American private online school – not a local Romanian institution. It doesn’t require a physical campus. It runs on a US academic calendar with live qualified teachers, groups capped at 15 pupils, and a full or part-time K-12 program that doesn’t pause when families relocate.
For children of different ages: online elementary school, online middle school, online high school – all available, all delivered in English.
The baccalaureate track at Legacy is the US high school diploma – not the Romanian Bacalaureat. Families who want their children to maintain an American curriculum during a posting in Romania, or who are transitioning from another international posting, will find continuity without disruption.
Summer school covers credit recovery and advancement for children who arrive mid-year with academic gaps. Virtual clubs and extracurricular activities – debate, Model UN, creative writing – run alongside academic classes for all enrolled pupils. Part-time courses allow children enrolled in local Romanian schools to add Advanced Placement (AP) coursework or English-medium enrichment alongside their local studies. For pupils planning US university applications, college guidance is available from enrollment onward.
Tuition is a fraction of what Bucharest international schools charge. See current tuition and fees.
“WASC advances and validates quality ongoing school improvement by supporting its private and public elementary, secondary, and postsecondary member institutions to engage in a rigorous and relevant self-evaluation and peer review process that focuses on student learning.”
— Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges
A Real Case: The Martin Family, Bucharest
James and Claire Martin relocated from London to Bucharest in early 2024 – James had accepted a two-year position with a multinational firm. They had two children: Oliver, 9, and Freya, 14.
The Bucharest international schools they contacted either had no immediate availability or required enrollment months in advance. They needed a school that could start within weeks.
They enrolled both children in Legacy before their furniture arrived in Romania. Oliver in the online elementary school program. Freya in the online high school Live Group plan, with two AP courses added in her first semester.
Relocating to Romania was stressful enough. The school part wasn’t. By the time the family had settled into their apartment in Bucharest, both children were already three weeks into their school year.
A Second Case: The Kovács Family, Cluj-Napoca
András and Marta Kovács relocated from Budapest to Cluj-Napoca in 2023 – András joined a Romanian-Hungarian tech startup. Their daughter, Sofia, 12, had been in a Hungarian-language school. Romanian schools weren’t an option linguistically, and the nearest international school had a six-month waiting list.
They enrolled Sofia in Legacy’s online middle school Self-Paced plan within days of arriving. School started immediately. No waiting list, no intake cycle. By the end of the year, Sofia had a full academic transcript from a WASC-accredited institution – and the family had spent under $2,000 for the school year.
Top Tips from Our Expert
Maya Robinson, College Prep Advisor at Legacy Online School
- Start the school enrollment process before you land – Legacy can have your child enrolled and in class within 48 hours of application, which removes one major stress from the moving abroad checklist
- If your child is in secondary school and you’re moving to Romania, AP courses through Legacy give them a portable academic credential that US and international universities recognize regardless of where the family is posted next
- Request a Legacy Enrolment Confirmation Letter immediately – it documents your child’s institutional school enrollment and is useful for administrative purposes in Romania
- Don’t underestimate the Romanian language learning curve for children – Legacy handles academic subjects in English; pairing that with local Romanian language tutoring helps children integrate socially
