Moving to the UK from Romania: Complete Guide

The Romanian Community in the UK

Romanian migration to the UK grew after 2014, when the transitional work restrictions on Romanian (and Bulgarian) citizens were lifted. The Home Office does not publish a count of Romanian nationals resident in the UK, so this guide gives none.

Romanian communities are spread across the UK, with significant populations in London (particularly East London — Barking and Dagenham, Newham, Redbridge), as well as Birmingham, Manchester, Southampton, Northampton, and many smaller towns in Eastern England. The community is supported by Romanian Orthodox churches, cultural associations, Romanian-language media, and an extensive network of Romanian shops and businesses.

Brexit and the End of Free Movement

Romania's relationship with UK immigration has been uniquely complex. After joining the EU in 2007, Romanian citizens had theoretical free movement rights but faced transitional restrictions on employment in the UK until 1 January 2014. This meant Romanians could only work in the UK under specific schemes (such as the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme) or as self-employed workers. The lifting of restrictions in 2014 led to a surge in Romanian migration.

Brexit ended this free movement:

• EU Settlement Scheme. Romanians in the UK before 31 December 2020 could apply for settled status (after 5 years) or pre-settled status (under 5 years).
• New arrivals need a visa. Since 1 January 2021, Romanian citizens must use the standard UK immigration system — Skilled Worker visa, student visa, family visa, or other qualifying routes. For short visits of up to 6 months, Romanians do not need a visa but must get a £20 Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling.

Visa Routes for Romanian Citizens (New Arrivals)

Skilled Worker Visa

The Skilled Worker visa is the primary work route. You need a job offer from a UK employer with a sponsor licence at the minimum salary of £41,700 a year, or the published going rate for the occupation code if that is higher. Since 22 July 2025 a new applicant's job must also be at graduate level (RQF 6). If the occupation is on the Immigration Salary List, the salary threshold and the application fee are lower, but the full going rate for the occupation still applies. The visa leads to settlement (indefinite leave to remain) after 5 years.

Health and Care Worker Visa

Romanian nurses, doctors, and care workers can use the Health and Care Worker visa, a sub-category of the Skilled Worker visa. The application fee is lower — £324 for 3 years or less, £628 for more than 3 years — and you do not pay the healthcare surcharge.

Family Visas

If your spouse, partner, or parent has British citizenship or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you can apply for a spouse visa. The financial requirement is £29,000 annual income. This route is particularly relevant for Romanians joining family members who settled in the UK before Brexit.

Student Visa

The Student visa requires a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies from a licensed UK institution. Romanian students now pay international tuition fees, which universities set themselves. The Graduate route provides 2 years of post-study work permission (18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027; 3 years for a doctorate).

EU Settlement Scheme: Legacy Issues

The EU Settlement Scheme remains relevant for Romanians already in the UK:

• Late applications. The deadline was 30 June 2021, but the Home Office still accepts a late application where there are reasonable grounds for missing it.
• Pre-settled to settled conversion. If you hold pre-settled status, you can apply for settled status once you have 5 years' continuous residence. The Home Office may also convert your status automatically: it emails you if it is considering this, and again to say whether you have been converted. If it cannot confirm you are eligible, you keep pre-settled status, which is extended by 5 years rather than left to expire.
• Comprehensive sickness insurance. Some Romanians who were self-sufficient (not working) before Brexit were refused settled status because they did not hold comprehensive sickness insurance. If you were affected, take advice from a regulated immigration adviser or a solicitor.

Document Requirements for Romanian Applicants

• Valid Romanian passport. A carte de identitate (Romanian ID card) is no longer sufficient for UK immigration purposes.
• Cazier Judiciar. Criminal record certificate from the Romanian police. Apply at your local secția de poliție or through the Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs. The fee and the processing time are set in Romania, not by the Home Office.
• Certified English translation. All Romanian-language documents must be translated by a certified translator (traducător autorizat).
• No apostille typically required. Romanian documents are generally accepted without apostille for UK visa applications.
• No TB test. Romania is not on the UK's designated list.

English Language Requirement

Romanian citizens must prove English language ability:

• Skilled Worker: CEFR B2 for applications made from 8 January 2026 (B1 still accepted for extensions on the same route)
• Spouse visa (initial): CEFR A1
• Spouse visa (extension): CEFR A2
• Indefinite leave to remain (settlement): CEFR B1, rising to B2 from 26 March 2027 for people settling from the Skilled Worker, Global Talent and several other routes

IELTS for UKVI and LanguageCert tests are available in Bucharest. If you hold a degree taught entirely in English, this may satisfy the requirement.

Processing Times

Many applicants can use the UK Immigration: ID Check app to submit biometrics digitally. Check your application instructions for whether a visit to a visa application centre is required.

• Skilled Worker: usually within 3 weeks
• Spouse visa: usually within 12 weeks
• Student visa: usually within 3 weeks

Financial Evidence Held in Romanian Leu

• Bank statements. Statements from a Romanian bank are accepted. The Home Office converts other currencies into pounds using the exchange rate on the date of your application, so the balance you need in leu is not fixed.
• Spouse visa savings. Cash savings held by either partner for at least 6 months can be combined with income, but only the amount above £16,000 counts, and at the first application and extension stages that amount is divided by 2.5. Savings of £88,500 meet the whole £29,000 requirement with no income at all.
• Student maintenance. £1,529 a month (London) or £1,171 a month (outside London), for up to 9 months.
• Skilled Worker maintenance. £1,270, held for 28 days in a row, unless your sponsor certifies that it will cover your costs.

What It Costs

The Home Office publishes its fees in pounds. It does not publish a leu price, and the exchange rate it applies is the rate on the day you pay, so this guide gives no leu conversion.

• Skilled Worker visa, applying from outside the UK: £819 for 3 years or less, £1,618 for more than 3 years
• Health and Care Worker visa: £324 for 3 years or less, £628 for more than 3 years
• Healthcare surcharge: £1,035 a year, or £776 a year for students, their dependants and anyone under 18
• Student visa: £558
• Partner (spouse) visa from outside the UK: £2,064
• Electronic travel authorisation for a visit: £20
• Settlement (indefinite leave to remain): £3,226
• Becoming a British citizen: £1,709, plus a £130 ceremony fee
• No tuberculosis test cost: Romania is not on the list

GOV.UK publishes no price for an English language test, a certified translation or a Romanian police certificate; the providers and the Romanian authorities set those. See our UK visa fees guide.

Paying the healthcare surcharge does not make the National Health Service free at the point of use. In England a prescription costs £9.90 and dental treatment is charged in bands of £27.90, £76.60 and £332.10. Prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Common Issues for Romanian Applicants

• Uncertainty about status. If you were in the UK before 31 December 2020 and applied to the EU Settlement Scheme, check your status online using your passport or national identity card. If you did not apply, take advice about a late application.
• Employer sponsorship gap. Romanians working in sectors like agriculture, food processing, and warehousing often find their employers have not obtained sponsor licences. Without sponsorship, you cannot get a Skilled Worker visa for these roles.
• English test preparation. Speaking English well is not the same as passing the test. Only a secure English language test from an approved provider counts, and the format and timing need practice.
• International tuition fees. Romanian students now pay international fees at UK universities rather than home fees. Each university sets its own international fee; GOV.UK publishes no figure for it, so check the course page.
• Pre-settled status management. If you have pre-settled status, track your continuous residence carefully. For settled status, you must not have been outside the UK for more than either 30 months in the last 5 years, or 6 months in any 12-month period within a 5-year period.

Practical Tips for Moving from Romania to the UK

Flights and Arrival

Direct flights run from Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara and Iași to London, and take roughly 3 to 3.5 hours. Wizz Air, Ryanair and TAROM operate services, often into London Luton or London Stansted. Fares change constantly, so this guide gives none.

Romanian Community in the UK

Romanian residents are concentrated in the East London boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Newham and Redbridge. Romanian Orthodox churches across the UK provide both spiritual and community services. Romanian shops, restaurants, and businesses are common in areas with significant Romanian populations. Community organisations like the Romanian Cultural Centre and various regional associations (Transylvanian, Moldovan, etc.) organise events and provide support.

Cultural Adjustment

Romanians generally adapt well to UK life, aided by the large existing community. The weather is milder than Romanian winters but wetter and greyer. Housing costs, especially in London, are the biggest shock — rents in London can consume a very large proportion of income. Many Romanian newcomers initially share accommodation to manage costs. The workplace culture in the UK tends to be less hierarchical than in Romania, which most arrivals welcome.

After Arrival

• Set up your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account to access your eVisa (biometric residence permits are no longer issued)
• Apply for a National Insurance number
• Open a UK bank account
• Register with a GP
• Understand your employment rights

Path to Settlement and Citizenship

After 5 years on a qualifying visa, apply for settlement (indefinite leave to remain), which costs £3,226. Meet the continuous residence requirement, pass the Life in the UK test, and demonstrate CEFR B1 English (B2 from 26 March 2027 if you settle from the Skilled Worker, Global Talent or several other routes).

After 12 months with settlement, you can apply for British citizenship. Romania permits dual citizenship, so you can hold both Romanian and British passports.

Next Steps

If you are a new arrival seeking work, explore the Skilled Worker visa. If you are joining a partner with settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, read the spouse visa guide. If you were in the UK before Brexit, check your immigration status online.

For official information, visit the GOV.UK EU Settlement Scheme page and the GOV.UK Skilled Worker visa page.

Questions and answers