Legal Services for Foreign Investors in Romania

If you are a foreign entrepreneur planning to open a Romanian company, the real question is rarely just “Can I incorporate an SRL in Romania?” It is usually more practical: can non-resident shareholders set up remotely, how long will incorporation actually take, will the documents be handled in English, and who coordinates the accountant, tax registrations, and bank account opening afterwards?

Romania remains attractive as an EU market with access to regional supply chains and competitive operating costs. This article sets out what Buju, Stanciu & Asociații offers foreign investors entering Romania: SRL incorporation, non-resident shareholder structures, full English-language support, a realistic end-to-end timeline, bank account coordination, a GDPR starter package for IT/outsourcing setups, and ongoing retainer support.

It also includes an objective, criteria-based comparison with other providers - so you can assess fit rather than rely on narrative claims.

Why foreign investors choose Romania for an SRL

The National Trade Register Office (ONRC) confirms that a private limited company can be registered with foreign investment forms, foreign shareholder documentation, articles of association, beneficial owner declarations, and proof of registered office. For international founders, the practical issue is not whether the structure is possible, but whether the file is prepared correctly the first time.

As a business law adviser for entrepreneurs and investors, BSA covers due diligence, structuring, investment documentation, tax and compliance, corporate governance, and post-investment support. On timing, ONRC settles a complete filing within one working day - but the real timeline is driven by the preparatory work: name reservation, registered office, drafting, KYC/UBO collection, translations, and signatures. For most non-resident files, a realistic expectation is roughly 5 to 10 working days from the moment the complete documentation is ready to file, not from the first email.

What foreign founders actually need

Foreign investors rarely need just a filing lawyer. In a standard engagement, BSA helps with:

• Choosing the right Romanian vehicle - usually SRL versus a branch or subsidiary structure
• Shareholder and administrator setup for non-resident founders
• Preparing the articles of association and foreign investment annexes
• Arranging a registered office solution where needed
• Coordinating beneficial owner declarations and supporting corporate records
• Aligning post-registration steps with accountants, payroll, tax registrations, and bank account opening

English capability is not a cosmetic feature - it affects transaction speed and risk. BSA works in English from day one with founders, managers, and overseas advisers who need deal documents, legal explanations, and implementation steps communicated clearly. Accounting and banking remain separate regulated functions; BSA prepares the legal groundwork so those next steps go smoothly.

Provider comparison: objective, public criteria

The table below compares BSA with other providers foreign founders commonly encounter, using objective, publicly stated criteria as of July 2026. It is not a ranking or a judgment of legal skill; fees and scopes shown for third parties come from their own public pages and should be verified directly.

End-to-end workflow: first call to operational readiness

A typical foreign-investor engagement, from initial contact to a company that can trade, invoice, and pay staff. Timeframes are indicative and depend on document readiness, shareholder jurisdiction, and the chosen bank.

1. Scoping call (1–2 days to schedule). English-language call on shareholder structure, activity (CAEN codes), signature method, and whether VAT, licensing, GDPR, or hiring will be relevant.
2. Document checklist & collection (3–7 days). A tailored checklist; founders gather passports, KYC/UBO information, and parent-company documents if a corporate shareholder is involved.
3. Translation & apostille (2–5 days). Foreign-language documents are certified-translated and apostilled/legalised where required.
4. Name reservation (same day). The company name is checked and reserved with ONRC.
5. Drafting (2–4 days). Articles of association, foreign investment annexes, and beneficial owner declarations prepared for signature.
6. ONRC filing (1–3 working days). The complete file is submitted; the registrar generally settles a complete file within one working day.
7. RBO / UBO registration. The beneficial owner declaration is registered in the Register of Beneficial Owners, typically at incorporation.
8. ANAF tax registration. The company receives its fiscal registration; VAT registration is arranged if the threshold or activity requires it.
9. Bank account opening (1–3 weeks). The legal file is handed to the chosen bank for KYC review - see the dedicated section below.
10. Post-registration registrations (1–3 weeks, in parallel). Employer/REVISAL enrolment if hiring, GDPR setup if processing data at scale, sector licences if applicable.
11. Operational readiness handover (1 day). Coordination call with the accountant and payroll adviser to confirm the company can invoice, pay, and file on schedule.

Talk through your setup

Romanian bank account opening for non-resident shareholders

Bank account opening is consistently the step most likely to slow down an otherwise fast incorporation, because Romanian banks apply their own KYC/AML review on top of the Trade Register file. Since Law No. 239/2025 (in force from 18 December 2025), every Romanian legal entity must hold at least one payment account - so this is a mandatory step, not an optional add-on.

Typical KYC documents requested

• Valid passports or national ID cards for all directors and shareholders who are natural persons
• Residence permits with apostille for non-EU nationals, where applicable
• Notarised translations of all foreign-issued identification documents
• Authenticated Articles of Association and the ONRC certificate/extract
• Proof of the registered office address (lease agreement or equivalent)
• For a corporate shareholder: certificate of incorporation, good standing, UBO document, and a board resolution authorising the account
• Proof of share capital deposit (minimal for an SRL, but still verified)
• Where asked: a short explanation of intended activity, source of funds, and expected transaction volumes

Common delay or rejection reasons

• Mismatched signatures, or certifications/apostilles expired by the time the bank reviews the file
• Missing UBO documentation where the shareholder is a foreign legal entity
• Incomplete source-of-funds or activity explanation, triggering extra AML questions
• Foreign documents submitted without the required certified Romanian translation
• Registered-office proof that does not match the address filed with ONRC

Once the full KYC file is submitted, banks generally review within a few days to about three weeks; corporate and third-country shareholder structures sit at the longer end. BSA can prepare and pre-check the file, coordinate with relationship contacts at partner banks, and flag likely objections before submission - but cannot approve the account, waive a bank's AML policy, or guarantee an outcome. Account approval remains the bank's own regulated decision.

GDPR starter package for IT and outsourcing setups

Many foreign-owned SRLs operate as IT outsourcing, software development, or shared-service entities that process personal data on behalf of a foreign parent or client. For these setups, BSA offers a scoped GDPR starter package alongside incorporation, typically delivered within 2–3 weeks and run in parallel with post-registration steps.

Ongoing legal retainer

After incorporation, many foreign-owned entities prefer a standing retainer rather than ad hoc instructions, so recurring corporate housekeeping and quick questions are handled without a new engagement letter each time. Each retainer runs through a single point of contact who triages requests to the right practice area.

Expert insights

Incorporation is document-driven and increasingly digital. ONRC accepts electronic filing with a qualified electronic signature, and incomplete mandatory documentation can lead to rejection - which is why pre-filing preparation matters more than the registry step itself.

Check the tax figures at filing time. As of 2026, Romania's standard VAT rate is 21%, with an RON 395,000 VAT registration threshold. Some guidance also indicates the minimum SRL share capital rose to 500 RON from 1 January 2026 - worth confirming at filing, since online sources vary.

Some investments trigger FDI screening. Relevant investments in sensitive sectors exceeding EUR 5 million may require review (threshold raised in March 2026). Most small SRL incorporations will not reach this, but investors in critical technologies, infrastructure, pharma, defence, or agri-food should assess it early. And since 18 December 2025, Law No. 239/2025 makes holding a payment account mandatory for every Romanian legal entity.

Key takeaways

• BSA offers SRL incorporation, non-resident shareholder structuring, and English-language execution as a boutique firm, with continuity into tax, employment, IP, GDPR, and dispute-prevention work.
• Realistic timeline: about 5–10 working days once complete documents are ready to file, plus a further 1–3 weeks for bank account opening.
• Bank account opening is a separate regulated process - the firm can prepare and pre-check the file, but cannot guarantee approval or timeline.
• A GDPR starter package is available as a scoped add-on for IT and outsourcing setups, typically within 2–3 weeks of incorporation.
• Ongoing support runs through tiered retainers with defined hours, response times, and a single point of contact.

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