This guide covers the UK visa for Romanian citizens in 2026: the ETA now required for visits, the work routes that replaced free movement, entry requirements, and fees. Romania has one of Britain's largest diasporas — over a million Romanians applied to stay under the EU Settlement Scheme. Since Brexit, new arrivals need a £20 ETA to visit and a work visa to take a job, while those with settled status keep their rights.
UK Visas from Romania
UK Visa for Romanian Citizens 2026: Work Visa, ETA & Entry Requirements
UK Entry Requirements for Romanian Citizens
Romanian citizens do not need a visa for visits of up to six months, but they do need an ETA (£20, valid two years) obtained through the UK ETA App. Non-EU residents of Romania need a Standard Visitor visa instead. For work, study, or family stays, Romanian nationals apply for the relevant visa and give biometrics through the UK Immigration: ID Check App. Those with EU Settlement Scheme status need neither.
Romania joined the EU in 2007, and Romanian workers became mainstays of UK agriculture, construction, healthcare, and hospitality. Free movement ended on 1 January 2021, so new Romanian travellers now face the same ETA system as other visa-exempt nationals, and a visa for any work or long stay. Entry is straightforward for short trips but no longer automatic: Romanian nationals can no longer use EU lanes, and the ETA is checked at boarding, so it must be in hand before you leave Romania.
Since October 2021, Romanian national ID cards (buletin) are not valid for UK travel — you must use a valid Romanian passport. The narrow exception is EU Settlement Scheme holders who registered with their ID card before the deadline, though a passport is still strongly advised.
- A valid passport: ID cards are no longer accepted.
- An approved ETA: £20, valid two years, via the UK ETA App.
- Evidence of return or onward travel.
- Accommodation details: a booking or a host's address.
- Enough funds: to support the visit without working.
- Genuine intention to leave within six months.
At the border, officers may ask about your plans, accommodation, and funds — keeping your booking and return ticket on your phone speeds things up. Travellers from elsewhere in the region face the same system, including those covered by our Poland guide.
Do Romanians Need a Visa for the UK?
It depends on what you are doing. Free movement between the EU and UK ended on 31 December 2020, so Romanian citizens are now visa-exempt nationals for short visits — they can visit without a visa but cannot work, study courses over six months, or access public funds. According to the official gov.uk ETA guidance, Romanian citizens have needed an ETA since 2 April 2025 — approval is effectively automatic for eligible travellers, with the scheme's issue rate running at 99.6%.
The full rules, exemptions, and how the scheme works across nationalities are covered in our guide to the ETA scheme. A Romanian who lived in the UK before Brexit but never applied to the EU Settlement Scheme should check their status and rights, as late applications are still accepted in some circumstances.
Can Romanians Work in the UK After Brexit?
Yes, but new arrivals now need a work visa — the biggest post-Brexit change. Before 2021, Romanians could arrive and start work with no paperwork; now employment needs sponsorship and a visa first, exactly as for non-EU applicants. Romanians who were in the UK before 31 December 2020 and hold EU Settlement Scheme status keep full work rights. The upside for everyone else is convenience: as an EU national, you verify identity through the UK Immigration: ID Check App rather than attending a visa centre.
Skilled Worker and Health & Care Routes
The Skilled Worker route is the main path: a job offer from a licensed sponsor, a salary meeting the £41,700 general threshold, and English at B1. The fee is €995 for up to three years or €1,966 beyond, plus the health surcharge, leading to settlement after five years. Healthcare staff use the cheaper Health and Care Worker visa (€394), which is exempt from the surcharge.
Seasonal, Youth Mobility and Settlement Status
Seasonal agricultural work uses the Seasonal Worker visa (€413, up to six months). Romanians aged 18 to 35 may qualify for the Youth Mobility Scheme where places allow. Crucially, those with settled status already have indefinite leave; those with pre-settled status can work but must convert to settled status after five years' continuous residence or risk losing their rights.
UK Visa Fees for Romanian Citizens 2026
Romanian citizens pay only £20 for an ETA. Romania uses the leu, but UK visa fees are set in pounds and displayed in euros on the official calculator — there is no separate leu schedule. The figures below match the eurozone rate applied across the EU, and fees are non-refundable.
UK visitor and short-stay fees from Romania (2026)
| Visa Type | Fee | Max Stay Per Visit |
|---|---|---|
| ETA (Romanian citizens) | £20 | 6 months |
| Standard Visitor (6 months) | €164 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (2 years) | €615 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (5 years) | €1,097 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (10 years) | €1,371 | 6 months |
| Marriage Visitor | €164 | 6 months |
| Direct Airside Transit (DATV) | €50 | Airside only |
| Visitor in Transit | €91 | 48 hours |
Source: Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 schedule, as displayed in euros; ETA per GOV.UK.
UK work, study and family visa fees from Romania (2026)
| Visa Category | Fee (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Student | €678 |
| Skilled Worker (up to 3 years) | €995 |
| Skilled Worker (over 3 years) | €1,966 |
| Health and Care Worker (up to 3 years) | €394 |
| Seasonal Worker | €413 |
| Youth Mobility Scheme | €413 |
| Partner / Family visa | €2,508 |
| Priority service | +€608 |
| Super Priority service | +€1,215 |
Source: Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 schedule, as displayed in euros.
The Immigration Health Surcharge
Any visa over six months also carries the Immigration Health Surcharge, charged in pounds at £1,035 a year — students and Youth Mobility participants pay £776. It is paid on top of the visa fee and is not converted to local currency. Health and Care Worker visa holders are exempt.
UK Tourist Visa from Romania
For Romanian passport holders, an ETA is the entry requirement for tourism, family visits, business meetings, and short courses — no tourist visa exists or is needed. It covers sightseeing and events, visiting friends and relatives, business meetings and negotiations (never paid work), study up to 30 days where it is not the main purpose, private medical treatment, and transit through the UK.
A non-EU national living in Romania must instead apply for a UK visit visa, regardless of how long they have lived there. For repeat trips, the multi-year visit visa allows unlimited entries over two, five, or ten years while still capping each stay at six months.
UK Visa for Non-EU Residents in Romania
Non-EU nationals living in Romania — including its large Moldovan and Ukrainian communities — must obtain a visa for any UK trip, whatever the purpose or length. The six-month Standard Visitor visa costs €164, applications go through the visa centre in Bucharest, and processing takes about three weeks. A Romanian residence permit does not grant visa-free UK access, but it strengthens the application by showing ties to Romania.
Romanian Residence Strengthens Your Application
Legal residence in Romania — especially permanent residence — helps a UK visitor application by showing strong ties and a clear reason to return. Include your residence permit, employment contract, and evidence of settled life such as property, bank accounts, or family in Romania alongside the standard documents in our UK visa supporting documents checklist.
If a relative is hosting you, our guide to the sponsor's supporting letter shows what to include. If a visit was refused before, our guides on why UK visas are refused and the odds of success when reapplying explain how to strengthen a fresh application.
How to Apply for a UK Visa from Romania
Romanian citizens have an advantage: as EU nationals they can use the ID Check App to apply without visiting a visa centre. Non-EU residents of Romania use the Bucharest centre for biometrics.
- For a visit: apply for the ETA in the UK ETA App — scan passport, take a photo, pay £20.
- For a visa: complete the online application and pay the fee at gov.uk.
- Romanian citizens: give biometrics via the UK Immigration: ID Check App from home.
- Non-EU residents: book biometrics at the Bucharest visa centre.
- Upload your supporting documents and wait for the decision.
- Receive your eVisa or a vignette in your passport.
Processing Times and Delays
Standard processing is about three weeks for non-settlement visas and up to twelve weeks for settlement routes; ETAs are usually decided within minutes. If a decision runs late, our guide on visa delay guidance explains how to chase it, priority and super-priority services can speed things up where available, and you can track timelines with our guide to UKVI processing times.
For official confirmation, use the gov.uk visa checker and the Standard Visitor visa guidance. Neighbouring guides cover travellers from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and the Bulgaria ETA guide. Sources: Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 schedule; GOV.UK ETA guidance. Figures verified August 2026 against the 8 April 2026 fee schedule.
Frequently Asked
Questions about UK Visas for Romanian Citizens
No visa is needed for visits up to six months, but Romanian citizens must hold an ETA before travelling. It costs £20, lasts two years, and is obtained through the UK ETA App. The requirement has applied since 2 April 2025 and is enforced at boarding. For work, study, or longer stays, the appropriate visa is required; EU Settlement Scheme holders need neither.
Yes, but new arrivals need a work visa. Romanians with EU Settlement Scheme status keep full work rights. Everyone else needs a job offer from a licensed UK sponsor and a Skilled Worker visa (€995–€1,966), Health and Care Worker visa, or other work route, meeting the £41,700 general salary threshold. Working without the correct visa can lead to removal and a re-entry ban.
A Romanian citizen with an ETA can stay up to six months per visit for tourism, family, or business. There is no annual cap, but frequent or very long stays may prompt questions about whether you are genuinely visiting. Those with EU Settlement Scheme status can stay indefinitely. Work and student visas have their own validity periods.
The main route is the Skilled Worker visa (€995–€1,966), needing a job offer from a licensed sponsor, a salary at or above the £41,700 general threshold, and English at B1. Alternatives include the Health and Care Worker visa (€394, surcharge-exempt), the Seasonal Worker visa (€413), and the Youth Mobility Scheme for those aged 18 to 35 where places allow.
No. Romanian national ID cards have not been accepted for UK travel since October 2021 — you must use a valid Romanian passport. The only exception is EU Settlement Scheme holders who registered with their ID card before the deadline, who may continue using it until it expires, though a passport is strongly recommended. Apply for the ETA against your passport.
Yes. Romanian and other EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals applying for UK work, study, or family visas can verify their identity through the ID Check App from home, so no visa centre visit is needed. You scan your passport chip with your phone's NFC reader and take a photo to complete identity checks.
Standard processing is about three weeks for visitor and other non-settlement visas, and up to twelve weeks for settlement visas such as partner routes. Priority service (€608) targets five working days, and super priority (€1,215) aims for the next working day where available. ETAs are usually decided within minutes, up to three working days.
The UK ETA App is for applying for an Electronic Travel Authorisation, which Romanian citizens use for short visits up to six months. The UK Immigration: ID Check App is for giving biometrics when applying for an actual visa — work, study, or family. In short, the ETA app is for visiting and the ID Check app is for longer stays that need a visa.
Nu, pentru vizite de până la șase luni — este nevoie doar de ETA, care costă £20, se obține prin aplicația UK ETA și este valabilă doi ani. Cerința se aplică din 2 aprilie 2025 și se verifică la îmbarcare. Pentru muncă, studii sau ședere lungă este necesară viza corespunzătoare, iar cei cu statut în EU Settlement Scheme nu au nevoie nici de ETA, nici de viză.
ETA pentru vizite costă £20. Vizele propriu-zise: Skilled Worker €995 (până la 3 ani), Health and Care Worker €394, viza de student €678, iar viza de partener €2,508. Taxele se plătesc online la depunerea cererii, iar cetățenii români își verifică identitatea prin aplicația UK Immigration: ID Check, fără vizită la centrul de vize.