· Updated · Marcela Manea · Law · 9 min read
Business Licences in Romania
Which trade licences and special permits a company needs in Romania, the application stages and examples of licences required. Ask our lawyers.
Our team offers a complete company setup package that also includes services related to obtaining business licenses in Romania. We focus on assisting our clients who need special permits or licenses issued by the Romanian authorities in order to engage in specific business fields.
Special business licenses in Romania are issued for companies working in fields such as:
- insurance and banking;
- the pharmaceutical sector;
- transport services;
- accounting;
- gambling;
- the recruitment of personnel, and others.
Investors who wish to open a Romanian company will need to fully comply with the licensing requirements before they can start any commercial activity in the country.
Our team can help you register a company in Romania and apply for a business or trade license, as well as any additional special permits or authorizations that may be required in your industry.
The trade license in Romania
Not all types of business activities are licensed, however, when required, permits, authorizations, and licenses for functioning or conducting different types of activities are required prior to engaging in any activities.
While the terms business license and trade license are sometimes used interchangeably, the trade license is usually required and applied for by a company that will engage in the trading of goods, various commercial activities that are licensed by specific bodies or agencies in Romania.
A trade license in Romania may require renewal, provided that the applicant (the company) continues to satisfy the terms for licensing.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Activity authorization | Obtained by registering with the National Trade Register Office a standard declaration on own responsibility that the company meets the legal conditions for its activities; required for all companies, in addition to any special licenses |
DSP authorization in Romania | Sanitary authorization issued by the Department of Public Health |
| DSV authorization | Veterinary authorization issued by the National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority |
| Fire safety (ISU) authorization | Issued by the county Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (ISU), for buildings and premises in the categories that require it |
| Environment authority authorization in Romania | Issued by the National Agency for Environmental Protection |
| Luminous advertising permit | For companies that use this type of advertising; issued by the City Hall |
| Music playing permit as part of the Romania business licenses | Licenses for the public playing of music are granted by the collective management organisations (UCMR-ADA, CREDIDAM, UPFR); the Romanian Copyright Office is the regulator |
| Accommodation permit in Romania | Classification certificate for accommodation units issued by the Ministry of Economy, Digitalisation, Entrepreneurship and Tourism |
| Security company license | Issued by the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police, with the prior approval of the Romanian Intelligence Service |
| Educational institution permits | Authorization and accreditation through the competent education quality assurance agencies (for higher education, the Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education) Other authorizations are required for these types of institutions |
| Non-banking financial institution authorization | Issued by the National Bank of Romania |
| Pharmacy authorization in Romania | Issued by the Ministry of Health |
| Water management permit | Issued by the National Administration „Romanian Waters” |
| Other permits / authorizations as part of the Romania business licenses | Tourism license issued by the Ministry of Economy, Digitalisation, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, car service license issued by the Romanian Automotive Register, insurance and reinsurance broker authorization issued by the Romanian Financial Supervisory Authority and others |
| Business license issue time | Varies depending on the authority and the type of license |
| Renewal | Mandatory for continued lawful functioning. |
| Renewal conditions | The company must continue to comply with the all the licensing conditions. |
| Initial permit documents | Company-related documents (proof of registration), license suitability documents (premises-related, other documents attesting to the company's compliance). |
| Renewal documents | Continued compliance is proven via the relevant documents which include the ones used for the initial licensing. |
| Assistance for document submission | Included in our licensing packages for businesses. |
| License suspension | If any irregularities/non-compliance is determined via inspection. |
| Licenses for foreign companies in Romania | Yes, applicable per their operating business field. |
| Special documents for foreign companies licensed in Romania | Will include documents concerning the foreign company doing business in Romania. |
| Conditions for the submitted documents | Some documents must be translated into Romanian. |
| Third-party applications | Possible. Ask our team for details on how we can assist you with your application. |
| Other services for companies in Romania | Complete solutions for company incorporation and registration with the National Trade Register Office. |
| Our team | Experienced company formation agents with proven experience and knowledge of the local commercial and foreign investment laws. |
| Why work with us | We offer a one-stop-shop for company formation in Romania. |
| When to contact us | As soon as you decide to open a business in Romania or when you need licensing for an already registered company. |
Application stages
A business license in Romania is also required by companies that are interested in setting up luminous displays, as well as those that will sell food and drinks.
Companies that need these licenses will need to apply for and obtain them before they start their specific activities, in order to ensure lawful compliance. Investors who want to register a company in Romania and also obtain a specific business license in due time can rely on our services.
Darie & Manea Law Firm has helped an important number of foreign clients establish their company in Romania. We provide assistance to individuals interested in company formation in Romania, as well as for those intending to open a secondary office in our country.
Examples of Romanian trade licenses
One of the most common examples we can use to exemplify the need to apply for a trade license in Romania is the import-export authorization (as it is called in Romanian).
Different conditions for licensing apply, depending on the imported and/or exported goods. A common example in this category is the import/export of medicinal products.
Pharmacies and drugstores need to be authorized in Romania and a special authorization is also obtained for:
- the supply of medicines for special population categories (those categorized as the “special needs population”);
- the import and/or export of narcotic and psychotropic products and substances.
This type of license is obtained after the process to register a company in Romania is completed, and the new business has an established work point (as declared and registered with the National Trade Register Office).
Please keep in mind that applications are submitted to local authorities. This means that a company registered in Bucharest will submit its dossier to the authorities that operate in the Bucharest Municipality region.
County or regional authorities serve each area in the country and our team can help guide you if you wish to open a company in cities like Cluj-Napoca or Brasov, where you will need to contact other county authorities.
Examples of required permits and licenses
Depending on the type of business you will be engaged in, as well as the object(s) of activity the company will be registered under, there will be a variable number of compulsory Romanian business licenses that will need to be acquired before the company starts its specific activities.
Our company formation agents list some of the most commonly applied for licenses:
- activity-specific licenses: included here are the ones for banking, manufacturing, broadcasting, as well as other types of services;
- environmental permit: for companies involved in animal farming activities, as well as mixed farming and other services related to agriculture;
- sanitary authorizations: for companies involved in the provision of services that will need to comply with the current public hygiene and public health regulations;
- veterinary sanitary authorization - certifies that the activities of the establishments producing, processing, storing, transporting and/or distributing products of animal origin meet the sanitary-veterinary operating conditions established by the EU and national veterinary legislation;
- the fire safety authorization: issued by the county Inspectorates for Emergency Situations, under the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations – certifies that the premises of the business comply with the fire safety regulations in force.
Please keep in mind that the list above is not an exhaustive one. Companies are required to apply for permits and licenses when they operate in a wide range of industries, as well as when they provide specific services for their clients.
Investors who wish to open a company in Romania also need to be mindful of other authorizations they will need to obtain in connection with their company. For example, special authorization is required in order to set up a luminous display panel.
How to apply for business licenses in Romania
All companies, irrespective of their size, will need to observe the authorization process for their specific activities. Investors who open a Romanian micro company, in order to take advantage of the beneficial tax regime, will also need to have their micro company licensed accordingly.
Our team briefly lists the main steps needed to obtain business licenses in Romania:
- register a company in Romania: a new company needs to be duly registered, as the authorities will request its Certificate of Registration for licensing purposes;
- determine the required licenses: this is commonly done according to the industry in which the company will activate; depending on this, one or more licenses will be required; for example, a restaurant will need to obtain sanitary authorizations, as well as fire safety authorizations;
- determine the authorities with which the application is made: each licensing or authorization request is submitted to the Romanian authority in charge of the particular licensing activities; this is a step during which our team can provide you with the needed counsel;
- prepare the documents: a complete and correct submission is needed; our team can guide you throughout the process to ensure complete compliance with the current documentation requirements, so that you may avoid any unnecessary delays due to incomplete submissions.
When you choose to work with our experts, we will supervise the process for company formation in Romania and we will accurately inform you of any additional document submissions. One of our experts will be available to provide you with extra information.
For any further details or information please do not hesitate to contact us.
by Cristian Darie