After working for so many years, retiring at 66 or 65 seems like the reward you have finally earned after so long. You want the best use of it. Perhaps, you even want to leave your home country for a place with a more comfortable and peacefully serene.
Looking for the best place to retire and spend the rest of your life?
There are so many places in the world, and Romania is just one of them.
Romania is an interesting country with attractive cities. As a country in Eastern Europe, its culture was influenced by neighboring countries such as the old Roman empires. This can be seen in the architecture and design of the country. In major cities like Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, et cetera, there is so much to experience. Romania is considered a great country to retire to because of its low cost of living, friendly residents, and beautiful scenery. Despite being an EU member state, it offers a more comfortable and affordable standard of living than most EU countries. If you are thinking of moving to Romania, then you should know the country doesn’t offer a retirement visa.
Things to know before retiring to Romania
Affordable to live
Living in Romania is cheap compared to other countries such as in Western Europe, the US, Canada, and Asia. Although things are becoming more expensive due to the increase in the population, this is still quite cheap. If you are looking to retire in Romania, you should set your mind on the fact that prices of items in Romania are bound to increase over time. However, the country remains one of the cheapest in Europe.
Cheap Housing system
Rent is a lot cheaper in Romania than it is in other countries in the world. Just as in the rest of the world, the prices of houses in Romania have risen higher than it was before. When thinking of buying a house, you should note that houses in larger cities such as Bucharest cost more than in smaller cities where the rent range from €300 a month. You can get a comfortable bedroom apartment for as low as €600 in larger cities outside the main areas. Depending on your pension, your monthly budget for rent will be decreased if you decide on retiring in Romania.
Security
Regardless of what you see in movies, Romania is a safe country with a low violence rate and a peaceful atmosphere. There are rare cases of mugging, robbery, kidnaps, or murders in the country, even in larger cities where this is expected. Although there are petty cases of crimes, the use of guns and other weapons remains prohibited for citizens without legal permission to use them. It is safe to say that Romania is one of the safest countries in Europe for foreigners and local citizens residing there.
Communication
Romanian is the official language in the country spoken by local citizens. To communicate and relate better with Romanians, you might need to learn the language beforehand. However, since there are English-speaking ex-pats in the country, you can get through your day without much stress. The English language is a second language taught in Hungarian schools so there might be a few citizens who can speak a little. Not fluently enough to start a conversation, but at least enough to give you directions and assistance. This might be harder in villages where few people can speak English. Don’t be discouraged; there are tons of translation apps online you can download and use.
sRetirement visa
As I said earlier, one of the saddest things about Romania is that there is no retirement visa for persons looking to retire in the country. Although, citizens from EU countries don’t need a Visa or permit to retire in Romania. Anyone emigrating from a Non-EU country requires a residence permit to retire in Romania, but this is not easy to acquire. You will have to obtain a temporary permit for five years then finally a permanent permit. You can try setting up a business in Romania if you have the funds. Investors are always considered when it comes to granting a permanent residence permit.
There are pros and cons of retiring in Romania; you should ensure you make proper research on them before leaving. Get good healthcare insurance and a stable source of income (pension funds), if you want to live a blissful life walking the streets of Romania.
