The statistics in the chart above are based on Eurostat's Foreign-born population by group of country of birth, 1 January 2024. 

According to Eurostat's Migration and migrant population statistics, as of 1 January 2024, there were over over 370 000 third-country nationals (TCNs), representing 1.9% of the population, and close to 217 600 million EU citizens (1.1%) living in Romania at the time. 

There is no aggregated data on Romanian citizens with migrant background, but data provided by the National Authority for Citizenship shows that 76 564 applications for Romanian citizenship were approved in 2020, with 3 573 submitted through the ordinary procedure for foreign nationals, and a sizeable 73 000 - through the procedure for re-acquiring Romanian citizenship, mainly open to Moldovans and Ukrainians of Romanian origin.

By the end of January 2025, Romania counted a total of 181 090 non-EU citizens who had fled the war against Ukraine and were under temporary protection – see monthly updates in the numbers of temporary protection beneficiaries on Eurostat.

The OECD/EC Indicators of Immigrant Integration 2023: Settling In report provides further breakdowns of the composition of migrant populations and households in Romania, including in terms of immigration flows by legal category, concentration in densely populated areas, duration of stay and household composition.

Romania does not have a specific integration strategy, but integration is addressed through the immigration strategy. 

The National Strategy for Immigration for the period 2021 - 2024  was the last one to be adopted and approved through the Governmental Ordinance no. 884/19.08.2021. The  integration of foreign citizens with legal residence in Romania is one of the specific objectives on the current strategy. Its Action plan for 2023 focuses on language training, education and labor market, and the removal of the administrative and legal barriers that hinder the TCNs’ access to these areas.

Migrant integration in Romania is regulated by the Integration Act. It provisions the rights and measures the migrant residents are entitled to. The act also contains a description of the Governmental integration program designed for beneficiaries of international protection.  

The Romanian integration program targets the beneficiaries of international protection who posses either a refugee or a subsidiary protection status. The program consists of a series of services offered through cooperation between public institutions, local communities and non-governmental organisations, under the coordination of the General Inspectorate for Immigration, such as: language courses and cultural orientation, counselling services and financial benefits. In addition, it provisions supporting activities ensuring access to education and employment, accommodation, medical and social assistance. While it provides support for accessing employment, the integration program does not offer vocational training or assistance and accompaniment to migrant job seekers. 

The program generally lasts for 12 months and the deadline for enrollment is 30 days from the date the person was granted international protection. Participation is not mandatory. However, enrollment does offer certain benefits to the recipients, such as a monthly allowance (financial aid) and accommodation in the Governmental Reception Centers for a limited period (usually 12 months) available to low-income refugees. Vulnerable persons may be accommodated in the reception centers for longer periods, either until their situation improves or until a more favorable solution to them is identified.

The current strategy provisions for an annual evaluation at the end of each action plan. The evaluation reports must be guided by the indicators contained by the action plans and include the contribution of the ministries and agencies that share the responsibility of integration on various domains, mainly the overall integration, education and labor.  Although annual action plans are in place, no evaluation report was made public so far.  

The international Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) points out that, just like in most Central and Eastern European countries, migrants in Romania enjoy basic rights, there policies towards newcomers could be further improved. Romania scores 49 out of 100 points on the MIPEX 2020 scale, consistent with the average score across the countries included in the study.

Law on foreigners

The Emergency ordinance no 194/2002 on the regime of aliens in Romania is the regulatory framework for the entry, stay and exit of foreigners. It also defines their rights and obligations, as well as specific measures to control immigration.

Asylum law

Law no. 122/2006 on asylum establishes the legal status of aliens who are applying for protection in Romania and of persons granted subsidiary or international protection. It also regulates the granting, cessation and cancellation of protection. Government decision no. 1.521/2006 to approve the methodological norms for the enforcement of Law no 122/2006 regulates the rights, obligations and assistance for asylum seekers and persons granted international protection.

Integration law

Government Ordinance no. 44/2004  on social integration ensures that beneficiaries of international and subsidiary protection have access to the following rights: employment, housing, medical and social assistance, social security, and education. It also established an integration program consisting of cultural adaptation activities, counselling and Romanian language classes. Government decision no. 1.483/2004 to approve methodological norms for the enforcement of Government ordinance no. 44/2004 regulates refugees access to rights and benefits, their participation in the integration program and the assistance offered to vulnerable groups (disabled people, unaccompanied minors, victims of torture, and others). It also describes the role of state institutions and local public administrations.

Temporary protection directive

Decision (EU) 2022/382 introducing temporary protection for Ukrainian nationals residing in Ukraine who have been displaced on or after 24 February 2022 as a result of the Russian military invasion, for the Third Country Nationals other than Ukrainian nationals who were benefiting from a form of protection in Ukraine and for other legal residents in Ukraine on the basis of their valid residence permit, as well as the circumstances of exclusion. The duration of temporary protection should be for an initial period of 1 year, with possibility of extension by 6 months, up to 1 year. 

Emergency Ordinance on provision of support and humanitarian assistance to displaced persons from Ukraine

Emergency Ordinance no. 15/2022 sets the grounds for provision of accommodation, food, clothes, hygienic items, transportation, and health services to the displaced people from Ukraine who are not asylum seekers. The disabled and elderly also have the right to receive social services adapted to their needs. In April 2023, the conditions for granting food and accommodation support to displaced people from Ukraine have become more restrictive, depending on the access to education for children and on the access to employment support services for adults. 

Citizenship law

Law No. 21/1991 on the Romanian citizenship establishes conditions for stateless persons and foreign citizens to acquire, regain, lose or renounce citizenship.

Anti-discrimination law

Government Ordinance No. 137/2000 on preventing and sanctioning all forms of discrimination contains detailed provisions on discrimination and harassment. It defines the sanctions applicable in case these legal provisions are breached. The document transposes EU directive 2000/43/EC implementing the principle of equal treatment of people, irrespective of their racial or ethnic origin, and the EU directive 2000/78/EC establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation.

The General Inspectorate for Immigration (GII) within the Ministry of Internal Affairs is the authority in charge of asylum and migration. It coordinates and monitors the integration of TCNs and EU citizens, providing integration services through its regional structures. These structures include six Regional Centers for Accommodation and Procedures for Asylum Seekers across Romania (located in Bucharest, Galati, Giurgiu, Somcuta Mare, Radauti and Timisoara). The GII represents Romania at the European Integration Network.

As a coordinator of migrant integration in Romania GII’s cooperates with the ministries carrying out specific tasks on different integration areas (e.g. education, labor, health etc.). These ministries cooperate through an inter-institutional mechanism – the Commission for Immigration Management – with the main role to oversee and evaluate the implementation of the Immigration Strategy.

Refugee issues are addressed through the National Coalition for Refugee Integration, an inter-ministerial committee responsible for identifying refugees’ needs, seeking solutions with all parties involved, and ensuring the implementation of necessary measures, in accordance with Romania’s objectives and responsibilities within the European framework. NGOs are invited to participate in specific working groups, according to their expertise. 

According to Government decision No. 572/2008, non-governmental organisations and employers’ associations may be invited for consultations at the meetings of the Commission for Immigration Management. Civil society organisations are permanent members of the National Coalition for Refugee Integration.

As a stand-alone initiative, several Romanian NGOs active in the field of migration, human rights and public policies have launched in 2017 the Coalition for Migrants' and Refugees' Rights (CDMIR). To date, CDMIR has 23 members. The Coalition publishes position papers on institutional practices, legislation and policies in the field of migration, and organizes training sessions, seminars, conferences, public debates and lobbying activities to push for changes in the fields of asylum, migration and integration. Since February 2022, the Coalition members have been involved in various task forces alongside authorities, and were on the front line of providing humanitarian assistance to the people displaced by the war in Ukraine. 

EU funds

Non-profit organisations and local authorities can apply for financing through several EU funds. In addition, national and private funds are made available for service providers and other stakeholders to carry out projects aiming for a better integration of the migrant population.

Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) in Romania

• Details: The EU allocation for Romania under AMIF 2021 - 2027 is over €38 million. The strategic goals of the AMIF national programme for Romania include Legal migration and integration. The main priorities of this strand are: provision of integration services, development of the integration programmes, awareness raising in local communities and strengthening data collection on integration.
• National managing authority: Ministry of Internal Affairs, Directorate for External, Non-Reimbursable Funds

European Social Fund (ESF+) in Romania

• Details: The EU will invest funds in Romania to: improve access to employment - especially youth employment, quality and inclusive education, new skills and training (€7.3 billion), to promote entrepreneurship (€3.5 billion), to combat poverty and improve children education and care (€3.3 billion), and to increase access to healthcare. Romania implements ESF+ through 4 national programmes, benefitting from  investments from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for Health and Technical Assistance:

  • Education & Employment aims to improve the access to quality education, competences and training in every stage of life, and an inclusive labour market. The EU’s financial allocation stands at €3.5 billion

  • Social Inclusion & Dignity aims to improve health, access to education and social services with focus on most vulnerable groups. EU financial allocation: €3.3 billion.

  • Health forsees an upgrading in health infrastructure and improvement in health service delivery, including for the most vulnerable. EU financial allocation: €2.27 billion

  • Technical Assistance support the effective implementation of funds. EU financial allocation: €457.5 billion.

• National managing authority: Ministry of Investments and European Projects

Other EU funds for integration available in Romania

ERASMUS+, the EU’s program to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe

• Details: supports the educational, personal and professional development of people involved in either of the following areas: education, vocational training, youth and sport. Erasmus+ provides funds for mobility projects that promote learning and cooperation. The priorities for 2021– 2022 include: diversity and inclusion, digital transformation, environment and climate change.
• National managing authority: National Agency for Community Programmes on Education and Professional Training

Other funds

EEA and Norway Grants

• Details:€502 million allocated from 2014 to 2021 on 12 funding programmes, on areas such as: local development, Roma inclusion and human rights, justice, combatting GBV, education and entrepreneurship for youth etc.  

• National Managing Authority:Ministry of Investments and European Projects

Providing integration services

• Romanian National Council for Refugees
• Jesuit Refugee Service Romania
• Save the Children – Romania
• International Organization for Migration Romania
• Romanian Forum for Refugees and Migrants
• Intercultural Institute of Timisoara
• ICAR Foundation
• AIDRom - Ecumenical Association of Churches from Romania
• League for Defending of Human Rights
• Novapolis Association – Center of Analysis and Initiatives for Development
• Romanian Association for Promotion of Quality and Successful Practices
• Association Filantropia Oradea
• Association ASSOC Baia Mare
• Peace Action Training and Research Institute of Romania (PATRIR)
• LOGS – Grup de Iniţiative Sociale
• Terre des Hommes România
• General Inspectorate for Immigration

Implementing the integration programme

• General Inspectorate for Immigration

Campaigning

• General Inspectorate for Immigration

Publishing statistics

• National Institute of Statistics
• General Inspectorate for Immigration