The first month is the hardest. Here's what actually happens after you land — from registration deadlines to finding your feet in a new city.
You land in Romania. Your bag is heavy. The airport looks nothing like the photos you researched. You don't speak the language. Your university enrollment starts in a week. And somewhere on a checklist you know exists but can't find right now, there are three government offices you need to visit within 30 days. This is normal. Every international student goes through exactly this. The students who settle in fastest are the ones who know what's coming.
Don't wait until you arrive to figure out accommodation. Your rental contract or dorm confirmation is one of the documents you need for your residence permit application. If you don't have an address on arrival, the clock still starts ticking on your 30-day window. Book accommodation before you travel.
Know who your contact is at the university. Most Romanian universities have an International Students Office (or similar — some call it the Department for Foreign Students). Get their email, phone number, and office hours before you land. They process your enrollment, issue your enrollment confirmation letter, and often have a relationship with the local IGI office. They are the most useful people you will meet in the first week.
Plan your SIM card. Romanian airport arrivals halls have carriers operating kiosks. Don't buy at the airport — prices are higher. Wait until you reach a city center. But do have a plan for data on arrival day, because you'll need it for maps and communication.
Your first week runs on paperwork. Embrace it. The faster you clear this phase, the faster you can focus on everything else.
Enroll at your university. The enrollment window for the October academic year opening is typically the first 1-2 weeks of October. Bring your acceptance letter, your passport, your visa, and any documents the university requested. You will receive your student card (legitimație de student) and your enrollment confirmation letter. Keep multiple copies of the confirmation letter — you need it for IGI, for your bank, and for housing.
Register with the Immigration Inspectorate (IGI). You have 30 days from your date of arrival to submit your residence permit application. Start this process in week 1, not week 4. The IGI offices in major university cities are busy in September and October. Go early in the day. Bring all your documents. Our residence permit guide covers the full document list.
Open a Romanian bank account. You need one. Your university may pay any scholarship or stipend into a Romanian account. Landlords often prefer Romanian transfers. And having a local account saves you significant currency conversion fees over the course of a year. ING, BRD, and BCR all offer student accounts. ING is popular among international students for its English-language app and low fees. Bring your passport and your IGI receipt (proof of pending residence permit) — most banks accept this as proof of legal status while you wait for your permit card.
Get a local SIM card. Orange, Vodafone, and Digi are the main carriers. Digi is the cheapest — their monthly plans start around RON 10-15 (€2-3) for several GB of data. Orange and Vodafone offer better coverage in rural areas if you plan to travel. For city-based students, Digi delivers excellent value. You buy a SIM at any carrier shop or supermarket. Bring your passport.
With the urgent admin handled, week 2 shifts to practical orientation. This is when the city stops feeling foreign and starts feeling like a place you live.
Learn the public transport system. Romanian cities have trams, buses, and in some cities metro (Bucharest) and trolleybuses. Cluj, Iași, Timișoara, and Craiova all have functional public networks. Buy a transit card (usually a rechargeable card sold at transport kiosks or online) rather than single-journey tickets. Monthly transit passes cost RON 50-80 (€10-16) and cover unlimited travel.
Find your nearest supermarket, pharmacy, and doctor. Kaufland, Lidl, Carrefour, and Penny are the main supermarket chains. Pharmacies (farmacie) are everywhere in Romanian city centers and are usually open until 8pm. For healthcare, you register with a family doctor (medic de familie) in your local area. University polyclinics also exist and serve students directly — ask your international office for the nearest one.
Learn five Romanian phrases. Romanians respond warmly when foreigners attempt their language. "Bună ziua" (good day), "Mulțumesc" (thank you), "Vă rog" (please), "Cât costă?" (how much?), and "Nu înțeleg" (I don't understand) cover most daily interactions. Apps like Duolingo have a Romanian course. Google Translate handles the rest.
Connect with international student organizations. Most Romanian universities host an ESN chapter — Erasmus Student Network. Even if you're not on an Erasmus exchange, ESN events are open to all international students and provide the fastest route to a social circle. Look for their Facebook group or Instagram for your city. Events are cheap and frequent.
"My first week I felt completely overwhelmed. The bureaucracy, the language, not knowing anyone. But by week three I had my bank account, my IGI receipt, a WhatsApp group with people from six countries, and I knew which bakery near my dorm opened at 7am. It moves fast once you start."
— Amara K., first-year medicine student, Cluj-Napoca, 2025
Bureaucracy moves slowly. This is not a complaint — it is a fact to plan around. Government offices have specific hours, lunch breaks, and queuing systems. Don't arrive expecting a 10-minute transaction. Bring a book. Bring all your documents even if you think you don't need them. Be polite; staff are overworked and respond much better to patience than frustration.
Cash is still used widely in Romania. Many small shops, markets, transport top-up kiosks, and older restaurants operate cash-only or prefer it. Carry RON 100-200 in cash at all times for the first few weeks. ATMs are plentiful.
Sunday opening hours are limited. Most large supermarkets open shorter hours on Sundays. Many smaller shops and services close entirely. Plan your weekend shopping accordingly.
Heating in private apartments can be inconsistent. Romania has a district heating system (termoficare) in most cities, but it turns on centrally — usually in mid-October — and sometimes runs unreliably. If your apartment has its own boiler, check that it works before winter. Temperatures drop fast in November.
Romania is genuinely affordable by European standards. A full restaurant meal — not fast food, an actual sit-down meal with a main course and drink — costs €5-12 in most student areas. A coffee is €1.50-2.50. Groceries are cheap, especially fresh produce and bread.
Budget €150-250/month for food if you cook most meals at home. If you eat out regularly, budget €250-350. Our cost of living guide breaks down monthly budgets by city in more detail.
Romanian students are generally open and curious about international students. The university bar, student clubs, and weekend markets provide natural social environments. It takes a few weeks to break into existing friendship groups, but international student networks accelerate this significantly. Don't isolate — put in the effort to attend events in the first two weeks, even if you feel tired.
Register with a family doctor in your first month. Don't wait until you need one. The process involves visiting a local clinic (cabinet medical), presenting your passport and residence permit (or IGI receipt), and being added to their patient list. Many clinics near universities have experience with international students and English-speaking staff.
Emergency care in Romania is free for all, regardless of insurance status. For non-emergency care, your medical insurance — which you submitted to IGI — covers you. Keep a digital copy of your insurance card accessible at all times.
For housing questions and what to expect from your accommodation, read our student housing guide. To understand which city to choose, see our city comparison guide. If you still have questions about immigration timing, see our residence permit walkthrough. To talk to an advisor directly, reach out here.
Useful external resources: ESN Romania for student events, Romania Insider for English-language news and expat guidance, and IGI for official immigration information.
Four things matter most in week one: enroll at your university (get your enrollment confirmation letter), start your residence permit application at IGI (you have 30 days from arrival), open a Romanian bank account, and get a local SIM card. Everything else — social life, transport, finding your routine — comes after the official tasks are handled.
Visit any branch of ING, BRD, or BCR with your passport and your IGI application receipt (proof of pending residence permit). ING is especially popular with international students for its app and English support. The process takes 30-60 minutes. You receive your card by post within 5-7 business days. Some banks also allow basic online account setup.
Yes. Valid health insurance covering your stay in Romania is a required document for your residence permit application. Your university's international office can point you toward group insurance schemes available to students. Keep your insurance card accessible — you need it when visiting doctors or pharmacies for non-emergency care.
It takes a few weeks but it happens. The fastest route is through ESN (Erasmus Student Network) events, which are open to all international students regardless of program type. Your university likely has an international students WhatsApp group — ask the international office to add you. Romanian students are curious and friendly toward foreigners, especially in university cities with established international populations.
Digi is the cheapest option and works well in cities. Their prepaid plans offer several GB of data from around RON 10-15/month. Orange and Vodafone cost more but have better coverage outside major cities. Buy at any carrier store or electronics shop in the city center — avoid airport kiosks which charge more. You need your passport to register a SIM.
Visit the IGI (Inspectoratul General pentru Imigrări) office in your city within 30 days of arrival. Bring your passport, student visa, university enrollment confirmation, proof of accommodation, medical insurance, bank statement, two photos, and the completed application form. Pay the fee (approximately RON 258 in 2025) at the cashier. You receive a receipt and collect your residence permit card when notified — usually after 30-45 days.
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