Last reviewed: May 2026
TL;DR- Romanian Embassy is at Arundel House, 4 Palace Green, London, W8 4QD
- Consular phone line is +44 (0)20 7937 9666
- Short stay and long stay D-type visas for work, study and family are handled
- Appointments are booked through londra.mae.ro/en/node/346
- Long stay D visa decisions are issued by Bucharest and typically take 30 to 60 days
Address and Contact Details
The Embassy of Romania in London is located at Arundel House, 4 Palace Green, London, W8 4QD, in the Kensington Palace Gardens area. The consular section handles visa applications, civil status documents, passport renewals and notarial services for Romanian citizens in the United Kingdom.
The main consular phone line is +44 (0)20 7937 9666. The official website is londra.mae.ro, run by the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Email enquiries and form downloads are available through that domain.
Public hours for the consular section are split between application submission windows in the morning and document collection later in the day. Schedules shift around Romanian national days, Orthodox Easter and UK bank holidays, so check the embassy's news page before any trip to Kensington.
Visa Services Available
Since Romania joined the Schengen Area for air and sea travel in March 2024 and applied the full Schengen regime in 2025, the visa categories at the London embassy reflect that integration. Main visa types handled here include:
- Short Stay Visa (Schengen C): for tourism, business meetings, family visits and transit up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
- Long Stay Visa - Work (D/AM): for foreign nationals taking up employment in Romania.
- Long Stay Visa - Study (D/SD): for students enrolled at Romanian universities.
- Long Stay Visa - Family Reunion (D/VF): for spouses, dependent children and certain other relatives.
- Long Stay Visa - Other Purposes: including economic activity, religious activity and humanitarian categories.
UK passport holders do not need a visa for short tourist or business visits to Romania of up to 90 days. The embassy primarily serves third-country nationals resident in the UK who need to travel to Romania.
How to Book an Appointment
Visa appointments are booked through the official portal listed on londra.mae.ro/en/node/346. The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs operates a centralised eVisa system for application initiation, and the London embassy confirms the in-person interview slot.
Demand tends to peak before the academic year starts in September and around major Romanian employment intake periods. Slots typically open a few weeks ahead, and applicants can use the portal to view available times across the working week.
Each applicant needs their own account on the eVisa portal. Multiple family members can be registered under one household but each person needs an individual appointment booking and case file.
Documents and Requirements
Document requirements differ between short and long stay visas, but the core checklist tends to include:
- A valid passport with at least three months validity beyond the visa expiry and two blank pages.
- The online application form completed on the eVisa portal and printed for the appointment.
- One recent passport-style photo to ICAO standards.
- Proof of accommodation in Romania: hotel booking, rental contract, employer-provided housing or invitation letter from a Romanian host.
- Travel insurance covering the full Schengen area for short stay applications, with minimum cover of 30,000 euros.
- Evidence of sufficient funds: recent bank statements, pay slips or sponsorship documents.
- For work visas, the work permit issued by the Romanian General Inspectorate for Immigration.
- For study visas, the letter of acceptance from the Romanian Ministry of Education and proof of paid tuition.
- For family reunion, civil status documents legalised or apostilled as needed.
Romanian authorities scrutinise long stay applications closely and may ask for additional documents during processing. Originals and photocopies are usually required, with originals returned at decision collection.
Processing Times and Fees
Short stay Schengen visas processed at the London embassy generally take 15 calendar days, extended to 30 or 45 days in cases needing further checks. Long stay D visas are referred to the General Inspectorate for Immigration in Bucharest and typically take 30 to 60 days. Some categories, particularly work visas tied to pre-approved permits, can be issued more quickly.
Consular fees are set in euros by the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and are payable in pounds sterling at the current exchange rate. Short stay visa fees follow Schengen rules. Long stay visa fees vary by purpose. Payment is usually accepted by bank card.
Verify the exact fee in force at the time of application, as Schengen-wide fee adjustments and Bucharest-side changes are passed through to the consular tariff.
Featured Immigration Adviser - Paid Placement
This placement is reserved for a regulated immigration adviser specialising in Romania visas. OISC-registered firms only. Enquire about this slot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do British citizens need a visa to visit Romania?
British passport holders can travel to Romania for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. Longer stays for work, study or residence still need the appropriate national long stay visa applied for through the embassy.
Is the Romanian visa now part of the Schengen system?
Romania entered the Schengen Area in stages from 2024 onwards, with full integration covering air, sea and land borders. Short stay visas issued by Romania now follow Schengen rules and are valid across the entire Schengen zone.
Can I apply for a long stay visa online without visiting the embassy?
Long stay D visa applications start on the eVisa portal but require an in-person appointment at the embassy for biometric data capture, document verification and the consular interview where applicable.
How long is the long stay visa valid before I must enter Romania?
Long stay D visas are typically issued with a 90-day window for entry into Romania. Once in country, the applicant must apply to the General Inspectorate for Immigration for a residence permit before the visa expires.
Where do I legalise UK documents for use in Romania?
UK public documents intended for use in Romania need either an apostille from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office or full diplomatic legalisation depending on the issuing authority. The embassy's consular section can confirm what is needed for each document type.
How We Verified This
Embassy details were cross-checked against the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs site (mae.ro and londra.mae.ro), GOV.UK guidance on travel to Romania, and the European Commission's published Schengen accession notices. Fee references reflect publicly available consular tariff documents.
Sources
- Romanian Embassy London: londra.mae.ro
- Romanian eVisa portal: evisa.mae.ro
- GOV.UK Romania travel advice: gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/romania
