Bucharest is affordable by EU standards, card-friendly and quick to get around by metro, but the paperwork is real: a D/SD study visa booked through the eVisa portal before you fly, then a residence permit from the Immigration Inspectorate (IGI) at least 30 days before the visa’s 90 days run out. Prices are in lei, not euros, taxis are best booked by app, and buses take a tap of your bank card but the metro does not.
Money
Romanian leu (RON; plural lei)
Language
Romanian
Time
UTC+2; UTC+3 from the last Sunday of March to the last Sunday of October
Plugs
Type C and F; 230 V
Tipping
Around 10% in restaurants; rounding up for taxis and cafés
112 is the one number for police, ambulance and fire, free from any phone. Operators each speak at least one foreign language, English and Russian among them.
Set these up before you fly
The essentials that take days to arrange or have to work the moment you land.
National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA)
Bucharest
2 places
The application form and learning agreement for the spring semester are due by 30 November; SNSPA has no housing page of its own and points students to ESN ASE for help finding a room.
Places, programmes and the minimum cGPA are from ADA’s list. Confirm them with the Office of Global Outreach and Partners before you apply: exchange@ada.edu.az
Payments & banking3
Cards and phones pay almost everywhere in Bucharest; prices are in lei, so always choose to be charged in lei, and keep a little cash for markets and kiosks.
YH
Your home card, paying in leiEssential
Card payments and cash in Romanian lei from day one
Before departure
Why you need it: Until you have a Romanian account, a Visa or Mastercard from home pays for the metro, taxis and food; how you handle the conversion decides how much it costs.
Ask your bank in Baku to enable the card for use abroad and online
Check the day’s leu rate on the National Bank of Romania site
When a terminal or cash machine offers to charge you in manats, dollars or euros, choose lei
Take cash from a bank’s own machine rather than an independent one
Before you rely on itPaying in your home currency at the terminal (dynamic currency conversion) adds a poor exchange rate on top of your bank’s fees. Prices are in lei (RON), not euros, even though Romania is in the EU.
Source: bnr.ro · the provider or a government body · Not yet confirmed at the source; check before relying on it
BT
Banca Transilvania
Romanian bank account in lei with the BT Pay app
Optional
Why you need it: A local account makes rent, the IGI fees and splitting bills cheaper, and BT opens accounts for foreign students with a passport and proof of study.
Cost variesVaries by residence statusVaries by nationality
Get a student certificate (adeverință) from the host university
Go to a branch with your passport, the certificate and proof of address
Bring a tax identification number from home; ask the branch first what it accepts for your country
Install BT Pay to use the card on your phone
Before you rely on itBT asks for a document proving your address not older than three months (a bank statement or a utility bill) and a tax identification number from your country of residence; requirements can change at the branch, so bring more than you think. Not worth it for some students staying one semester.
App account with a card, widely used by students in Romania
Optional
Why you need it: Romanian students split bills and pay each other by Revolut, and once you live in Romania it can give you an account and card faster than a bank branch.
Free, paid extrasVaries by nationalityVaries by residence status
Wait until you have a Romanian address and your visa or permit
Sign up in the app with your passport and a selfie
Upload proof of your right to reside if asked
Before you rely on itFor citizens of Azerbaijan: Revolut opens accounts only for residents of supported countries, so sign up once you live in Romania; approval is not guaranteed. Bring a Visa or Mastercard from home as well.
Source: revolut.com · the provider or a government body · Not yet confirmed at the source; check before relying on it
Essential apps5
Bucharest runs on Bolt for rides and on three delivery apps; most work in English with a foreign card.
Bo
BoltEssential
Ride-hailing, scooters and food delivery in Bucharest
Before departure
Why you need it: Booking a car in the app gives you the price up front, which is the easy way from the airport or home late at night, and the same account orders food and groceries.
Install Bolt in Baku and verify your Azerbaijani number before you fly
Add a Visa or Mastercard
At the airport, order from the app rather than accepting a ride from someone in the arrivals hall
Before you rely on itIn Bucharest Bolt runs rides, scooters, Bolt Food and Bolt Market; Uber also works in the city and is worth comparing at busy times. Switch the account to your Romanian number once you have one, so drivers can call you.
Source: bolt.eu · the provider or a government body · Checked
Gl
Glovo
Delivery of food, groceries and pharmacy items
Optional
Why you need it: In the first days, before you know the shops near you, Glovo delivers groceries and household basics to a new flat in under an hour.
Before you rely on itRestaurants and fees differ between Wolt, Glovo and Bolt Food; it is worth checking all three for your area.
Source: wolt.com · the provider or a government body · Checked
MA
eMAG
Romania’s largest online shop, with parcel locker pickup
Optional
Why you need it: Bedding, a kettle, an adaptor or a desk lamp for a bare student room arrive in a day or two, and you can collect from an easybox locker instead of waiting in.
Before you rely on itThe site is in Romanian; product pages translate well in the browser. Check whether the seller is eMAG itself or a marketplace seller, as returns differ.
Source: play.google.com · the provider or a government body · Not yet confirmed at the source; check before relying on it
24
24pay
Buy Bucharest transport tickets and pay parking by phone
Optional
Why you need it: It sells STB tickets and passes before you board, which helps if your card is not contactless or you want a pass without queuing.
Before you rely on itBuy the ticket before you board; inspectors fine passengers who buy once they see them.
Source: stb.ro · the provider or a government body · Checked
Transport3
Tap a bank card on buses and trams from day one; the metro is ticketed separately and is the fastest way across the city.
ST
STBEssential
Bucharest buses, trams and trolleybuses
On arrival
Why you need it: Buses and trams fill the gaps the metro leaves, and you can tap a contactless bank card on board from the day you land, with no commission.
Paid · 3 lei for 90 minutes; 30 lei for 7 days; 80 lei a month; STB plus metro 7 lei for 120 minutes or 160 lei a month (2026)Varies by cityVaries by residence status
Tap a contactless Visa or Mastercard (or phone) on the reader each time you board
For daily travel, buy an Activ card at an STB ticket office and load a monthly pass
Or buy tickets and passes in the 24pay, LETZ PAY or Bilet TB apps before you board
Before you rely on itTapping a card covers surface transport only, not the metro. Use the same card every time, as inspectors check the card you tapped. The free and reduced passes on STB’s fare page are for school pupils and set groups; ask your host university whether exchange students qualify for any student pass.
Source: stb.ro · the provider or a government body · Checked
Me
Metrorex
Bucharest metro: five lines across the city
On arrival
Why you need it: The metro is the fastest way across Bucharest at rush hour, when buses crawl in traffic.
Buy a metro card or ticket from the machines or desk at any station
Or buy the integrated STB plus metro pass if you use both daily
Ask at a station desk about the student pass, with your student card and passport
Before you rely on itThe metro is ticketed separately from STB; STB’s contactless tap does not work at metro gates. Metrorex sells monthly passes at 90% off to students under 30 enrolled in Romania; whether one-semester exchange students qualify depends on your student card, so ask the host. Check current metro fares at a station. The metro site did not load from outside Romania during research.
Source: stb.ro · the provider or a government body · Not yet confirmed at the source; check before relying on it
CC
CFR Călători
National trains, including Bucharest airport to Gara de Nord
Optional
Why you need it: Trains reach Brașov, Sinaia and the Carpathians in a few hours for weekend trips, and a train links Otopeni airport with Gara de Nord.
Buy tickets on bilete.cfrcalatori.ro or the CFR Călători app, or at the station
Choose second class on Regio and InterRegio trains for the cheapest fares
Keep the ticket and your passport ready for the conductor
Before you rely on itFor 2026–27 CFR gives Romanian and foreign students enrolled full-time at Romanian universities, under 30, 90% off second class, but only between the home locality on their ID and their university town, so it rarely helps an exchange student. The site did not load from outside Romania during research.
Source: digi24.ro · a secondary source · Not yet confirmed at the source; check before relying on it
SIM, eSIM & internet2
Prepaid SIMs and eSIMs are cheap with huge data allowances and no contract, which suits a single semester.
OP
Orange PrePayEssential
Prepaid SIM or eSIM with large data, no contract
On arrival
Why you need it: A Romanian number is what landlords, Bolt, delivery apps and the university will text you on, and a prepaid card suits a five-month stay with nothing to cancel.
Paid · Options from €3 for 150 GB over 28 days, or €5 for unlimited data over 30 days (2026)
Buy a PrePay SIM or eSIM at an Orange shop, bring your passport
Top up and activate the data option you want
Set the option to renew, or top up each month in the My Orange app
Before you rely on itPrices are set in euros and charged in lei. Credit and options expire if you do not top up; read the validity rules on Orange’s site. Vodafone and Digi sell similar prepaid cards; Digi is often cheapest but has fewer shops. Rules on registering prepaid SIMs have been debated in Romania; if a shop asks for ID, show your passport.
Source: orange.ro · the provider or a government body · Checked
Ed
eduroam
Campus wi-fi at Romanian universities
Before departure
Why you need it: Lectures and libraries are online without burning mobile data, if your host university offers eduroam.
Ask ADA IT whether your account works on eduroam abroad
Install the eduroam CAT profile for your institution before leaving
Otherwise ask the host university for its own wi-fi login when you enrol
Before you rely on itWhether SNSPA and RAU offer eduroam was not confirmed; ask their IT or international office.
Source: cat.eduroam.org · the provider or a government body · Not yet confirmed at the source; check before relying on it
Visa, registration & legal4
D/SD visa booked on the eVisa portal before you fly, then a residence permit from IGI in Bucharest at least 30 days before the visa expires.
LS
Long-stay visa for studies (D/SD)Essential
Entry visa for a study stay of more than 90 days
Before departure
Why you need it: A February–June semester is longer than 90 days, so you need the D/SD visa, booked through the eVisa portal and lodged at the Romanian Embassy in Baku.
Paid · €120 visa fee (2026)Varies by nationalityVaries by university
Ask the host university for the letter of acceptance for studies as soon as you are nominated
Fill in the application and book the appointment on evisa.mae.ro, the only way to get one
Lodge it at least 45 days before departure, as the ministry recommends, but not earlier than three months before the trip
Bring originals and copies: passport, two 3 × 4 cm photos, acceptance letter, means of support, criminal record, insurance, accommodation and proof of the language of your courses
Before you rely on itFor citizens of Azerbaijan: a D/SD visa is required, and Romania does not issue visas at the border. The legal decision time is 60 days, so do not leave it late. The general checklist names a Ministry of Education acceptance letter and a year’s tuition receipt, written for degree students; exchange students usually pay no tuition to the host, so ask SNSPA or RAU which documents they issue for you. Means of support are set at the Romanian minimum gross monthly salary for each month of the visa. The passport must be valid three months beyond the visa and issued within the last 10 years.
Source: uefiscdi.gov.ro · the provider or a government body · Checked
RP
Residence permit for studies (IGI)Essential
Extends your right to stay beyond the visa’s 90 days
On arrival
Why you need it: The D/SD visa only covers 90 days, so to stay until June you must ask the Immigration Inspectorate in Bucharest for a residence permit while the visa is still running.
Paid · €120 fee (paid in lei) plus 265 lei for the card (IGI fee sheet, 2025)Varies by universityVaries by residence status
Book an appointment with the Bucharest Immigration Directorate in your first weeks (online through the IGI portal or as the directorate instructs)
Get an enrolment certificate from your host university and proof of your Bucharest address
Bring your passport, the application form, proof of means of support, a medical certificate and the fee receipts
Collect the residence permit card when told; carry it with your passport
Before you rely on itApply at least 30 days before the right of stay granted by the visa ends: count back from the end date printed on the visa sticker, not from the day you land. The government’s Study in Romania visa guide says to go within the first 30 days after entry, which is the safe reading. IGI decides within 30 days, extendable by 15. Means of support are the Romanian minimum gross salary a month, for at least six months on IGI’s page; ask the host how this applies to a shorter stay. The €120 fee is paid in lei at the Treasury or CEC Bank, or by transfer from a Romanian account; the 265 lei card fee at a CEC Bank branch or SelfPay machine. The card carries a 13-digit personal numerical code (CNP), which banks, mobile operators and doctors may ask for.
Source: igi.mai.gov.ro · the provider or a government body · Checked
CR
Criminal record certificate
Certificate of no convictions for the D/SD visa file
Before departure
Why you need it: The Romanian study visa asks for a criminal record certificate, and getting it translated or legalised can take days, so order it as soon as you are nominated.
For citizens of Azerbaijan: request the certificate from the Ministry of Internal Affairs on e-xidmet.mia.gov.az, in the E-Polis app or at an ASAN xidmət centre
Ask the Romanian Embassy whether it needs an apostille and a translation, and into which language
Bring the original and a copy to the visa appointment
Before you rely on itFor citizens of Azerbaijan: the certificate itself is free and ASAN xidmət issues it on the spot, or within one working day if extra checks are needed; any apostille and translation cost extra. Whether the embassy accepts the electronic version as it is, it decides. Not from Azerbaijan? Get the equivalent from your country of citizenship or residence.
Source: asan.gov.az · the provider or a government body · Checked
TM
Travel medical insuranceEssential
Health cover of at least €30,000 for the visa and the stay
Before departure
Why you need it: The visa application needs a policy covering the whole requested stay, and without one a doctor’s visit is paid in full. IGI’s own list for the permit asks for a medical certificate rather than insurance, but keep the policy with your papers in case the officer asks.
PaidVaries by nationalityVaries by residence status
Buy a policy valid in Romania for the whole semester, with at least €30,000 cover
Check it covers hospital, emergency care and repatriation
Carry the policy number and an English copy
Before you rely on itJoining the Romanian public health insurance system (CNAS) is possible for some foreign students but rules depend on age and status; for one semester a private policy is the usual route. Ask the host university what IGI accepts.
Source: uefiscdi.gov.ro · the provider or a government body · Checked
Housing & daily life3
Both partner universities have dorms; ask for a place when you are nominated, before turning to private listings.
SB
SNSPA Băneasa dormitories
University rooms for SNSPA students in Băneasa, Bucharest
Before departure
Why you need it: SNSPA gives foreign students priority for its two dorms, which settles housing, internet and the address you need for IGI before you fly.
Ask the European Programs Office (erasmus@snspa.ro) for a dorm place when you are nominated
Follow the accommodation instructions in your acceptance letter
Contact the Social Services office (social@snspa.ro) for prices and move-in dates
Before you rely on itAll rooms are shared by four students. B2 has en-suite bathrooms, B1 has shared facilities, and both have kitchenettes on each floor. The dorms are at Strada Biharia 12, in Sector 1 north of the centre; the price was not published on the page, so ask before you commit.
Source: snspa.ro · the provider or a government body · Checked
RD
RAU dormitory
En-suite rooms in a building joined to the RAU campus
Before departure
Why you need it: The Romanian-American University’s dorm is connected to the university building and takes exchange students, which spares you the private rental market for one semester.
Paid · €300 single, €160 double, €120 triple per person a month; €300 refundable deposit; €20 setup fee (2026/27)Varies by university
Fill in the accommodation request form with your incoming application (incoming@rau.ro)
Pay the fees once you receive the platform access details
Ask the dorm for the signed accommodation confirmation for your visa file
Tell the dorm your arrival date so it can prepare the papers for your residence permit
Before you rely on itGas, water and electricity are billed separately by consumption, and rooms on floors 2–4 with air conditioning cost €30 a month more, shared among occupants. Every room has its own bathroom.
Source: rau.ro · the provider or a government body · Checked
SA
Storia and imobiliare.ro
Listings for private rooms and flats in Bucharest
Before departure
Why you need it: If the dorm is full or you want a room of your own, these are the main Romanian listing sites, and many landlords rent to students for a semester.
Search near a metro line that reaches your university
See the flat in person or by live video before paying anything
Ask for a written contract (contract de închiriere) in your name; IGI asks for proof of your address
Before you rely on itNever send a deposit for a flat you have not seen; fake listings target foreigners. Many listings are by agencies that charge a commission, often a share of a month’s rent; ask before viewing. IGI asks for proof of legal housing, so a room with no written contract can stall your permit.
Source: igi.mai.gov.ro · the provider or a government body · Not yet confirmed at the source; check before relying on it
Student life3
Deadlines for spring applications fall this autumn, earlier for non-EU students, and the host’s office is your link to IGI and the dorm.
RI
RAU incoming students
Application, deadlines and support at the Romanian-American University
Before departure
Why you need it: RAU’s spring deadlines for non-EU students come earlier than for EU students, and they fall this autumn, so check them the day ADA nominates you.
Make sure ADA nominates you by 15 October 2026 (non-EU deadline for spring)
Submit the online application by 1 November 2026: CV, learning agreement, insurance, passport, English B1 proof
As a non-EU student, add the medical certificate and transcript translations it asks for
Ask for the dorm and the documents your visa file needs
Before you rely on itRAU says all students must apply for a residence permit within two months of arrival; IGI’s own deadline is at least 30 days before the visa’s right of stay ends, so go early. RAU offers an ESN buddy and Romanian language and culture classes.
Source: rau.ro · the provider or a government body · Checked
SE
SNSPA European Programs Office
Applications, buddy and support for exchange students at SNSPA
Before departure
Why you need it: The office handles your acceptance letter, which carries the accommodation details, and assigns an Erasmus buddy who helps in the first week.
Send the spring application by 30 November 2026, after ADA’s nomination
Ask erasmus@snspa.ro which documents it issues for the D/SD visa
Ask for an Erasmus buddy before you arrive
Before you rely on itSNSPA tells non-EU students to get the student visa at a Romanian consulate before leaving; it does not describe visa help, so start early.
Source: erasmus.snspa.ro · the provider or a government body · Checked
Use the section finder on esn.ro to find the Bucharest sections
Ask your host’s international office which section works with it
Buy the ESNcard from the section for partner discounts
Before you rely on itBucharest’s sections are tied to other universities (ASE, University of Bucharest, Politehnica); ask whether their events are open to SNSPA and RAU students. The ESNcard price is set by each section.
Source: esn.ro · the provider or a government body · Checked
Communication & language3
Students and younger Bucharest residents often speak English; IGI, landlords and older staff mostly work in Romanian.
WA
WhatsAppEssential
The messaging app most people in Romania use
Before departure
Why you need it: Landlords, classmates, buddies and dorm administrators message on WhatsApp; Telegram is less common.
Before you rely on itMonolingual Romanian: most useful once you know a little. Romanian is a Latin language, so words from French, Italian or Spanish often help.
Source: dexonline.ro · the provider or a government body · Checked
Words for the first week
Bună ziuaBOO-nuh ZEE-wa
Good day; the polite hello in shops and offices
Mulțumescmool-tsoo-MESK
Thank you
Vă rogvuh rog
Please (polite)
Vorbiți engleză?vor-BEETS en-GLE-zuh
Do you speak English?
Sunt student străin, la un program de schimb
I am a foreign student on an exchange programme (a woman says studentă străină)
Am programare pentru permisul de ședere
I have an appointment for my residence permit
Pot plăti cu cardul?pot pluh-TEE koo KAR-dool
Can I pay by card?
Nota, vă rog
The bill, please
Cât costă?kuht KOS-tuh
How much is it?
Ajutor! Chemați o ambulanțăa-zhoo-TOR KEH-mats o am-boo-LAN-tsuh
Help! Call an ambulance
Emergency & safety3
112 is the single number for police, ambulance and fire, with operators who speak English and Russian.
EO
Embassy of Azerbaijan in RomaniaEssential
Consular help for citizens of Azerbaijan, in Bucharest
Before departure
Why you need it: If your passport is lost or stolen, the embassy issues an emergency travel document (qayıdış şəhadətnaməsi) to get you home.
Save +40 21 233 24 66 and secretariat@azembassy.ro
Note the address: Strada Grigore Gafencu 10, Sector 1, Bucharest
Keep a scan of your passport, visa and permit in your email
Before you rely on itNot from Azerbaijan? Your own embassy’s page is the one to save. The contacts page lists no separate consular line or hours; call ahead before visiting.
Before you rely on itMade by the Special Telecommunications Service (STS), which runs 112. STS has said the app works in Romanian, English, French, German, Hungarian and Ukrainian; search the App Store for Apel 112 on an iPhone. Just dialling 112 works too, and operators who speak foreign languages, English and Russian among them, can take the call.
Source: play.google.com · the provider or a government body · Not yet confirmed at the source; check before relying on it
PR
Poliția Română
Romanian Police: reporting theft, scams and lost documents
Optional
Why you need it: A lost passport or stolen phone needs a police report for the embassy, IGI and insurance, and rental scams aimed at foreigners are reported here.
Before you rely on itFor a crime in progress call 112. To report a theft, go to the police station for the area where it happened; bring your passport and permit, and ask for a copy of the report.
Source: politiaromana.ro · the provider or a government body · Not yet confirmed at the source; check before relying on it
Culture & practical tips
Greetings, name days, Orthodox Easter and late dinners shape everyday life; learning them early smooths week one.
01Lei, not euros
Romania is in the EU but pays in lei. Rents and some prepaid SIM options are quoted in euros and charged in lei, so check which currency a price is in before you agree.
02Say Bună ziua when you walk in
Greeting staff in a shop, office or lift is normal and expected. Use the polite dumneavoastră form and titles (domnule, doamnă) with older people and officials.
03Tip about 10% in restaurants
Service is rarely included. Leave around 10% for good service, and say how much you want back as you pay, since saying mulțumesc while handing over money can be taken as keep the change.
04Easter matters more than Christmas
Romania follows the Orthodox calendar; in 2027 Orthodox Easter falls on 2 May, five weeks after Western Easter. Expect offices and universities to close around it and trains to fill up.
05Mărțișor on 1 March
On the first of March people give small red-and-white tokens, mostly to women, for the start of spring. A cheap one from a street stall for classmates is a welcome gesture.
06Take taxis by app only
Unlicensed drivers wait in the Otopeni arrivals hall and outside stations. Book Bolt or Uber, or use the official taxi screens at the airport, and agree nothing with someone who approaches you.
07Shoes off at the door
In most Romanian homes guests take their shoes off and are offered slippers. Bring a small gift such as sweets or flowers (an odd number; even numbers are for funerals) when invited.
08Stray dogs and traffic
Drivers do not always stop at zebra crossings, so make eye contact before you step out. Stray dogs are far fewer than they were but still appear on the city edges; walk past calmly.
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