Regional Factbooks

Business Customs

Special customs do not figure significantly in business dealings in Romania; Western business standards apply.

Romanians have genuine regard and admiration for Americans. The quality of U.S. products and services, the efficiency of American management practices, and the reliability of U.S. business partners are widely recognized.

Romanian nationals are friendly, industrious people, and foreigners are usually made very welcome. Shaking hands is the normal form of greeting, and normal courtesies are observed when visiting people's homes. It is important to take business cards to meetings and to give a card to each person present.

Flowers are very popular in Romanian culture, and are given for almost every occasion, including name day celebrations, weddings, and visits to Romanian homes. Casual wear is the most suitable form of dress for most social occasions, but attire should be more formal when specified for entertaining in the evening or in a restaurant or theater. The Romanians use the formal addresses of "Domnul" (sir) and "Doamna" (madam) when addressing one another, although first names are used among younger people and in business with English-speaking partners. When dining, it is usual to say "pofta buna" (bon appetit) before eating, and "noroc" (cheers) before drinking.

Visa Requirements

American citizens (whether tourists or business people) do not need Romanian visas for visits of up to 30 days. Visas for longer stays are available from Romanian diplomatic and consular offices. To exit Romania without problem, the visa must be still valid, and the traveler must have his "exit form" (talon de iesire), which was filled out when entering the country.

If a Romanian visa expires while the traveler is in Romania or if the traveler's visit extends to more than one month, the visa can be extended/obtained at the police headquarters in any larger city (the fee is $31). Travelers losing their "exit forms" must contact the Romanian passport office. Americans who lose their passports have to contact the U.S. Consulate in Bucharest and request a temporary one. Issuance of this passport may take more than one day.

Travel Information

Romania is a relatively safe country for foreigners. Although on the rise, the crime rate is not so high as in other parts of CEENIS. However, pick-pocketing is a problem, as are some money exchanging schemes, which have become increasingly common. Some of the scams are rather sophisticated, involving individuals posing as policemen. U.S. travelers who have questions about crime in Romania may contact the U.S. Embassy's Regional Security Officer (RSO), phone (40-1) 210-4042, ext. 250.

Although major hotels accept both credit cards and travelers checks, it is advisable that travelers bring along enough cash for their stay. Romanian law allows foreigners to bring up to $10,000 in cash into Romania, but requires them to declare any amount above $1,000 as well as any checks they might have upon entry. No amount in excess of that declared upon entry may be taken out of Romania upon departure. Sums larger than $10,000 must be transferred through banks. No more than 500,000 Romanian lei, local currency, may be brought into or taken out of the country. Romanian 100,000-lei bills may not be taken out of the country. There is no requirement to change any specific amount of money per day while in Romania.

Travelers are strongly urged to exchange money only at banks or at official exchange bureaus, including the many private ones, which often offer the best rates.

General and country-specific travel information can be found on the U.S. Department of State's web site http://travel.state.gov/

Holidays

- January 1-2 (New Year's Day)
- (Orthodox Easter Monday)
- May 1 (Labor Day)
- December 1 (Romanian National Day)
- December 25-26 (Christmas Day)

Business Infrastructure

Language: The official language of Romania is Romanian. This language, which uses the Latin alphabet and is a Romance language, evolved from the Latin used in the Roman colony of Dacia. English, French and German are also widely spoken.

Air and Ground Transportation: Tarom, the Romanian national airline, serves major points in Romania, Europe, Asia, and North America. International carriers currently serving Romania include Aeroflot (Russia), Air France, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, Balkanair (Bulgaria), British World Airways, CSA (Czech Republic and Slovak Republic), El Al (Israel), KLM (The Netherlands), LOT (Poland), Lufthansa (Germany), Malev (Hungary), SAS (Sweden), Swissair, and Turkish Airlines.

All major cities of Romania have airline service nearby and are connected to the Bucharest hub. Bucharest-Otopeni, Bucharest-Baneasa, Timisoara, Constanta-Kogalniceanu, Cluj-Napoca, Sibiu, and Targu Mures airports are also ports of entry.

In Bucharest, such hotels as Sofitel and Inter-Continental provide scheduled shuttle bus service to and from the Otopeni airport, as well as rent-a-car service. Pick-up for the Hilton Hotel can be provided by the Sky Services company at the Otopeni airport. In addition, taxis are readily available at Otopeni airport at approximately $20. Price should be agreed upon prior to hiring a taxi. Immediately upon leaving the arrival hall (after clearing customs) there are a plethora of bootleg taxi operators. These should be avoided. Regularly marked taxis are available outside the terminal.

Romania is well served by an international and domestic rail system. The daily Wiener-Waltzer Express from Vienna takes roughly 20 hours to reach Bucharest. The current domestic highway network is extensive, but the road quality is poor. Intercity roads are currently being upgraded. Driving to Bucharest in December-February is not advisable because mountain passes can be hazardous. Driving after dark at any time of year also is not recommended because of pedestrians, animals, or slow-moving vehicles often encountered on the roadway; otherwise, the main roads are reasonably safe.

Telecommunications :Local telephone service is automatic and fairly dependable. International telephone and telegraph connections are generally good, but delays may occur in placing calls, and they are quite expensive, with price per minute rising with the length of the call. Romania is seven time zones ahead of U.S.-Eastern standard time.

Housing: Romania offers a wide variety of hotels and long-term living accommodations that can be reserved through international travel agents or by direct contact. Payment for accommodation, meals, and other services can be in lei, convertible currency, traveler's checks, or by major credit cards. U.S. dollars in cash are easily exchanged and very widely accepted as a payment medium. It is advisable to reserve hotel accommodations before arriving in Romania, especially during peak periods.

Office rentals in Bucharest are available at the World Trade Center (Sofitel Hotel), Financial Plaza (Calea Victoriei 15), Union Business Center (Union Hotel), Rokura Business Center (Dorobanti Hotel), and Modern Business Center (Modern Hotel). Office space is also available from the many real estate agencies active in all major cities.

Health: Due to lack of modern equipment, medical care in Romania is often below Western standards. Hotels sometimes have doctors on call, and more private clinics are opening each year. In case of an emergency, travelers should go to an Emergency Hospital (Spital de urgenta). Address in Bucharest: Calea Floreasca 8 (tel. 212-2468).

Getting Dollars in Romania: The best way to get dollars in Romania is to bring them with you. Traveler's checks will be accepted for payment of hotel, airline, car rental and railroad bills. Traveler's checks can be cashed for dollars for a fee at major commercial banks.

To transfer funds to and from Romania, travelers can use the MoneyGram service offered by the Romanian Commercial Bank and the Ion Tiriac Bank or the Western Union service offered through Banca Romaneasca and the Romanian Development Bank.

Temporary entry of goods

Articles exempted from duty include: Personal effects and medicine required, in rational amounts, for the duration of the trip, personal jewelry, personal laptops, books, publications and recordings of all types, slides and other similar items for personal use, articles received as prizes or distinctions at official events, alcoholic beverages (2 liters of liquor, 4 liters wine, 4 liters beer), cigarettes (200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 250 gr. tobacco) for use of individuals over 16 years of age, other articles of all kinds with an aggregate value of 100 Euros.

In addition to the above-listed items, travelers may bring into Romania, with payment of duty, goods in accompanied or non-accompanied luggage with an aggregate value of 1,200 Euros.
Source: US Dept. of Commerce

Demographics & Economic Situation

Source: Factbook.net