Property · A practical guide
Buying property in Bucharest: a guide for international buyers
From apartments in restored interwar villas to new flats in the north, Bucharest attracts many international buyers. Here is how the process works.
Updated October 2026
Who can buy
Citizens of EU and EEA countries can buy residential property and land in Romania on largely the same terms as Romanians. Buyers from outside the EU can generally buy apartments and buildings, but owning land in their own name is restricted, so many work with a lawyer on the right structure. Agricultural land is subject to separate rules.
The buying process
In Romania, a property sale must be authenticated by a public notary, who checks the documents and the land book, and the purchase is then registered in the cartea funciară. Use your own independent lawyer as well, especially if you do not speak Romanian.
- Instruct an independent lawyer
- Obtain a Romanian tax identification number
- Check the land book extract for ownership, mortgages and restrictions
- Sign a preliminary agreement and pay the deposit
- Sign the final contract before a public notary
- The purchase is registered in the land book (cartea funciară)
Taxes and costs
Buyers usually pay the notary’s fees and the land book registration fee, while the seller pays tax on the sale. New homes bought from a developer may carry VAT. Budget also for your lawyer, translations and any agency fee, and confirm every cost in writing before you commit.
Choosing an estate agent
Ask any estate agent about their experience with international buyers and for a written agreement setting out their fee and services. The agent often works for the seller, so rely on your own lawyer and the notary for the legal checks.
Where people buy
International buyers often look at the elegant districts of Dorobanți, Primăverii and Cotroceni, the centre around Calea Victoriei and the Old Town, and the new developments in the north around Floreasca and Pipera.
Dorobanți & Primăverii Floreasca & the north
Questions and answers
Can foreigners buy property in Bucharest?
Yes. EU citizens can buy on largely the same terms as Romanians. Buyers from outside the EU can generally buy apartments and buildings, but owning land in their own name is restricted.
Do I need a notary to buy property in Romania?
Yes. The sale must be authenticated by a public notary, and the purchase is then registered in the land book (cartea funciară).
Do I need a Romanian tax number?
Yes. You will need a Romanian tax identification number to complete a purchase.
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This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change, so consult an independent lawyer before you buy.