Importing into Romania means importing into the European Union. Once goods are cleared in Constanța, or at any other Romanian border point, they are in free circulation across the EU single market. The procedure follows the EU customs rules plus a few Romanian digital obligations. Here is the sequence we follow for every shipment.

1. Before the goods are shipped

  • EORI number. Every business that lodges customs declarations in the EU needs an EORI number.
  • HS / CN classification. The tariff code sets the duty rate, any anti-dumping duty, quotas, licences and other import requirements. Check it in the EU TARIC database before you sign the purchase contract.
  • Product compliance. CE marking where it applies, technical documentation, Romanian-language labelling and a GPSR responsible person for consumer products.
  • Incoterms® rule. The rule decides who books and pays for the main carriage and where the risk passes. For imports, FCA or FOB give the buyer control of freight, while CIF and DAP put it on the seller.

2. Choosing air, road or sea

  • Sea freight (FCL or LCL) is the standard choice for volume from Asia, the Middle East and the Americas. China to Constanța usually takes about four to six weeks port to port.
  • Air freight takes a few days and suits samples, urgent parts and high-value, low-weight goods.
  • Road transport covers Europe, Turkey and the UK, from full truckloads down to groupage.
  • Rail on the China–Europe and Middle Corridor routes sits between sea and air on both time and cost.

3. Documents

  • commercial invoice and packing list (consistent with each other and with the contract);
  • transport document: bill of lading, air waybill or CMR;
  • proof of origin, such as a certificate of origin or a preferential origin statement (EUR.1 or a REX statement), where it lowers the duty;
  • licences, health or phytosanitary certificates where the product requires them;
  • insurance certificate, where the Incoterms rule makes the seller insure.

4. Customs clearance and taxes

The import declaration is lodged by the importer or by a customs representative acting in direct or indirect representation. What you pay:

  • Customs duty at the TARIC rate, calculated on the customs value. This is normally the transaction value plus transport and insurance up to the EU border, so roughly the CIF value.
  • Import VAT on the customs value plus duty. The standard rate in Romania has been 21% since 1 August 2025, with an 11% reduced rate for certain goods.
  • Excise duty for excise products, and anti-dumping or countervailing duties where TARIC lists them.

Customs may run documentary or physical checks. Clean, consistent documents are the best way to avoid delays and storage or demurrage charges at the terminal.

5. Romanian obligations after clearance

  • RO e-Transport. International road transport of goods, including imports, must be declared in the RO e-Transport system. For imports, the obligation falls on the consignee named in the customs declaration, who obtains a UIT code for the transport.
  • RO e-Factura for invoices when the goods are resold in Romania.
  • Producer responsibility registration for packaging, electrical equipment and batteries, where it applies.

6. Landed-cost checklist

Use this to compare offers on the same basis: purchase price, freight, insurance, origin and destination terminal handling, customs representative fee, duty, import VAT (a cash-flow item that VAT-registered importers can usually deduct), inland transport, storage and the risk of demurrage. We put all of these in our quotes, so you can see the cost of the goods on the shelf, not just the freight rate.

Need help with this?

Tell us the product and the route. We reply within one business day.

REQUEST A QUOTE

Sources

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change. Check the official sources or ask us about your specific case.