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Practising law in Romania as a foreign lawyer

A route exists, with conditionsYou can advise on your home-country law

A member of a foreign bar may practise in Romania, but must register with a Romanian bar. To advise on Romanian law, the foreign lawyer has to pass a test of Romanian law and language run by the national bar union (UNBR). Foreign lawyers cannot plead in Romanian courts, except in international arbitration.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

Rules change. This page describes the kinds of route that exist. The regulator listed under “Official sources” publishes the current requirements, fees and dates, so always confirm with them. This is general information, not legal advice.

The routes

Practising as a foreign lawyer

For: Members of a foreign bar.

  1. Register on the special table kept by the Romanian bar where you will work.
  2. To advise on Romanian law, pass the UNBR exam on Romanian law and the Romanian language.
  3. Follow the Romanian professional rules. Fees earned in Romania must be registered and paid in Romania.

Foreign lawyers cannot submit oral or written pleadings before Romanian courts, except in international arbitration. We could not find the current UNBR procedure for lawyers from outside the EU.

Becoming a Romanian lawyer

For: Law graduates who want to join the Romanian bar.

  1. Pass the admission exam run by UNBR through the National Institute for the Training and Improvement of Lawyers (INPPA) and become a trainee lawyer (avocat stagiar).
  2. Complete the supervised traineeship (about two years) and a final exam to become a fully qualified lawyer.

How a foreign law degree is assessed for this route is handled through the national diploma recognition centre. We could not confirm the details.

Practising only your home-country law

Foreign lawyers may practise within the limits of the law, and cannot plead in court. Check the current UNBR rules for lawyers from outside the EU.

Understand the legal system first

Romania belongs to the Civil law family. Knowing how its system works makes the admission route easier to follow.

Read the Romania legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
Compare Romania with another country →

Official sources

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TheLawToKnow Tools’s Bar Admission guide is an educational overview of general rules. It is not legal advice, and it does not replace the regulator’s own information. Report a mistake.