nonRomanians

Non-Romanians are a label used to describe people who are not ethnic Romanians or who do not hold Romanian citizenship. Depending on context, it may refer to foreign nationals living in Romania or to individuals belonging to ethnic minority groups within Romania.

Within Romania, several ethnic minority groups are officially recognized and receive certain cultural and educational rights under national law. The largest such communities historically include Hungarians, Roma, Ukrainians, Germans, Turks, Tatars, Russians, Serbs, Bulgarians, Poles, Greeks and others. These groups have organizations that advocate for minority rights, schools that provide instruction in minority languages, and representation in local or national minority councils where applicable.

Foreign nationals living in Romania are governed by immigration and residency rules. Citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland may reside and work with fewer restrictions, while non-EU nationals typically require visas and residence permits for longer stays. Romania also has asylum procedures for those seeking protection.

Because the term non-Romanians covers diverse populations with distinct languages, cultures and histories, some observers prefer more precise descriptors such as the name of an ethnic group or the term foreigner. In social and cultural terms, non-Romanians contribute to Romania's multilingual and multicultural landscape while sometimes facing integration challenges and discrimination, as in many countries.