UK Companies in Romania After Brexit

What changed for UK companies after Brexit

• VAT: UK companies are no longer covered by the EU VAT directive — fiscal representative often mandatory under art. 316 Fiscal Code
• GDPR: UK controllers serving Romanian users normally need an Art. 27 representative in the EU
• Employment: UK nationals need work permits and long-stay visas to work in Romania (no more free movement)
• Customs: B2B sales between UK and Romania now require customs declarations, EORI registration and origin documentation
• The UK-Romania Double Tax Treaty (1976, in force) was unaffected by Brexit and continues to apply

How we help UK businesses

• Appointment as your VAT fiscal representative before ANAF
• Acting as your GDPR Art. 27 representative for the Romanian market
• Work permits, EU Blue Cards and Romanian residence permits for UK staff
• Bilingual EN/RO contracts compliant with Romanian commercial law
• Debt recovery against Romanian customers — no more EU Order for Payment, but national procedures and recognition of UK judgments under the 2019 Hague Judgments Convention (in force for the UK since July 2025)
• Trademark and design protection (the EU-UK transitional cloned rights have now diverged — separate filings needed)

Setting up a Romanian entity vs. branch vs. representative office

A Romanian SRL gives the UK parent the same limited-liability protection as a Ltd. and is the standard recommendation. A UK branch office is possible but is treated as a permanent establishment from day one. A representative office cannot trade — only conduct marketing and liaison.

With Brexit, the SRL route is now almost always more efficient than the branch, particularly because of clearer VAT, social-security and customs treatment.