Setting Up a PFA in Romania in 2026: Required Documents, Conditions, and What to Check Before Starting Your Business

Setting Up a PFA in Romania: When Do You Need a Lawyer’s Assistance?

Setting up a PFA in Romania (an authorised self-employed person), although seemingly straightforward, involves more than completing and submitting documents. It is essential to establish whether the PFA has been properly registered and whether its registration corresponds to the activities that will actually be carried out. Whether the PFA operates online or from physical premises, the assessment should extend beyond the list of documents required for PFA registration and potential PFA registration costs.

Choosing the correct CAEN codes, checking for specific authorisation requirements, establishing the registered business address, obtaining any additional approvals and determining how contracts with clients will be concluded are just some of the factors that can influence the lawful and smooth operation of a business in Romania. A thorough assessment at the outset, conducted by a lawyer specialising in PFA registration in Romania, can help prevent situations where, despite registration with the Trade Register, the activities actually carried out are not adequately covered by the existing authorisations or documents.

In this context, Pavel, Mărgărit and Associates Law Firm provides PFA formation and registration services in Romania, including assistance with online PFA registration. This assistance may include reviewing documentation, preparing the application file, checking the documents required to register a PFA, and providing guidance on potential PFA registration costs and the formalities for PFA registration with Romania’s National Trade Register Office (ONRC). Although setting up a PFA can be straightforward, assistance from a commercial lawyer in Romania can make the difference between a properly registered PFA and one that could cause problems.

Setting Up a PFA in Romania Involves More Than Submitting Documents

One of the most important steps in setting up a PFA in Romania is choosing the appropriate CAEN code. Under Article 16(1) of Government Emergency Ordinance No. 44/2008, a PFA may have up to five CAEN codes reflecting its business activities. In some cases, choosing a CAEN code can be straightforward. However, there are also situations where an activity falls between several classifications, making the choice more complex.

In such cases, a lawyer specialising in PFA registration can check whether the CAEN code has been selected correctly and whether a specific legal framework applies in Romania. The lawyer can also verify whether the documentation is complete and whether additional authorisations, approvals or even registration with a professional body are required. This is one of the matters to consider when setting up a PFA.

Business Formation in Romania: The Trade Register’s Operating Authorisation Should Not Be Confused with All Required Authorisations

Depending on the business activities, additional declarations may be required alongside the declaration concerning compliance with the legal operating requirements, including declarations relating to veterinary health, occupational safety or environmental protection. A lawyer specialising in PFA registration in Romania can assist you in checking the documentation required for setting up a PFA.

The Registered Business Address of a PFA in Romania

Under Article 9 of Government Emergency Ordinance No. 44/2008, the entrepreneur’s registered business address must be declared in the application for registration with the Trade Register. An important aspect to verify is the right to use the premises. The legislation requires the business owner to submit a document proving the right to use the property designated as the registered business address or place of business.

If the registered business address of a PFA in Romania is established in an apartment or a house used as a home, but no business activity is actually carried out there, the entrepreneur may declare this, stating that the premises are used solely as the PFA’s official address.

In this situation, certain formalities relating to the homeowners’ association and changes to the use of the premises are no longer required, precisely because no actual economic activity takes place in the home.

How Do You Establish a PFA’s Registered Business Address in Romania, and Why Should You Consult a Lawyer?

A PFA’s registered business address in Romania may be established in various types of premises, depending on how the business activities will be carried out:

• At the owner’s home, provided that they own the property;
• In a property used under a loan-for-use agreement, or in rented premises;
• In a residential property where no economic activity takes place, in which case the declaration on one’s own responsibility provided for under Article 9(2¹) of Government Emergency Ordinance No. 44/2008 may be submitted;
• At premises where the activity is actually carried out, such as a consulting room, workshop, salon or office;
• At a separate place of business in addition to the registered business address, if the activity is also carried out at another location. Article 8 of Government Emergency Ordinance No. 44/2008 distinguishes between activities carried out at the registered business address, at places of business and outside those premises.

A business formation lawyer in Romania can verify whether the document used to establish the PFA’s registered business address grants the right to use the premises and whether additional obligations concerning consents, approvals or authorisations arise, depending on the property’s designated use and the activities carried out. The Romanian legal framework also imposes specific operating requirements, including those relating to public health, veterinary health, environmental protection and occupational safety, where applicable.

If the circumstances surrounding the property present difficulties, some law firms in Romania also offer registered business address hosting services. These may be useful for individuals who do not wish to, or cannot, establish their PFA’s registered business address at home or in premises they own.

Reviewing the Relationship Between a PFA and Its Client in Romania

A commercial lawyer in Romania can assess whether the contractual relationship between the client and the PFA reflects an independent activity. The Romanian Tax Code requires at least four of the seven criteria for independent activity to be met. It is also important to note that merely being registered as a PFA and issuing invoices is not sufficient if the working arrangements indicate a relationship of subordination.

Such a review can help prevent various tax or contractual issues. An incorrect classification may lead to inspections, additional taxes and social contributions, tax-related interest and penalties, or disputes concerning the true nature of the relationship between the parties.

In conclusion, setting up a PFA in Romania may seem straightforward, whether the focus is on online PFA registration, the documents required to register a PFA or PFA registration costs in Romania. Beyond the administrative formalities, however, it is important to ensure that the PFA is properly established and that its registration corresponds to the activities to be carried out.

A lawyer specialising in PFA registration in Romania can review the required documents, the choice of CAEN codes, the registered business address and any necessary authorisations, as well as certain legal risks that may arise during business operations. Reviewing how the PFA is organised from the outset can therefore help ensure that its activities comply with the applicable legal requirements in Romania.

Pavel, Mărgărit and Associates Romanian Law Firm is one of Romania’s leading law firms, providing legal services of the highest quality. Its clients include major multinational and domestic companies. In 2026, the firm’s success stories earned it international recognition from some of the most prestigious legal guides and publications. This year, Pavel, Mărgărit and Associates ranked third in Romania in Legal 500’s ranking of business law firms with the most relevant expertise. The firm is also internationally recognised by the IFLR 1000 Financial and Corporate 2026 guide. Furthermore, Pavel, Mărgărit and Associates is the only law firm in Romania recommended by the London-based international directory Global Law Experts in the Dispute Resolution practice area. All relevant information about Pavel, Mărgărit and Associates is available at www.avocatpavel.ro.