A complete guide to setting up a ridesharing PFA (Sole Proprietorship) (Uber, Bolt) for foreign (non-EU) citizens in Bucharest. Find out what documents are necessary, what the setup costs are, how to obtain CAEN code 4933, and how we can help you avoid the bureaucracy.
Are you a foreign citizen with a residence permit in Romania looking to start a ridesharing business (Uber, Bolt, etc.)? This is an excellent opportunity for financial independence, but the process of opening a PFA can seem like a bureaucratic maze, especially if you're not familiar with local legislation. The good news is that the process can be simple and fast if you follow the right steps.
In this complete guide, we'll show you exactly what to do, what documents are needed to set up a PFA, and how to navigate the process at the Trade Register (ONRC) without stress and errors.
For activities like Uber or Bolt, according to current legislation, a PFA (Persoană Fizică Autorizată - Authorized Natural Person) is one of the simplest and most efficient forms of organization. The benefits include:
If you want to learn what opening a PFA in Romania entails, check out our services.
The process of setting up a PFA involves a few clear steps. Here's what you need to prepare and where you need to go.
Every PFA needs a registered office. This is the official address where the PFA will be registered. You have several options:
This is the most important step. Make sure you have all the documents ready to avoid delays at the ONRC. The list of documents for setting up a PFA as a foreign citizen includes:
For ridesharing activities, CAEN code 4933 - "Passenger land transport with driver, on demand" will be authorized.
With all the above documents, the registration file is completed. It contains the registration application, the fiscal annex, and all mentioned documents. The file is submitted to the National Office of the Trade Register (ONRC) within the jurisdiction of the registered office.
The costs for opening a PFA vary, but generally include:
A refugee's life is marked by uncertainty, longing, and often, a painful separation from loved ones. Hassan, an Iranian citizen, arrived in Romania in 2020, obtained his residence permit, and tried to rebuild his life far from his homeland. He was employed in a furniture workshop, a stable job, but one that didn't offer the financial flexibility needed to fulfill his biggest dream: to bring his wife and son from Tehran to Bucharest, to reunite his family.
He knew that for this, he needed more financial independence. That's how the idea of working in ridesharing came about. A flexible activity with higher income potential. But to do it legally, he needed a legal entity – a PFA. For Hassan, who had already navigated the complexity of obtaining a residence permit, the idea of venturing into the bureaucratic maze of setting up a company in Bucharest was daunting. "I knew absolutely nothing about how to create a PFA in Romania, especially as a foreign citizen," he recalls.
Hassan's story is about resilience, the power of a family dream, and how a trusted partner can help you overcome legal obstacles, turning a burning desire into a tangible reality.
Hassan was hardworking and serious. Working with wood in the furniture workshop gave him a routine and an income, but his thoughts constantly drifted to his two loved ones. Without them, life was incomplete. Family reunification was not just a dream; it was an urgent goal that required financial stability and the ability to prove to the Romanian authorities that he could support the three of them.
Analyzing the market, he realized that ridesharing in Bucharest offered him a chance at more consistent income and, crucially, schedule flexibility. This would allow him to work more during peak hours, optimize his earnings, and accumulate the necessary capital for the family reunification procedures.
The decision to get into ridesharing came with the need to set up a PFA. Although he had obtained his residence permit in 2020, navigating the Romanian legal system for a business was a whole different story. "As an employee, it was simple. I received my salary, and that was it. Now, I had to become a 'company'. I knew nothing. Absolutely nothing," says Hassan.
His questions and anxieties were numerous and specific to his situation as a foreign citizen:
This bureaucratic barrier, combined with the immense desire to bring his family over, turned the process into a source of considerable stress.
Hassan quickly understood that he needed specialized help. He looked for a firm with experience with foreign citizens that could provide him with clarity. That's how he turned to infiintarefirmebucuresti.ro.
The first interaction was defining. The infiintarefirmebucuresti.ro team listened carefully to Hassan's story, understanding not only that he needed a PFA, but also the deep motivation behind this decision – family reunification. This understanding of the personal context made the service much more valuable. They treated Hassan's case with professionalism, but also with a dose of empathy, explaining everything simply, in a way he could understand, even though he "knew nothing" about the specifics of Romanian legislation.
We know that bureaucracy can be an additional challenge when you're in a new country and "know nothing" about the local system. infiintarefirmebucuresti.ro is your specialized partner in setting up companies in Bucharest for foreign citizens, offering dedicated and personalized support to efficiently navigate all legal requirements (specific documents, CAEN codes, relations with institutions), allowing you to focus on your goals.
Today, Hassan operates his ridesharing PFA with Bolt in Bucharest. The work allows him to earn a considerably higher income than at the furniture workshop, paving the way for financial independence.
Most importantly, the increased income allows him to demonstrate to the Romanian authorities sufficient means of support to initiate and sustain the family reunification process. Every ride he completes, every penny earned, brings him closer to the moment he can embrace his wife and son, far from the dangers and uncertainty of Tehran.
His PFA is not just a business; it is a strategic tool, an essential bridge to fulfilling his deepest dream. Even though initially he "knew nothing" about how to achieve it, the support he received from infiintarefirmebucuresti.ro made this bridge a reality.
Conclusion
Hassan's story is a moving testament to human resilience and the power of family love. From the status of a refugee trying to find his place in a new country, he transformed a need (additional income) into an opportunity (ridesharing as a PFA), with a supreme goal: family reunification.
Even though Hassan "knew absolutely nothing" about the process of setting up a PFA in Bucharest and the specific requirements for a foreign citizen with CAEN code 4933 for ridesharing, infiintarefirmebucuresti.ro was the essential partner. They not only simplified his legal journey, precisely managing all the necessary documents and interactions with the ONRC, but they also understood the profound human context of his endeavor.
This collaboration highlights that at infiintarefirmebucuresti.ro, you find more than just services; you find a dedicated team, capable of providing specialized and empathetic support for complex cases, helping you build a solid legal foundation to achieve your most important life goals.
We know that bureaucracy can be a challenge, especially in a language you don't fully master. The infiintarefirmebucuresti.ro team specializes in setting up ridesharing PFAs for foreign citizens. We handle everything: from consultancy and document preparation to submitting the file and collecting the documents. We offer you clarity, efficiency, and the assurance that everything is 100% legal.
The story of Georgiana, an IT developer, who transitioned from employee status to a PFA with specialized help, turning a crisis into an opportunity.
The necessary steps to become a PFA, the advantages and disadvantages compared to other forms of organization, and the tax regime.
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