Author
Under Government Ordinance No. 44/2004 (“Integration Ordinance”), beneficiaries of international protection are included in an integration program upon request and according to a protocol concluded individually by IGI-DAI.[1] The application for participation in the integration program has to be submitted to IGI-DAI within 3 months of the grant of protection, compared to 30 days provided by the previous form of the Integration Ordinance.[2]
After the registration of the application, the integration officer of IGI-DAI interviews the beneficiary. At the interview representatives of NGOs, local public authorities or other institutions with competences in the integration area may participate. An individual needs assessment sheet is drafted to determine the type of assistance or activities needed for the social integration of the applicant.[3] Based on this evaluation form, an individual plan is established, which includes deadlines, necessary activities to achieve the objectives, responsible persons, responsible institutions and / or organisations, as well as the decision of the IGI-DAI regarding the local community in which the integration activities of the program will be carried out.[4]
Participation in the integration program is relevant to the enjoyment of certain rights such as Housing and Social Welfare.
Activities which may be included in the plan mainly include, separately or cumulatively, the following:[5]
- Counselling and support activities to ensure access to the rights listed in the Integration Ordinance;
- Cultural accommodation sessions;
- Romanian language courses (see Access to Education).
- Educational and recreational activities;
- Non-reimbursable financial aid, granted under the conditions of Asylum Act;
- Financial allowance in an amount equal to that granted to asylum seekers until receiving the non-refundable aid, but not more than 3 months;
- Accommodation in one of the regional centres, depending on the number of available accommodation places;
- Other types of activities or benefits established according to the individual needs of the foreigner and granted by NGOs carrying out activities in the field of integration of foreigners or by local public administration authorities.
The implementation period of the integration program is 12 months from the date of signing the protocol or from the date provided in the protocol. It may grant an extension of maximum 6 months based on a motivated request of the beneficiary and assessment of the situation.[6]
In addition to the integration program offered by the state authorities, there are several projects concerning the integration of beneficiaries of international protection and third-country nationals funded through the national AMIF scheme.
Since 2016 the implementation of these projects covers 6 regions throughout the country.[7] Each region has at least one Regional Centre for asylum seekers.
In Region 1, after more than 2 years of no integration project implemented,[8] IOM Romania, in partnership with AIDRom and the Schottener Social Services Foundation, implemented the project “InterAct + Active participation and integrated services for migrants from Romania” between 25 December 2020 – 24 December 2022. IOM Romania indicated that the project continued in 2023.[9] In 2024, Region 1 experienced a minimum six-month gap in funding, during which no integration project was active—leaving beneficiaries of protection and third-country nationals without structured support. Since May 2024, the InterACT project,[10] implemented by IOM Romania and funded under the 2021–2027 National Program for Asylum, Migration, and Integration, has resumed services through a one-stop-shop model supporting social, economic, and cultural inclusion. Region 1 includes Bucharest and the following counties: Ilfov, Prahova, Buzău, Dâmbovița, Argeș, Vâlcea, Gorj, Brașov și Covasna.[11] Services offered included: Information and advice on the rights and obligations of legally resident migrants (both beneficiaries of some form of protection and third-country nationals); Romanian language courses; cultural orientation sessions; socio-cultural activities; medical support through the settlement of services / treatments / medicines / payment of health insurance for migrants in vulnerable situations; psychological counselling; material assistance to migrants in vulnerable situations; school supplies and reimbursement for food costs for children; facilitating access to the labour market, including organising meetings with potential employers; financial education sessions; financial incentives to beneficiaries of a form of international protection that constantly participates in the activities organised by the project team.[12]
In Region 2 JRS implemented the project “My place to Integration”. Supporting the process of effective integration of beneficiaries of international protection (BPI) and foreigners (RTT – third country nationals) legally residing in Romania in the following counties of Galaţi, Constanţa, Vrancea, Bacău, Vaslui, Brăila, Tulcea. The project includes activities such as information, counselling, material, legal, medical, psychological assistance, employment counselling, as well as social, cultural, recreational, educational activities, Romanian language courses and cultural orientation, in 2 regional integration centres: Galaţi and Constanta. The project is introducing means of distance counselling / assistance for certain categories of beneficiaries (online courses, etc.) and facilitating access to the labour market through an online tool. The project also aims to involve cultural mediators, interpreters and volunteers at the local level as well as the development of local support networks at the level of institutions and organisations that come into contact with foreigners or within their communities.[13] The project also covers the costs of meals in kindergarten and school, school supplies, rental fees in regional centres; offers social vouchers of 50 RON/10EUR two per person. The project ended in October 2023. From the end of 2023 until June 2024, there was a gap in integration assistance in Region 2. Since June 2024, JRS Romania has been implementing the project My Place to Integration in Romania, providing legal, social, educational, medical, and material support through Regional Integration Centres in Galați and Constanța, a Regional Contact Point in the Galati Reception Centre, and a newly established Virtual Integration Centre.
Also in Region 2 following a six-month gap in integration services from the end of 2023 until mid-2024, JRS Romania launched in June 2024 the project “A New Home in Romania – Strengthening the Social Integration Mechanism” (project code: AM22G_01),[14] funded under the National Asylum, Migration and Integration Program. With a total budget of 3,700,000 lei (of which 3,330,000 lei represents European non-reimbursable funding), the project runs from June 2024 to January 2026, addressing the serious housing needs of Beneficiaries of International Protection (BPI). The project ensures adequate accommodation for at least 500 BPIs, offering direct rental assistance and mediating relations with landlords. Activities include continuous needs assessments, collaboration with local authorities and real estate agencies, and financial subsidies to support vulnerable groups, such as single-parent families, persons without income, Muslim women, and large families. Geographically, the project covers areas with Regional Integration Centres—Bucharest, Galați, Baia Mare, Timișoara, Rădăuți, Șomcuta Mare, and Giurgiu—with a significant focus on Bucharest, where 78% of the housing support is concentrated due to the high number of resettlements and the beneficiaries’ preference for the capital. JRS Romania has been implementing this housing program since 2016 in Romania.
In Region 3 ICAR Foundation implemented in 2022 the project “Integration of foreigners with legal residence in Romania–INTEG-RO”, in partnership with AIDRom which includes Rădăuţi and Suceava, Botoşani, Neamţ and Iaşi counties.[15] The program provides information and social / legal counselling, vocational and professional guidance, psychological support to overcome difficulties and motivate participation in the integration program (in the case of beneficiaries of international protection). The services included both individual counselling sessions (social and psychological), information, assistance in contacting various public or private institutions and local community, as well as group activities (e.g.: Romanian language courses, cultural accommodation sessions, group counselling, development of life skills, socio-recreational activities).[16] This project ended in October 2023. After a one-year interruption in the provision of integration assistance in Region 3—which includes the counties of Suceava, Botoșani, Neamț, and Iași—support for migrants resumed in early 2025 through the launch of a new project named “Integration of legally resident foreigners in Romanian society: a common construction”.[17] The project is implemented by the ICAR Foundation, in partnership with AIDRom, under the national Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) 2021–2027 program, coordinated by the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI). Running for 24 months, the project operates in two Regional Integration Centres located in Iași and Rădăuți, and aims to provide a wide array of free services tailored to the needs of beneficiaries of international protection and legally residing third-country nationals. Among the services offered are legal and social counselling, Romanian language courses, cultural orientation, psychological support, medical assistance, and help accessing housing, including rent subsidies for the initial months after leaving accommodation centres. The project also supports children’s access to education by covering school materials and after school or kindergarten fees, and assists migrants with family reunification procedures, legal document translations, and citizenship applications. To promote community engagement, beneficiaries are encouraged to take part in intercultural and recreational activities, with small financial incentives (150 RON) offered for active participation. By re-establishing these essential services after a prolonged gap, the project contributes to rebuilding the integration framework in Region 3 and reinforces collaboration between local authorities, NGOs, and migrant communities, following a comprehensive one-stop-shop approach.
In Region 4 LADO Cluj, in partnership with Asociația Profesională Neguvernamentală de Asistență Socială Baia Mare (ASSOC) and IOM ROMANIA implemented in 2022 the project “SIM – CIS – Integrated services for migrants – intercultural and solidary communities. The project covers Maramureș, Satu Mare, Sălaj, Cluj, Bistriţa Năsăud, Mureş, Harghita, Sibiu şi Alba counties. The project aimed to support the integration into Romanian society of beneficiaries of international protection and third country nationals by creating a coalition of institutional and organisational actors operating as local support networks to increase the quality of integrated services for migrants. They offered the following services: Romanian language and cultural orientation courses; guidance on how to obtain Romanian citizenship; material assistance (food, clothing, hygiene products, etc.); translation of documents (especially identity documents); legal / psychological / medical assistance; socio-cultural and recreational activities; Support for insertion in the labour market. For minors they offer material assistance (school supplements, teaching materials); cover the costs for food / nursery / kindergarten / boarding / after-school.[18] The implementation of this project ended in 2022.[19] Following a service gap of over 6 months during which no integration programs were available in Region 4—which includes the counties of Maramureș, Satu Mare, Sălaj, Cluj, Bistrița-Năsăud, Mureș, Harghita, Sibiu, and Alba—the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Romania, in partnership with ASSOC Baia Mare, relaunched migrant support initiatives through the PRISM 4 – Promoting Inclusion Services[20] in Region 4 project. Running between 31 July 2024 and 30 July 2026, the project is funded through the AMIF. PRISM 4 is based on a one-stop-shop model, designed to centralize integration services for Beneficiaries of International Protection (BIPs) and Third-Country Nationals (TCNs). The project provides a broad spectrum of tailored support, including legal and social counselling, Romanian language instruction, cultural orientation sessions, psychological assistance, labour market inclusion support, and help in accessing healthcare. Beyond direct assistance, the project promotes active cooperation between migrants and local actors—encouraging engagement from local authorities, civil society, and private stakeholders—to reinforce community-level integration. PRISM 4 thus responds strategically to previous gaps, rebuilding the integration framework in Region 4 with the goal of enabling migrants to transition from vulnerable newcomers to active participants in Romanian society.
In Region 5, the Western part of Romania, AIDRom in partnership with Filantropia Oradea, implemented in 2022 the project “AIM 5 – Actions to integrate migrants in Region 5” between September 2020- September 2022. The aim of the project was to support the socio-economic and cultural integration of beneficiaries of international protection and third-country nationals in Romanian society in Region 5, through an integrated “one stop shop” approach – by providing all the necessary information and services in one place and by strengthening the collaboration and active involvement of local authorities and community in supporting migrants during the integration process.[21] Region 5 includes Timișoara, and Arad, Bihor, Hunedoara, Mehedinţi şi Caraş Severin counties.[22] Services provided through this project included: information on rights and obligations and activities or services provided under the project; individual social counselling and assistance services; individual legal advice, advice on accessing the labour market; Romanian language courses and cultural accommodation, social, cultural and recreational activities; health insurance for a maximum period of 6 months, reimbursement of medical services, equivalent value of medicines and / or medical objects / materials; financial incentives for beneficiaries who consistently participate in project activities; supplies and other materials needed in the educational process; reimbursement of meal expenses charged to nurseries, kindergartens and afterschool as well as costs incurred in participating in extracurricular activities undertaken by educational institutions; emergency Financial Packages; reimbursement of public transport costs; document translations and legislations.[23] A similar project was implemented by AID-Rom until October 2023. After a break of at least six months, AIDRom and its partners have resumed their activities supporting migrant integration in western Romania. Through the project INTEGRIS:[24] Integration Initiatives for Migrants in Romania – implemented in Region 5, a new stage of coordinated action has begun in the counties of Timiș, Arad, Bihor, Hunedoara, Mehedinți, and Caraș-Severin. Implemented between November 2024 and November 2026, the project is designed to support beneficiaries of international protection, third-country nationals, and those under temporary protection. The approach is integrated and human-centred, offering key services—social and legal counselling, Romanian language courses, material aid, cultural orientation, and child-specific support—in a single location. The two Regional Integration Centers, in Timișoara and Oradea, will continue to serve as essential hubs for these services. At the same time, the project fosters community engagement through awareness campaigns, volunteer mobilization, and collaboration with local authorities.
In Region 6, from December 2020-December 2022 the Global Help Association, in partnership with IOM Romania and AIDRom, implemented the project ‘Regional network for the integration of migrants in Romania – MyRO’. The project ended in 2022.[25] Region 6 included Giurgiu, Călărași, Ialomița, Teleorman, Olt și Dolj.[26] As of December 2022, no project was being implemented in Region 6, as no NGO applied for the call for proposals launched by IGI-DAI. As of 29 November 2024, integration activities in Region 6 resumed, with the launch of a new project[27] implemented by AIDRom. This initiative, funded under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), is set to run for 24 months, until 28 November 2026. The project aims to strengthen the socio-economic inclusion of migrants by providing integrated and personalized support, including language and civic education courses, medical and legal assistance, and professional development to facilitate access to the labour market. Activities are conducted through Regional Integration Centres located in the cities of Craiova and Giurgiu.
The integration prospects for beneficiaries of international protection in Romania are assessed in the context of appeals against returns of beneficiaries from other European countries. Different courts in Germany and the Netherlands have dismissed such appeals on the ground that conditions for international protection holders in Romania do not present deficiencies triggering Article 3 ECHR,[28] including the case of a person with PTSD.[29]
According to the IGI 2024 report, Romania achieved a 97.5% absorption rate under the AMIF 2014–2020 program, implementing 184 projects. A Norwegian-funded program also closed with an 89% absorption rate. Romania was the first EU country to submit a National Implementation Plan for the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.[30]
Most of the projects related to integration were implemented until October 2023, and the new financial AMIF scheme allowed for implementation of projects starting with June 2024, only, with a noticeable breaking of seven months.
Following a period marked by significant service gaps, Romania gradually re-established its migrant integration infrastructure across all six regions through projects financed under the AMIF 2021–2027 national program, coordinated by the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI). Below is a brief overview of each region’s current project and implementing organizations:
- Region 1: After more than two years without structured support, the InterACT project, implemented by IOM Romania in partnership with AIDRom and Schottener Foundation, resumed in May 2024 and will run until May 2026.
- Region 2: The My Place to Integration in Romania project, led by JRS Romania, was relaunched in June 2024, covering a period of two years.
- Region 3: The ICAR Foundation, together with AIDRom, started in early 2025 the project “A Common Construction”, running for 24 months.
- Region 4: The PRISM 4 project, implemented by IOM Romania and ASSOC Baia Mare, began in July 2024 and continues until July 2026.
- Region 5: The INTEGRIS project, coordinated by AIDRom and Filantropia Oradea, started in November 2024 and will be active until November 2026.
- Region 6: After nearly two years of inactivity, AIDRom resumed integration services in November 2024 through a new 24-month project based in Craiova and Giurgiu.
[1] Article 15 Integration Ordinance.
[2] ibid. Article 16.
[3] ibid. Article 17.
[4] ibid. Article 18(1).
[5] ibid. Article 18(2).
[6] ibid. Article 20.
[7] Romania is Home, Integration programs, available in Romanian here.
[8] Since 2 August 2019, no integration project has been implemented in Region 1.
[9] Information provided by IOM Romania, 4 January 2024.
[10] InterACT – Active participation and integrated support for migrants in Romania (Region 1), available in Romanian here.
[11] Romania e Acasa, Integration Programs, available in Romanian here. According to IOM Romania, 773 beneficiaries of international protection benefitted from its services in 2021.
[12] Information provided by IOM Romania, 19 February 2022.
[13] JRS Romania, available in Romanian here.
[14] A New Home in Romania – Strengthening the Social Integration Mechanism, available in Romanian here, accessed 26 March 2025.
[15] AIDRom, available in Romanian here.
[16] ibid.
[17] Romania – Integration Measures 2024, European Website on Integration, available here.
[18] LADO, available in Romanian here: 134 beneficiaries on international protection were assisted by LADO and ASSOC in 2021.
[19] Information provided by IOM Romania, 4 January 2024.
[20] PRISM 4 – Promoting Inclusion Services in Region 4, available in Romanian here.
[21] Information provided by AIDRom, 14 January 2022. AIDRom assisted 179 beneficiaries of international protection in 2021.
[22] AIDRom, available in Romanian here.
[23] Information provided by AIDRom, 14 January 2022.
[24] INTEGRIS: Migrant integration initiatives in Romania carried out in Region 5, available here.
[25] Information provided by IOM Romania, 4 January 2024.
[26] GlobalHelp Association, available in Romanian here.
[27] AIDRom – Press Release on the Launch of Integration Project in Region 6, available here, accessed 26 March 2025.
[28] (Germany) Administrative Court of Aachen, 6 L 202/18. A, 7 May 2018; Administrative Court of Düsseldorf, Decision 22 L 5230/17. A, 5 June 2018; Administrative Court of Hannover, Decision 12 B 3173/18, 3 July 2018; (Netherlands) Regional Court of the Hague, Decision NL.18.7700, 17 May 2018; Regional Court of Gravenhage, Decision NL18.21071, 5 December 2018.
[29] (Germany) Administrative Court of Aachen, Decision 6 L 606/18. A, 6 July 2018.
[30] According to the Assessment of the activity of the general inspectorate for immigration in the year 2024 of the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), published in April 2025, summarising its operations during 2024. Official source here.