The Romania gaming licence timeline usually runs three to five months from the day you start the project to the day the licence goes live. The Romanian regulator, ONJN, decides on a complete application within 30 days under Government Emergency Ordinance 77/2009. However, that statutory clock starts only after you incorporate a Romanian company, prepare the documentation and file a complete application. This guide breaks the Romania gaming licence timeline into clear stages, so you can plan each step instead of trusting a single headline figure.
Romania gaming licence timeline at a glance
First, set realistic expectations. The table below summarises each phase of the Romania gaming licence timeline. These durations reflect a typical first-time application for a Class I online licence. Your figures may shift depending on how quickly you assemble documents and answer ONJN.
| Stage | Typical duration |
| Company incorporation (Romanian SRL) | 1 to 3 weeks |
| Document preparation and AML registration | 4 to 8 weeks |
| ONJN submission and review | 30 days by law, often 4 to 8 weeks in practice |
| Total to go live | About 3 to 5 months |
Because several stages overlap, you can compress the schedule. For example, you can draft AML policies while the Trade Registry processes the company. For a full overview of the jurisdiction, read our Romania online gaming licence page.
Stage one: company incorporation in Romania
ONJN grants online gaming licences to a company that holds a presence in Romania or in another European Union or European Economic Area state. Most operators therefore set up a Romanian limited liability company, the SRL. First, you reserve the company name. Then you file the incorporation documents with the National Trade Register Office. The Trade Registry usually completes registration within one to three weeks once you submit a clean file.
In parallel, you appoint local management and open a corporate bank account. Banking onboarding often takes longer than incorporation, so start it early. If you run an operation from another EU state, you can also register a company in the EU and rely on cross-border establishment rules, although a local Romanian entity keeps the process simpler. Our gaming company incorporation service handles the entity, registered office and director arrangements, which keeps this stage on schedule.
Stage two: document preparation and AML registration
This stage drives most of the calendar. While the company forms, your team prepares the documentation ONJN expects.
You draft AML and KYC policies, responsible-gaming procedures, technical documentation for the platform, and the corporate and financial records that prove the company stands behind the application. You also register the company with the National Office for Prevention and Control of Money Laundering, the ONPCSB, before you go live.
Next, you arrange independent testing of the gaming system and the random number generator with an approved laboratory. Test scheduling can add several weeks, so book the slot as soon as the platform is ready.
Most operators spend four to eight weeks on this stage. To dodge the errors that send a file back, review the common gaming licence application mistakes before you submit.
A clean file keeps the Romania gaming licence timeline tight, because ONJN starts its review only once the documentation is complete.
Stage three: ONJN submission and the 30-day review
Once the file is ready, you submit it to the ONJN registry and pay the licence fee. Importantly, you must lodge the complete documentation at least nine working days before the ONJN Supervisory Committee meets. The Committee then reviews the application and issues a decision within 30 days of receiving a complete file, as Government Emergency Ordinance 77/2009 sets out.
During the review, ONJN can ask for extra documents or clarifications. If you respond quickly, you protect the schedule. If a request sits unanswered, the review pauses. Therefore, treat every ONJN query as a priority. Our gaming licence acquisition service manages the correspondence and the deadlines, so the file keeps moving through the Committee.
The full Romania gaming licence timeline month by month
To make the schedule concrete, the table below maps the Romania gaming licence timeline across a typical five-month plan. In practice, a well-prepared operator can finish closer to three months, while a complex ownership structure can push past five.
| Period | Main activity |
| Month 1 | Reserve the name, incorporate the Romanian SRL, appoint local management and open accounts |
| Month 1 to 2 | Draft AML, KYC and responsible-gaming policies, prepare technical files and register with the ONPCSB |
| Month 2 to 3 | Complete platform and RNG testing, compile the ONJN file, submit it and pay the licence fee |
| Month 3 to 4 | The ONJN Supervisory Committee reviews the file; you answer any document requests |
| Month 4 to 5 | ONJN issues the Class I licence and annual authorisation, and you launch |
Factors that extend the Romania gaming licence timeline
Several factors stretch the Romania gaming licence timeline beyond the typical range. Plan around them early.
- Incomplete documentation: a missing AML policy or financial record delays the start of the ONJN review.
- Complex ownership: layered corporate structures and beneficial owners across several countries lengthen due diligence.
- Banking delays: gaming-friendly account opening can take longer than every other stage combined.
- Testing backlogs: laboratory slots for platform and RNG certification fill up, so late booking costs weeks.
- Slow responses to ONJN queries: each unanswered request pauses the clock until you reply.
If you have built licences in other markets, you already recognise these pressure points. The same discipline that controls an Isle of Man gaming licence cost breakdown and timeline applies in Romania: prepare a complete file, then respond fast.
Licence validity and annual authorisation
After ONJN grants the licence, two clocks run together. The Class I licence covers a ten-year term, yet you also hold a separate authorisation that you renew every year. You pay fees annually to keep both current. The table below shows the validity periods.
| Item | Validity |
| Class I online licence | 10 years |
| Annual operating authorisation | 1 year, renewed yearly |
| Temporary games of chance | 3 months |
Because the authorisation renews each year, you build a recurring compliance calendar from day one. Miss a renewal and you risk an operating gap, so diarise the dates as soon as ONJN issues the licence.
What the Romania licence does not cover
Operators value a clear scope, so here is where the licence stops. A Romanian licence authorises you to offer online gambling to players located in Romania. It does not grant access to any other national market. EU courts do not require mutual recognition of gambling licences across the European Union, so each country runs its own licensing regime. If you target several markets, you apply for a separate licence in each one and run each timeline in parallel.
The licence also carries continuing duties. You file ongoing reports, keep AML controls current and renew the annual authorisation. Our gaming licence acquisition service and compliance team track these obligations after launch, so nothing lapses.
FAQ
How long does the Romania gaming licence timeline take?
The Romania gaming licence timeline usually runs three to five months. First, you incorporate the company. Next, you prepare the required documents and complete the AML registration. Finally, ONJN reviews the complete application within the 30-day period set by law.
How long does ONJN take to decide an application?
ONJN decides within 30 days of receiving a complete application, under Government Emergency Ordinance 77/2009. You must lodge the complete documentation at least nine working days before the Supervisory Committee meets, and ONJN can request extra documents that extend the period in practice.
Do I need a Romanian company to apply?
Yes. ONJN grants online gaming licences to a company established in Romania or in another EU or EEA state. Most operators set up a Romanian SRL, which the Trade Registry usually registers within one to three weeks.
Can I shorten the Romania gaming licence timeline?
Yes. Prepare a complete file before you submit, book RNG and platform testing early, and answer every ONJN query quickly. A well-prepared operator can finish closer to three months.
How long is a Romania gaming licence valid?
A Class I online licence covers a ten-year term, but you renew a separate operating authorisation every year and pay fees annually. Temporary games of chance carry a three-month validity instead.
What slows down a Romania gaming licence application?
Incomplete documentation, complex ownership structures, banking delays, testing backlogs and slow responses to ONJN queries all extend the timeline. Each one pauses or postpones the ONJN review until you resolve it.
Does a Romania licence let me operate in other EU countries?
No. A Romanian licence authorises online gambling for players in Romania only. The EU does not require mutual recognition of gambling licences, so you apply for a separate licence in each market you target.
When do I pay the ONJN fees?
You pay the licence fee when you submit the application to the ONJN registry, and you pay the annual authorisation fee to keep the licence active. Both recur yearly across the ten-year licence term.
Plan your Romania application around a realistic timeline
DD Consultus manages Romania gaming licence applications from start to finish. First, we handle company incorporation and document preparation. Next, we manage the ONJN submission process and respond to any regulatory requests. Finally, we provide ongoing compliance support after the licence is issued. Therefore, we build your schedule around the real application stages rather than relying on a single headline figure.
Phone: +356 99408536 | Email: contact@licencegaming.com