SITUR and short-term rental classification in Romania: October 2026 status and how to prepare your file

In 2026, short-term rentals in Romania (known locally as regim hotelier) changed on two fronts at once: EU Regulation 2024/1028 has applied since 20 May 2026, and Order No. 948/2026 of the Ministry of Economy, Digitalisation, Entrepreneurship and Tourism (MEDAT), published in the Official Gazette on 8 July 2026, rewrote the classification rules. In between, owners received a lot of contradictory information. This guide separates what official sources confirm from what is still unclear in October 2026, and shows you how to prepare your file without surprises.

What SITUR is and why it matters to hosts

SITUR.GOV.RO is MEDAT's platform for authorisation and control in tourism. Its electronic services can be used by businesses, public institutions, associations, foundations and individuals active in tourism. You log in with ROeID, the Romanian state's electronic identity.

For a host, SITUR plays two practical roles:

The channel for submitting your classification file. Order 948/2026 explicitly states that documents are submitted online, "on the dedicated platform", or at the ministry's headquarters.
A public verification source. The open-data section publishes the list of authorised tourist accommodation establishments and the list of deregistered ones. When we checked, the latest update was dated 28 September 2026. Investors can use it too: before buying an apartment "with an Airbnb track record", you can check whether it was ever classified.

What Order 948/2026 changes

MEDAT Order No. 948 of 18 June 2026 (Official Gazette No. 559 of 8 July 2026) amends the methodological rules for issuing classification certificates. For apartment owners, these are the provisions that matter most:

Provision	What it means for you
Maximum 7 rooms / 14 places for individuals	The cap applies in total, regardless of the number of homes. Above it, you need a business structure: a sole trader (PFA), individual or family enterprise (II, IF) or a company.
Owners' association approval and consent of directly affected neighbours, where applicable	In addition to the documents, you sign a sworn statement listing the numbers of the neighbouring apartments, with a reference to Article 326 of the Criminal Code (false statements).
Online or in-person submission	You can complete the whole process in SITUR, logging in with ROeID.
Incomplete files archived after 3 months	If you do not supply the requested documents within 3 months of notification, the procedure starts over.
Minor deficiencies at the on-site inspection	You have at most 15 working days to fix them and prove it with documents: invoices, inventory, service contracts.

The Order also introduces a "tourist resort" category and 4-star bungalows, which mainly matter for investments outside cities. For more on neighbour consent and the 7-room cap, see our dedicated analysis of Order 948/2026.

EU Regulation 2024/1028: what applies and what remains unclear in Romania

The EU Regulation on data collection and sharing for short-term rentals has applied since 20 May 2026. It requires online platforms to display the registration numbers of listed units and to share data with authorities wherever a Member State has a registration procedure. The Regulation does not, on its own, create a national procedure: each state decides whether and how to introduce one.

Many articles in the spring claimed that a "unique code" would be mandatory from 20 May. As of publication, we have not identified any legislation or official statement confirming that Romania has introduced the EU registration-number procedure. The specialist publication Rentio could not confirm it from an official source either, in August 2026. Airbnb's Help Center, meanwhile, describes the obligation for Romanian hosts as registration for tourism classification under Order 948/2026, effective 8 July 2026, and points to SE.SITUR.

In practice: keep your classification certificate number to hand and add it to your listings whenever a platform asks for it. Follow the ministry's official announcements: if the EU code procedure is introduced, you will need classification anyway. For the European background, read our guide to the EU rules.

How to prepare your file: a checklist

Check the building. Law No. 212/2022 bans renting out space in buildings rated seismic risk class I. Details in our guide to seismic risk and Airbnb's checks.
Clarify ownership. Prepare a copy of your ID (plus proof of address if you hold an electronic ID card) and, if there are several owners, their documents and their consent to short-term rental.
Obtain the association's approval and neighbours' consents. Collect them in writing, well in advance. If no legally constituted owners' association exists, you sign a sworn statement to that effect.
Furnish the apartment to the required standard. Check the minimum criteria in the annexes of the classification rules for your target star rating before the on-site inspection.
Submit online in SITUR. Log in with ROeID, upload the documents and watch for notifications: an incomplete file is archived after 3 months.
Prepare for the inspection. Keep invoices, the inventory and service contracts to hand; minor deficiencies must be fixed within 15 working days.
Once you have the certificate. Display it (Airbnb mentions the main hallway and the kitchen), update your listings and organise your tax records and occupancy register. Details in our 2026 tax guide and our compliant operations guide.

Common mistakes

Taking bookings before the certificate arrives. The fine for operating without classification is 40,000–50,000 lei; see our guide to fines and risks.
Treating neighbour consent as a formality. The sworn statement refers to the offence of making false statements, so the information must be accurate.
Exceeding the 7-room cap without noticing. The cap is calculated across all your homes. If you are growing your portfolio, read our guide to scaling from 1 to 10 properties.
Relying on unofficial guides about the "unique code". Always check the primary source: the Official Gazette, SITUR and the ministry's announcements.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need classification if I rent out just one apartment, only in summer?

Yes. Renting to tourists on a short-term basis requires a classification certificate, regardless of the number of apartments or the time of year. Airbnb explicitly asks Romanian hosts to register for classification under Order 948/2026.

Is the EU registration number mandatory in Romania?

As of October 2026, we have found no official confirmation that the procedure has been introduced in Romania. The EU Regulation has applied since 20 May 2026, but the national procedure is up to each state. Follow the ministry's announcements.

Can I submit the file on paper?

Yes. Order 948/2026 allows submission online, on the dedicated platform, or at the ministry's headquarters.

What happens if my file is incomplete?

You receive a notification. If you do not complete the documentation within 3 months, the file is archived and you have to submit a new one.