Branch Office in Romania — Travel & Tourism Agency Formation Guide
Choose a jurisdiction with favorable VAT rules for tour operators (like the EU's TOMS) and easy access to multi-currency merchant accounts to handle international bookings.
Last verified: June 13, 2026
Corporate Tax
16.0%
State Tax
0.0%
Formation Cost
$50
Annual Fee
$0
Forming a Branch Office in Romania as a Travel & Tourism Agency means a total tax burden of 16.0% and an official formation cost of $50. There is no minimum capital requirement. Standard formation takes 7-14 days, or 3-5 days expedited. No local director is required; the process can be managed remotely. This guide covers the steps, tax breakdown, banking options, and compliance requirements — all from verified data.
First-year total cost
≈ $2,990
Ongoing (per year)
≈ $1,700
Why Branch Office for Travel & Tourism Agency?
A business model focused on organizing, booking, and selling travel, accommodation, and tour packages to individuals or groups. Requires robust payment processing and often specific local licensing.
Ideal for
- Tour operators
- Boutique travel planners
- Corporate travel managers
- Online travel agencies (OTAs)
Challenges to watch
- Strict local licensing and bonding requirements
- High chargeback risks in payment processing
- Complex cross-border VAT and tax compliance
- Seasonal revenue fluctuations
Key decision criteria
- Does the jurisdiction require a specific travel agency license?
- Can you easily open a merchant account that accepts high-volume, high-ticket international payments?
- What are the consumer protection and liability laws?
- How does the jurisdiction tax international travel packages?
Branch Office formation requirements
Minimum capital
None
Standard timeline
7-14 days
Expedited timeline
3-5 days
Local director
Not required
Registered office
Virtual office allowed
Notarization
Required
A branch manager (authorized representative) must be appointed, but they can be a foreign national.
Estimated breakdown (based on avg. $250,000 revenue)
Simulate with your own revenue →
VAT / Sales Tax
Standard rate 19%. Registration threshold: 300,000 RON. Non-resident providers of digital services to Romanian consumers must register for VAT under the EU OSS scheme or locally.
Banking & payments for Travel & Tourism Agency
Opening a traditional bank account for a branch in Romania can be challenging and usually requires the branch manager to visit the bank in person. Extensive KYC documentation regarding the foreign parent company must be translated and apostilled. However, fintech solutions like Wise or Revolut Business offer smoother, fully remote onboarding processes.
Supported payment gateways
Remote-friendly accounts
Revolut Business
A leading fintech offering multi-currency accounts with local RON details, ideal for remote founders and international transactions.
Wise Business
Excellent for managing cross-border payments with low conversion fees, fully supporting Romanian entities remotely.
Romania incentives & advantages
Reinvested Profit Tax Exemption
16% corporate tax exemption on the reinvested amount.
IT Salary Tax Exemption
0% personal income tax (instead of 10%) on gross monthly salaries up to RON 10,000.
R&D Tax Deduction
50% additional deduction of eligible R&D expenses for corporate tax purposes.
Branch Office formation steps
Gather and apostille the parent company's corporate documents (Articles of Association, Certificate of Good Standing, recent financials).
Translate all foreign corporate documents into Romanian through a certified translator and notarize them.
Draft the parent company's board resolution officially deciding to establish the Romanian branch.
Secure a registered office address in Romania via a commercial lease or virtual office agreement.
Appoint a branch manager (authorized representative) and obtain their notarized signature specimen.
Submit the complete registration file to the Romanian Trade Register (ONRC).
Register for corporate tax and VAT with ANAF, and open a local corporate bank account.
Travel & Tourism Agency FAQ
Do I need a special license to start an online travel agency?
In most jurisdictions, yes. Countries often require travel agencies to hold specific licenses, post financial bonds, or join consumer protection schemes to legally sell travel packages.
Which country is best for incorporating a travel agency?
It depends on your target market. If targeting EU customers, incorporating in an EU country like Estonia or Cyprus is beneficial for regulatory alignment. For global, low-regulation setups, some founders choose US LLCs, though payment gateways may still require proof of local compliance.
Ready to form your Branch Office?
Trusted formation partners are coming soon.
Related guides
Complete Branch Office guide
Taxes, requirements, banking, compliance
Branch Office cost calculator
One-time and annual cost breakdown
🇧🇬 Travel & Tourism Agency — Single-Member Limited Liability Company (EOOD)
Tax 10.0% · formation $30
🇨🇾 Travel & Tourism Agency — Variable Capital Investment Company (VCIC)
Tax 15.0% · formation $180
🇨🇾 Travel & Tourism Agency — Company Limited by Guarantee
Tax 15.0% · formation $265
🇨🇾 Travel & Tourism Agency — Sole Proprietorship
Tax 0.0% · formation $100
🚀 SaaS Startup — Branch Office
Same entity, different business model guide
📦 Amazon FBA & E-Commerce — Branch Office
Same entity, different business model guide