# Security Services in Romania Canonical page: https://closeprotectionhire.com/countries/romania/ Security services in Romania. Law 333/2003-licensed close protection, armoured secure transport and residential security across Bucharest. ## Regulations - **Licensing**: Specialised guard and protection companies in Romania are licensed under Law 333/2003 on guarding objectives, goods and values and the protection of persons. The operating licence is issued by the General Inspectorate of Romanian Police (IGPR) and needs a prior opinion from the Romanian Intelligence Service (Article 19). Bodyguard services may be provided only by companies licensed for them, through specially attested staff (Article 22). - **Firearms**: Firearms are regulated by Law 295/2004. Under Article 43 of Law 333/2003, guard staff may be armed only with police approval, and Article 44 says the weapons are rented from the competent police or gendarmerie units. - **Foreign operators**: A company licensed in another EU or EEA state may operate in Romania after notifying the IGPR (Article 19(6)). Guard and bodyguard staff must be Romanian, EU or EEA citizens aged at least 18 and hold the professional attestation (Articles 36 and 37). Other foreign operators work through a Romanian licensed company. Sources, checked 2026-10-07: - [Law 333/2003 on guarding objectives, goods, values and the protection of persons, republished, text (Rubinian legal database)](https://www.rubinian.com/legea-333-2003-privind-paza-obiectivelor-bunurilor-valorilor-si-protectia-persoanelor) ## Cities covered - **Bucharest**: A regional centre for IT outsourcing, financial services and energy-sector activity. FCDO normal precautions and a US State Department Level 1 rating apply for 2026. The most significant practical risk is Romania's road safety record, among the EU's highest fatality rates per Eurostat 2024, which makes vetted professional drivers a genuine operational priority rather than a formality. Petty theft concentrates around Gara de Nord and the Obor market, and due-diligence exposure runs higher than average for counterparties in EU-funds administration or the energy sector. Bucharest is Romania's sole city on this network and a genuine regional hub for IT outsourcing, financial services and energy-sector activity. FCDO issues normal precautions and the US State Department holds Romania at Level 1 for 2026, both consistent with a manageable, low-risk operating environment. The one risk factor that genuinely stands out from the European norm is not crime. It's the road. ## Law 333/2003: the licensing backbone Private security in Romania runs on Law 333/2003, with operating licences issued by the General Inspectorate of Romanian Police (IGPR) after a prior opinion from the Romanian Intelligence Service. Our [bodyguard hire](/services/bodyguard-hire/) coverage in Bucharest is delivered through licensed local partners as standard practice. ## Firearms and road risk: a different balance than most of Europe Firearms sit under Law 295/2004, and under Article 43 of Law 333/2003 guards may be armed only with police approval, using weapons rented from police or gendarmerie units. What deserves more planning weight in Romania than in most comparable European markets is the road environment: Eurostat's 2024 figures place the country among the EU's highest fatality rates. A vetted, professionally driven vehicle isn't a nice-to-have here. For intercity routes and airport transfers alike, it's the single most effective safety measure available. ## Petty theft and due-diligence exposure Gara de Nord station and the Obor market carry the documented pickpocketing concentration. Beyond street-level crime, organised networks retain a presence, diminishing but not gone, which is why clients in EU-funds administration or energy-sector joint ventures are advised to run structured due diligence on local counterparties alongside any personal protection arrangements. Source: Law 333/2003 on guarding objectives, goods, values and the protection of persons (licences issued by the IGPR). Law 295/2004 on Firearms. Eurostat Road Safety Statistics (2024). FCDO Travel Advice: Romania (2026). Vetted operators in Bucharest deliver [bodyguard hire](/services/bodyguard-hire/) and [security drivers](/services/security-drivers/), coordinated through Law 333/2003-licensed local partners. For the full threat and regulatory briefing, see our [Bucharest close protection guide](/cities/bucharest/). ## Frequently asked questions ### Do private security operators need a licence to work in Romania? Yes. Law 333/2003 requires operators to hold an operating licence issued by the General Inspectorate of Romanian Police (IGPR). Clients should verify a provider's current licensing status before booking rather than assume it, since compliance is actively supervised, not a one-off historic approval. ### Is armed close protection standard in Romania? No. Firearms sit under Law 295/2004, and under Article 43 of Law 333/2003 guards may be armed only with police approval. Routine protection work for business visitors in Bucharest is unarmed, built around professional drivers, route planning and situational awareness. ### What is the single biggest security risk for business visitors to Bucharest? Road traffic, not crime. Eurostat's 2024 data places Romania among the EU's highest road fatality rates, which is why vetted, professionally driven transport for airport transfers and intercity routes is treated as a core operational requirement rather than an optional upgrade. Petty theft around Gara de Nord station is a secondary, more conventional concern. ### Can a foreign security firm operate directly in Romania without a local partner? No. A company licensed in another EU or EEA state may operate after notifying the IGPR (Article 19(6)). Other foreign operators work through a Romanian licensed company, and that partnership needs to be in place before the principal's travel dates. ### What sectors most commonly require close protection or due diligence support in Bucharest? IT outsourcing, financial services and Romanian oil and gas draw the bulk of corporate visits requiring protection or enhanced counterparty screening. Organised crime networks retain a presence, though a diminishing one, and clients engaged in joint ventures or EU-funds-linked dealings are advised to conduct structured due diligence on local partners as a baseline, alongside any personal protection arrangements.