What Is the National Programme “Life in the Countryside”?
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Law No. 139/2026 introduces the National Programme “Life in the Countryside”, an initiative designed to promote agritourism and enhance the value of Romania’s rural heritage by showcasing local traditions, crafts, and village-based activities.
The programme enables rural households to welcome visitors and generate additional income by presenting agricultural activities, local products, traditional crafts, and other authentic rural experiences. It also aims to simplify administrative procedures and digitalise both the registration and promotion processes.
How Rural Households Can Join the Programme
Participation in the National Programme “Life in the Countryside” requires applicants to submit a declaration to the local municipality where their household is located. Based on the information provided, the local authority registers the applicant in the Local Register of Rural Activity Producers, which will be maintained in digital format.
Once the information has been verified, applicants receive a Certificate of Rural Activity Producer, confirming their eligibility to participate in the programme and specifying the types of activities they may offer to visitors.
Promotion of participating households and reservation management will be handled through the national “Life in the Countryside” online platform, developed under the coordination of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The platform will allow participants to showcase their services, accept bookings, process payments, and manage customer relations.
Tax Treatment of Programme Income
Income generated through the programme will be classified as income from independent activities and taxed according to the standard income norms established under the Romanian Fiscal Code.
The applicable income norms and adjustment coefficients will be determined through a joint order issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Finance and will be communicated annually to ANAF. The new tax regime will apply to income earned starting with the fiscal year following the publication of the law.
Programme Implementation Timeline
The law also establishes the key implementation milestones. The implementing regulations must be approved within 90 days of the law’s publication, while the national online platform must become operational within six months.
Through the National Programme “Life in the Countryside”, the Romanian authorities aim to support rural economic development, encourage households to diversify their sources of income, and promote the country’s cultural heritage and local traditions through agritourism.