Part of the region of Maramureș, it is composed of four villages: Călinești-Oaș, Coca (Kakáktelep), Lechința (Avaslekence), and Pășunea Mare (Nagylegelő).

Situated on the western side of the Oaș Country Depression at a distance of 46 kilometres (29 mi) from the county capital Satu Mare, Călinești borders Gherța Mică commune to the north, to the south Prilog-Vii village and Livada city, to the east Boinești village and to the west Turulung commune, which represents the boundary of the Oaș Country.

[3] Călinești-Oaș is situated in the Oaș Depression, near the Jelejnic Hill, 46 km (29 mi) North - East of the county seat Satu Mare on the Talna and Tur rivers.

As the commune is located in the far north of the country in a mountainous region, the average annual temperature is slightly lower than in Satu Mare.

After the 1970 floods in Romania, which affected large parts of Călinești, the dam on the Tur River was built in 1972; this created a lake of 357 ha (3.57 km2).

[7] The Călinești-Oaș Dam was built in 1972 on the river Tur near the confluence with the Valea Rea between the Hurca and Jelejnic Hills.