Romania Work Permit Guide

Romania has become one of the EU's most accessible destinations for non-EU workers — particularly in IT, healthcare, construction and manufacturing. The 2023 immigration reforms substantially streamlined the work permit process, and Romania joined Schengen (air + sea) in 2024, with full land borders in 2025.

Key advantages:

• Lower cost of living vs Western Europe (~50% cheaper than Germany)
• Strong English proficiency in IT/finance sectors
• Romanian Orthodox cultural openness to migrants
• Bucharest IT salaries reaching €4,000–€7,000 gross for senior roles
• EU labour mobility once you hold permanent residence

• ✓ Concrete job offer from a Romanian employer
• ✓ Job within Romania's annual quota (currently 100,000 work permits per year, IT/healthcare/construction prioritised)
• ✓ Salary ≥ Romanian minimum wage (RON 4,050 gross/month in 2026, ~€815) AND ≥ industry going rate
• ✓ Required qualifications (university degree or vocational diploma + apostille + sworn translation)
• ✓ Health insurance via Romanian CNAS (Casa Națională de Asigurări de Sănătate)
• ✓ Clean criminal record (last 5 years, apostilled)
• ✓ Proof of accommodation in Romania (12-month lease minimum)
• ✓ Approval from the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI)

Employer side:

1. Job posted on the National Employment Agency portal — 15-day labour-market test (waived for IT, healthcare, R&D)
2. Employer files Aviz de muncă application at the local IGI office with employment contract draft, employer compliance certificate, your CV + diplomas
3. Fee RON 200 (~€40)
4. Decision 30–60 days

Worker side:

1. Once the Aviz is issued, apply for Long-stay D Visa for Employment at the Romanian consulate
2. Fee €120, processing 15–30 working days
3. Enter Romania within 6 months of visa issue
4. Within 30 days apply for the Residence Permit at the IGI office in the county you'll live
5. Receive residence permit (similar to a card) within 30 days

Tax + SS registration:

• Employer auto-enrols you with ANAF (tax) and CNAS (health) systems
• You receive your CNP (Romanian personal numeric code) at residence permit issuance

Romanian government:

• Aviz de muncă: RON 200 (~€40)
• Long-stay D Visa: €120
• Residence Permit: RON 360 (~€72)
• CNP issuance: free

Translation + apostilles: €150–€350

Workium service: €1,000 — includes employer-side filing, IGI liaison, consulate appointment, post-arrival registration

Continuous residence required: 5 years on a Romanian residence permit Language requirement: A2 Romanian (basic conversation) Documents at PR application:

• Last 5 years tax declarations
• Continuous employment proof
• Adequate accommodation
• Clean criminal record (Romanian + home country)

After PR, citizenship is available after another 5 years (so 10 total) with B1 Romanian + national history test pass + renouncing original citizenship (unless dual permitted).