Romania Work Permit 2025

Romania has become one of Europe’s fastest-expanding labour markets, driven by manufacturing, construction, logistics, IT, hospitality and domestic services. To meet workforce shortages, the government opens an annual quota for non-EU workers every year and issues work permits under strict rules set by the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI).

A Romania work permit is mandatory for all non-EU / non-EEA / non-Swiss citizens who wish to work in the country. The employer is responsible for initiating the process, validating labour shortages, and obtaining approval from IGI. After the permit is granted, the worker applies for a long-stay work visa, enters Romania, and then receives a residence permit for work. Below is the complete official breakdown.

Eligibility Factors & Requirements

Eligibility Factor	Official Requirement
Nationality	Mandatory for all non-EU / non-EEA / non-Swiss nationals.
Age	Must be at least 18 years old.
Medical Fitness	Must hold a medical certificate proving fitness for employment.
Criminal Background	Must not have any recorded criminal convictions (clean police certificate).
Job Availability Check	Employers must prove no Romanian/EU worker is available for that role.
Quota Availability	Permit issued only if the annual government quota is still open.
Education/Skill Match	The worker’s qualifications must match the role offered.
Valid Passport	Must be valid for the duration required for residence issuance.
Employment Contract	Must be drafted and registered as soon as the worker arrives.

Types of Romanian Work Permit

Type of Work Permit	Who It Is For	Explanation
Permanent Worker Permit	Standard full-time employees	Issued for long-term employment contracts with Romanian employers.
Seasonal Worker Permit	Agriculture, tourism, hospitality	For short-term seasonal jobs, lower fees and quicker processing.
Trainee Permit	Interns or professional trainees	For structured training programs under supervision.
Highly-Skilled Worker Permit (Blue Card Equivalent)	Specialists with high qualifications	Requires salary ≥ national average gross salary; contract minimum 6 months.
Seconded Worker Permit	Employees transferred from foreign companies	The worker stays legally employed by a foreign entity but works temporarily in Romania.
Cross-Border Worker Permit	Workers from neighbouring non-EU states	For those living across borders but employed in Romania.
ICT (Intra-Corporate Transfer) Permit	Managers/specialists transferred within the same company	Follows EU rules on corporate mobility.
Athlete / Cultural Worker Permit	Sports professionals & artists	For clubs, federations, and cultural institutions hiring foreigners.

Documents Required

Employer’s Documents

Proof of labour shortage (record from the National Employment Agency).
Company registration certificate.
Financial capability documents (profitability or funds to pay wages).
Employment contract draft.
Proof of paid government fee.

Worker’s Documents

Passport (valid minimum of 6–12 months, depending on visa type).
Recent photos.
Curriculum Vitae.
Education certificates (translated & authenticated).
Medical certificate proving fitness.
Criminal background certificate (clean record).
Consent letters or affidavits are required by IGI.

Application Process for Romanian Work Permit

Employer Initiates File at IGI

The employer submits the complete application to the General Inspectorate for Immigration. Verification includes labour shortage confirmation, company documents, and worker skill match.

IGI Evaluation

IGI checks:

annual quota availability,
criminal record,
employer compliance,
accuracy of employment conditions.

Work Permit Approval

If all conditions are met, IGI issues the Work Permit (Aviz de Muncă).

Worker Applies for Long-Stay Work Visa (D/AM)

The worker applies at the Romanian consulate in the home country using the IGI-issued work permit.

Arrival in Romania & Employment Contract

Upon arriving, the worker must sign and register the employment contract within the legally required timeframe.

Apply for a Residence Permit

A Temporary Residence Permit for Employment is issued by IGI after biometrics, documents, and verification.

Processing Time

The average processing time for a Romanian work permit is around 30 days for IGI approval, followed by 10–20 days for the long-stay work visa, though cases involving additional verification or high-demand sectors may extend slightly. Overall timelines also depend on quota availability and how quickly the employer submits complete documents.

Stage	Time
IGI Work Permit Processing	30 days (extendable by 15 days if checks are required).
Long-Stay Work Visa Processing	10–20 days on average.
Residence Permit Processing	30 days after biometrics.

Government Fees

Permit Type	Official Fee
Permanent Worker	€100 equivalent in RON
Highly-Skilled Worker	€100 equivalent
Deployed/ Seconded Worker	€100 equivalent
Trainee/ Intern	€100 equivalent
Seasonal Worker	€25 equivalent
Residence Permit Card	An additional fee is charged upon issuance

Core Compliance Rules for Workers & Employers

Annual Quota for Non-EU Workers

Romania sets a national quota every year for non-EU employees, and work permits are issued only until this quota is exhausted. Employers must apply early because IGI stops accepting files once the quota is reached.

Salary Requirements

Foreign workers must be paid at least the Romanian minimum gross wage, while highly-skilled workers must meet a higher salary threshold based on the national average. The contract must clearly show these amounts before IGI approval.

Renewal Rules

A work-based residence permit is typically valid for one year and must be renewed before expiry. Renewals require a valid employment contract, clean tax records, proof of accommodation, and updated medical insurance.

Common Reasons for Rejection

IGI may refuse an application if documents are incomplete, if the employer fails the labour market test, if the quota is already filled, or if the worker’s qualifications do not match the job offered.

Changing Employers

Work permits in Romania are employer-specific. Changing jobs always requires a new work permit and a new long-stay visa or residence permit, depending on the case.

Penalties for Working Without Authorisation

Working without an approved permit results in fines, removal from Romania, and a possible re-entry ban. Employers face financial penalties and inspection-based sanctions for hiring unauthorised workers.

Important 2025 Rule Updates

Minimum salary for highly-skilled workers is now equal to the national average gross salary (previously required double).
Employment contracts must be signed within 15 business days of the foreign worker’s arrival.
IGI can conduct on-site inspections to verify employer compliance.
The annual non-EU worker quota is fixed by government order each year.
Employers must demonstrate attempts to hire local/EU workers first.
Work permits are employer-specific and cannot be freely transferred.

Key Points to Know

Changing employers requires a new work permit.
A residence permit is generally valid for 1 year at a time.
Long-term residence becomes possible after 5 years of legal stay.
Family reunification is allowed once residence conditions are met.
Overstaying or working without a permit leads to deportation + fines.

A Romania work permit follows a rigid but clear legal procedure, centred around employer responsibility, job market validation, and IGI approval. With updated rules for 2025 and streamlined processing, Romania continues to open opportunities for skilled and unskilled workers, provided all official requirements are met.