Romania - Employed worker

Where and how to apply

Work authorisation

Your future employer must apply on your behalf to the General Inspectorate for Immigration for a work authorisation (unless you are exempt), which will be issued within the quotas fixed by the Government.

The General Inspectorate for Immigration will verify that the employer can prove that there is no qualified Romanian or EU/EEA national or non-EU citizen already holding a permanent residence permit available on the domestic labour market.

The following categories of third-country nationals are exempt from having to obtain a work authorisation:

• third-country nationals whose access to the labour market is regulated according to conventions or bilateral agreements to which Romania is a party;
• third-country nationals who carry out teaching, scientific or other types of activities on a temporary basis in accredited institutions, based on bilateral agreements or based on an order issued by the responsible Minister; 
• third-country nationals who carry out temporary activities solicited by Ministries or by central, local or autonomous public authorities;
• third-country nationals who are appointed as heads of unit, of the local branch or subsidiary of a company based abroad;
• third-country nationals with a temporary residence right for carrying out research activities and the personnel with special qualification, based on the Minister of National Education's Order, as well as the third-country nationals who carry out artistic activities in cultural institutions in Romania, based on the Minister of Culture's Order;
• third-country nationals holding a long-term residence right on the Romanian territory;
• third-country nationals holding a temporary residence right for the family reunification as family members of a Romanian citizen;
• third-country nationals holding a temporary residence right for studies;
• third-country nationals holding a temporary residence right granted according to the provisions of art. 130 (victims of crimes) of the Government Emergency Ordinance no. 194/2002, republished, with subsequent amendments and completions,
• third-country nationals, holding a valid temporary residence permit, granted for the purpose of family reunification, who have previously enjoyed a right of residence on the territory of Romania as family members of a Romanian citizen and who are in one of the situations provided in art. 64 para. (2) of the Government Emergency Ordinance no. 194/2002, republished, with subsequent amendments and completions;
• third-country nationals who have acquired a form of protection in Romania;
• asylum seekers from the date on which they have the right to receive access to the labour market according to Law no. 122/2006 on asylum in Romania, with subsequent amendments and completions, if he/she is still in the procedure of determining a form of protection;
• tolerated third-country nationals, during the period when they were granted the tolerance of remaining on the Romanian territory;
• third-country nationals holding a temporary residence right for work purposes, employed in Romania with a full-time individual employment contract, for employment with another employer, with a part-time individual employment contract;
• third-country nationals holding a temporary residence right for religious activities to be engaged within the religious units in Romania.

Long-stay visa

Once a work authorisation has been issued, you have 60 days to apply for a long-stay visa for employment purposes (identified by the symbol D/AM) at the Romanian embassy in your country of origin or residence.

Temporary residence permit

After entering Romania and concluding the individual employment contract, you must apply for a temporary residence permit at the territorial bureau of the General Inspectorate for Immigration of your residence place.

Documents required

Work authorisation

When applying for your work authorisation, your employer must present the General Inspectorate for Immigration with the following:

• proof that he/she carries out a legal activity in Romania;
• the registration certificate at the trade register office, in copy and in original;
• the certificate issued by the trade register office, attesting no entries were made regarding the opening of the bankruptcy proceedings;
• the fiscal attestation certificate issued by the public finance administration in whose territorial area the employer has his/her registered office, regarding the payment of the obligations to the state budget for the last quarter;
• a certificate issued by the Labour Force Agency in whose territorial area the employer has his/her registered office, regarding the available labour force for the vacant job communicated by the employer according to the legal provisions, no later than 60 days prior to submitting the application;
• a job description, organisational chart of the employer with the presentation of the filling and vacant positions;
• proof of the recruitment actions and advertisement of the vacancy with the regional employment service;
• the firm employment offer;
• a copy of the report drawn up following the selection made for filling the vacancies and the fact that the third-country national whom the employer intends to employ meets the conditions of professional training and work experience provided by the legislation in force for filling that work position;
• your CV (and two photos ¾), which must include a written statement you are medically able to be employed and that he/she has a minimum knowledge of the Romanian language or knows an international language;
• any diplomas proving your qualifications;
• an authorisation document required by law (where applicable)
• your criminal record or other document with the same legal value issued by the authorities of the country of origin or residence, translated and legalised;
• the criminal record of the employer;
• a copy of the valid border cross-border document.

Long-stay visa

You must submit the following documents when applying for a long-stay visa:

• a copy of the work authorisation, issued by the General Inspectorate for Immigration, or documents proving that you are exempt from the obligation to obtain such authorisations;
• proof of financial means to support yourself, at least at the value of the national minimum wage in Romania, for the entire validity period of the visa;
• a general insurance covering the visa's validity;
• criminal record.

Temporary residence permit

If you entered Romania on a long stay visa, you may be granted a temporary residence permit, which extends your right to stay in Romania for the duration of your work contract and for for up to one year. You must:

• have a work contract;
• have a salary at least at the level of the national gross minimum wage;
• have a medical certificate proving work capacity;
• have a valid travel document;
• apply for or extend the right of residence for the same purpose for which you were granted a visa;
• have legal ownership or a

Unemployment

If you lose your job, you must leave Romania since your work authorisation is tied to your employer, unless you are issued with a new work authorisation.

If your employment relationship ceases before the expiry of the period for which the single permit or EU Blue Card was issued, it shall remain valid until the expiry of the period for which it was issued, but not longer than the period during which you receive the unemployment benefit or not more than 90 days from the date of employment cessation if you do not receive unemployment benefits.

Change of employment

If you have a long-stay visa for employment purposes, or a temporary residence permit, you cannot change employment. You have to remain with the employer who applied and obtained your work authorisation.

If you want to change employment, you will need a new work authorisation.

If you have a permanent residence permit, you can change employment without restrictions.

Long-term residence

To be granted a long-term residence permit, you must show that your temporary stay in Romania has been legal and continuous for at least five years. Only half the time spent as a student with a temporary residence permit can be taken into account when calculating this period.

During the five-year period, you must not have left Romania for more than six months in one year and more than ten months in total.

It is not considered absence from the Romanian territory if, by the service's nature, the third-country national has travelled abroad for development of international transport activities and presents documents proving this situation.

You must show:

• sufficient financial resources, either by showing proof of your bank account, or a monthly income such as salary, pension, etc., at least at the level of the national gross minimum wage;
• proof of health insurance;
• adequate accommodation, for example a registered lease contract;
• your criminal record.

You must also do a language test to prove a satisfactory level of Romanian language.

If you have obtained a permanent right to stay you will be issued with a long-term residence permit, renewable every five years.

Long-term residence status gives you equal treatment with Romanian citizens regarding the conditions for access to the labour market (except for public prerogatives), education and vocational training, social security, social and health care, social protection and medical assistance.

More on permanent residence status (in Romanian).