Romania Work Permit Requirements 2026
Do you intend to further your career in the European Union this year? The Romania work permit process to operate in 2026 is more than ever before with radical changes in legislation and a reduced quota of 90,000 permits ( vs 100,000 in 2025).
As an expert engineer or an industrial employee, you will have the most successful migration to the country as long as you are aware of the New Foreign Workforce Legislation effective January 1, 2026. This guide dissection includes all the documents, wage threshold, and computer-based action that you are required to undertake.
Primary Work Permit and Legal status
You need to be aware of two-tier legal structure before making a flight booking. The Romanian government has shifted towards a more digital-first strategy in 2026 in an attempt to decrease the time of processing, but the basis has been employer sponsorship.
- Aviz de Angajare (Work Authorization): The document issued by the General Inspectorate of Immigration (IGI) that has to precede the work. This must be acquired by your employer first.
- D/AM Long-Stay Visa: The particular working visa. After the Aviz, you need to apply this within 180 days a better improvement of the previous 60 days limit to allow international logistics.
- Permis de Ședere (Single Permit): The residence card that you receive upon arrival and which is a combination of your right to work and reside in Romania.
- IGI Portal Registration: The online system upon which your employer starts the process sponsorship.
Salary Requirements (2026 Updates) Financial
The salaries in Romania have been revised at 2026 to remain competitive with the EU levels. The most frequent reason of either getting or refusing application is to have your contract fulfill these values.
- Gross Political unit Minimum Earnings (Salariul Minim Brut): Since January 1 to June 30, 2026, the minimal wage will be 4,050 RON (just about, 815). It is conceived to go up to 4,325 RON by July 1, 2026.
- Construction & Agriculture Minimum: These industries have a higher statutory minimum wage set traditionally at 4,582 RON providing an employer with certain tax advantages and an increased take-home pay to you.
- Blue Card Salary Threshold: In the case of Highly Skilled Workers the 2026 rules have streamlined the threshold. Now you just have to make 1.5 times the gross salary (not 2x) average in order to receive this 2-year permit.
- Fiscal Attestation Certificate: Your employer should demonstrate that he paid all the state taxes last year not only the last quarter.
Critical Personal Records
In the case of your interview in your embassy in 2026, your file should be perfect. Make sure that everything is translated to Romanian by an official translator.
- Legalized Police Clearance (PCC): Original criminal record check of your home country, that should be aptostilled or legalized and valid not less than 6 months.
- Medical Fitness Certificate: A certificate saying that you are fit to work. Note that these requirements have evolved to many embassies whereby a number of panel clinics are required to provide such services as opposed to general practitioners.
- Minimum Language Skills Statement: A 2026 standard in which the worker or employer is required to state that the worker can understand a minimum amount of Romanian or an international language (such as English) to ensure the safety and integration.
- Evidence of Qualifications: Diplomas or vocational certificates have to be certified by Romanian Ministry of Education.
Employer Obligations/
The First-come, first-served rule is apparently in force with the Quota of 2026 being restricted to 90,000.
- Labor Market Test: The evidence that the employment opportunity was posted at least 15 days and that there was no Romanian or EU national identified to occupy the position. This certificate can now have a 90-day duration in 2026.
- Vorbatori de Limba Romana/Engleza: This is a keyword in recruitment that marked the new focus on the integration of languages.
- Cazare Inclusă (Accommodation Included): Blue-collar workers use a critical term; you have to get a registered address and only then will the employer issue a permit to live.
FAQs
What will the visa cost of a work visa in Romania in 2026?
The long stay visa (Type D/AM) costs are 140 euros (approximately 155 dollars) generally paid at the Romanian embassy of your country of origin.
Am I allowed to apply in the work permit myself?
No. The Aviz de Angajare can only be applied to a registered Romanian company. After the company has sent you the approved permit, you are only able to apply to the visa.
Is the visa mandatory in Romanian?
Although a formal B1 certificate is solely a citizenship requirement, to comply with the 2026 requirements, a written statement in your CV file must show that you have background knowledge of minimum knowledge of Romanian or English to observe safety measures.
What is the duration of the background check (PCC)?
The IGI will only accept your Police Clearance Certificate which should be issued within the past 6 months.
What is the time taken to receive the residence card upon arrival?
You have to apply in 30 days of arriving at the local IGI office. The issue of the card usually requires between 30 and 45 days.
Final Thought
The work permit quota will be reduced by 2026 and that is why the best bet is to prepare. In case you are a qualified specialist, the EU Blue card route is now more available than ever since the salary conditions are reduced. So make sure that your employer begins the Labor Market Test by February so that you overcome the freeze of quotas in October.
Disclaimer
The article is informative and educational in nature. It is recommended that readers should check information obtained in reliable materials, including the official General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) or the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs before deciding.