When you’re planning to scale your company globally, one of the most important things you’ll need is a team of skilled workers. Employees from your parent company, as well as new recruits from around the world, will need visas and work permits for most countries — including Romania.
Types of work visas in Romania
Romania is a member state of the European Union (EU), so the laws regarding work visas and permits are similar to those of other countries in the EU. Citizens of other EU member states do not need a permit to work in Romania, nor do citizens of Switzerland and other countries in the European Economic Area (EEA). These countries include Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
However, any prospective employees that are not from one of these countries will need a work permit. There are several kinds of permits for third-country nationals in Romania, including permits for:
- Permanent employees
- Trainee workers
- Seasonal workers
- Cross-border workers
- Highly qualified workers
- Deployed workers
- ICT workers
- Au pair workers
Requirements to obtain Romania work visas
In Romania, third-country nationals need a local employer to sponsor and apply for a work permit on their behalf. A permit will be issued only if the position cannot be filled by Romanian citizens or citizens of EU/EEA Member States or by permanent residents in Romania. Other conditions include that the prospective employee must:
- Meet all of the employer’s requirements for the position under legal provisions.
- Have a clean criminal record.
- Provide a medical certificate that states their capability to carry out the tasks required for the job.
- Fall within the annual quota for third-country nationals who may be granted a work permit.
Employees will also need to apply for a long-term visa. Along with the application, employees should be prepared to provide several documents, including:
- Work permit obtained by the employer
- Proof of accommodation in Romania
- A valid passport
- 2 recent identifying photos
- Proof of medical insurance for the duration of the visit
- Police clearance or a background check from the employee’s country of residence
- Evidence of sufficient financial means to support the visit
- A flight ticket or proof of other accommodations for travel
Application process
Third-country nationals will need a work permit as well as a long-term visa to live and work in Romania legally. Here are the necessary steps to obtain these documents:
- The employer must apply for the work permit on behalf of the prospective employee, submitting all relevant documents to the Inspectorate General for Immigration (IGI) and paying the applicable fees.
- The IGI will answer the request within 30 days, either providing a decision or requesting more information for verification. If additional verification is needed, the process may be extended for up to 15 days.
- Once the IGI approves the application, a work permit will be issued to the prospective employee.
- The employee must then obtain a long-term visa by applying through the diplomatic missions and consular offices of Romania. The employee has a window of 60 days to apply after obtaining their work permit.
Other important considerations
If an employee needs to extend the residence granted by their long-term visa, they can request to do so through the IGI. They’ll need to file the request at least 30 days before their visa is set to expire. Their work permit may be renewed at the same time.
In Romania, most work permits can be extended for up to a year. Highly skilled employees may be qualified for an extension of 2 years.
Some employees may be traveling with family members. Each family member will need their own long-term visa as well as their own work permit if they wish to seek employment in Romania.
Discover how G-P can help you manage your global teams.
At G-P, we’re committed to breaking down barriers to global business, enabling opportunity for everyone, everywhere, and helping companies tap into the fullest potential of their workforce. We help you maintain full compliance with local laws and ensure everything from hiring and onboarding to paying your employees is quick and easy, regardless of where they are in the world.
Find out more about how our Global Growth Platform™ can help you grow your team across the globe.
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At this moment, G-P does not sponsor or support the processing of work visas or permits in this particular location.