Romania just rewrote the rulebook on hiring foreign workers — and if you’re planning to move there or bring international talent into your business, you need to read this. Whether you’re a job seeker in the UAE, an employer managing staff across borders, or a professional exploring your options in Europe, the new Romania work permit 2026 framework changes things in a big way. Here’s a clear, jargon-free breakdown of what’s new, what’s gone, and what you need to do next.
Romania has been quietly dealing with a significant labour shortage for years. Millions of Romanian workers have built careers across Western Europe, leaving key industries—construction, agriculture, hospitality, manufacturing, and IT—heavily dependent on non-EU workers to keep things running.
The old system, built on Government Ordinance No. 25/2014, was slow, paper-heavy, and increasingly unfit for purpose. Employers had to chase individual employment permits for every foreign hire. It worked, just barely, but it couldn’t scale.
So, Romania’s government did something bold: they scrapped the entire system.
Government Emergency Ordinance No. 32/2026 (GEO No. 32/2026), which came into force on 27 April 2026, completely replaces the old framework. Employment permits are gone. In their place is a new digital-first system with two new visa types, a centralized online platform, and stricter rules for everyone involved.
The new Romania work permit framework introduces several major changes for employers, recruitment agencies, and foreign workers. Here’s a quick overview of what’s new under GEO No. 32/2026:
Let’s explore each of these changes in more detail.
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From 27 April 2026, Romania officially abolished the requirement for separate employment permits for foreign workers. Employers can no longer apply for individual work authorizations under the previous Government Ordinance No. 25/2014 framework.
Instead, the process now begins with an application for a long-stay employment visa, submitted through the new WorkinRomania.gov.ro digital platform. Under the new system, the visa becomes the primary authorization for employment, creating a more streamlined, digital-first application process for employers and foreign workers.
If your application was already underway before 27 April 2026, there is no need to worry. Applications submitted before this date, along with previously scheduled appointments, will continue to be processed under the former legislation.
In addition, applications for long-term residence submitted on or before 31 December 2026 will also continue to follow the previous legal framework, ensuring a smooth transition to the new system.
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The entire Romania work permit process now runs through a single government platform: WorkinRomania.gov.ro, developed by Romania’s Ministry of Internal Affairs.
This is where employers register, placement agencies apply for authorisation, visa applications are submitted, and compliance is tracked. There is no paper alternative and no offline route.
Important timeline: The platform is currently in a transition phase. Until 7 August 2026, it’s being used for employer registration, agency authorization, and system setup. Full visa processing kicks in from August 2026 onwards. If you’re planning a move or a hire in the second half of 2026, now is the time to get prepared.
The two new visa types serve different purposes. Understanding which one applies to your situation is the most important decision in the entire process.
D/AM1 Visa — Highly Skilled Workers
The D/AM1 visa is for highly skilled professionals and certain specialist categories defined under Romanian law. If your role requires advanced qualifications, technical expertise, or specialist knowledge, this is likely your route.
Employers hiring under D/AM1 only need to register on the WorkinRomania platform—not go through the more demanding full authorization process. It’s the faster, lighter pathway and is well-suited for IT professionals, engineers, and other specialist roles.
D/AM2 Visa — Shortage Occupation Workers
The D/AM2 visa covers permanent workers, seasonal workers, and cross-border workers in roles listed on Romania’s official Shortage Occupations List. This is the primary route for sectors like construction, food processing, logistics, agriculture, and hospitality.
Applying under D/AM2 is more involved. Depending on how you’re hiring, your employer may need to obtain full authorization from Romania’s National Agency for Employment.
The D/AM2 long-stay employment visa is closely tied to Romania’s Shortage Occupations List—an official government list identifying occupations facing significant labour shortages across the country.
For most applicants, this list is the first checkpoint in the application process. If the position you are applying for—or the role your employer wants to fill—is not included on the Shortage Occupations List, you will generally not qualify for the D/AM2 visa. In such cases, applicants may need to explore the D/AM1 (Highly Skilled Worker) route or another eligible immigration category.
According to GEO No. 32/2026, the Romanian Ministry of Labour will publish the Shortage Occupations List within 45 days of the ordinance’s publication in the Official Gazette. While the final list has yet to be released, the following sectors are widely expected to be included:
Why this matters: Before beginning a Romania Work Permit 2026 application, employers and foreign workers should first confirm whether the intended occupation appears on the official Shortage Occupations List. Doing so can help avoid delays, ineligible applications, and unnecessary processing costs.
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One of the more confusing parts of the new system is understanding when employers need to simply register on the platform versus when they need to go through full authorization.
Registration is enough when:
Full authorization is required when:
These conditions are tough by design. They ensure only established, compliant businesses can directly recruit foreign staff at scale.
Foreign worker placement agencies operating in Romania have, until now, existed in a legal grey area. GEO No. 32/2026 changes that.
Agencies must now apply for formal authorisation from the National Agency for Employment. To be authorized, they can only place workers in shortage occupations, must work from confirmed job offers from registered employers, and must hold a financial guarantee of EUR 75,000 for up to 250 workers placed (plus EUR 50,000 per additional block of 250).
If you’re working with a recruitment partner in Romania — or planning to — verify that they are compliant with the new regime.
Beyond the visa changes, GEO No. 32/2026 also amends Romania’s Labour Code in ways that directly affect how employment contracts are written and managed.
What’s changed:
If you manage HR for a business with foreign staff in Romania, your contract templates need updating immediately.
For professionals based in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, or elsewhere in the GCC, the new Romania work permit system introduces both opportunity and complexity.
The opportunity: Romania’s shortage occupation sectors are actively seeking international talent, and the D/AM1 route provides a clear, structured pathway for skilled professionals.
The complexity: applications now involve multiple steps—employer registration, correct visa category selection, document preparation in multiple languages, and coordination across time zones.
Working with experienced Romania work permit and visa consultants—especially those who understand both the GCC labour market and Romanian immigration requirements—makes a meaningful difference in avoiding delays and errors.
At Navigate Migrate, we help professionals and employers across the UAE and GCC navigate exactly these kinds of regulatory shifts. Our team provides end-to-end support — from assessing your eligibility and identifying the right visa route to preparing your application and guiding you through to arrival in Romania.
Before you apply — or before you hire — work through this list:
GEO No. 32/2026 is the most significant overhaul of Romania’s foreign employment rules in over a decade. The move to a digital, centralised system is a genuine step forward — but the new requirements around employer authorisation, financial guarantees, shortage occupation eligibility, and bilingual contracts mean that getting the details right matters more than ever.
If you’re planning to work in Romania or hire internationally through a Romanian entity, starting early and getting proper guidance will save you time, money, and compliance headaches.
Navigate Migrate is here to help. Get in touch with our team for a consultation, and let’s map out your Romania migration pathway together.
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