Hiring non-EU workers in Romania: work permit, visa, residence
A guide for employers: the real conditions, steps and timelines for legally bringing workers from outside the EU — from the IGI work permit to the residence card.
Labour shortages push more and more Romanian companies to recruit outside the EU. The process is bureaucratic but predictable once you know it: work permit → long-stay visa → residence permit. Here is how it looks in practice.
Step 0: Check the company's eligibility
The employer must be active, free of outstanding tax debts, without recent sanctions for undeclared work, and with an activity compatible with the role. The annual quota of admitted workers is set by government decision — for 2026 the figure remains generous.
Step 1: The work permit from IGI
The file includes the job offer, proof the vacancy was advertised, the company's documents and the candidate's documents. Legal processing time: up to 30 days. The permit is paid per worker and is the precondition for the employment visa.
Step 2: The long-stay visa (D/AM)
With the permit obtained, the candidate applies for the visa at the Romanian consulate in their country — usually online, via the eViza portal. Processing typically takes 2–4 weeks, and the visa allows entry into Romania for employment.
Step 3: Employment contract and residence permit
After arrival, the contract is signed and registered in REVISAL before the first day of work, and within 90 days the worker files for the single permit for residence and work.
Realistic timelines, end to end
- preparing the work-permit file: 1–2 weeks;
- the work permit itself: up to 30 days;
- the visa: 2–4 weeks;
- total, in practice: 2–4 months from decision to the employee at work.
Companies that hire frequently plan recruitment 3–4 months ahead of the real need. We manage the whole chain — permit, visa, residence, REVISAL — and keep your candidate informed in their own language.
