1. Cost of Living: Compared to many Western European countries, the cost of living in Romania is relatively lower, especially in terms of accommodation, food, and entertainment
Processing fee: 4000 Euro
Romania is a beautiful country located in southeastern Europe, known for its rich history, diverse culture, and picturesque landscapes. Here's a brief overview of Romania and some advantages of living and working there:
The low cost of living, stunning landscapes, and a growing cultural scene are just three of the many reasons Romania is such an attractive place to move to and live.
Citizens of the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland (as part of the European Free Trade Association) can legally work in Romania without having to apply for visas or permits. All other foreign nationals require two documents — a Romania work permit and a Romania work visa — to live and work in the country legally.
1. Cost of Living: Compared to many Western European countries, the cost of living in Romania is relatively lower, especially in terms of accommodation, food, and entertainment
2. Thriving Job Market: Romania has a growing job market, particularly in IT, engineering, healthcare, and services. The IT sector, in particular, offers numerous opportunities for skilled professionals.
3. Quality of Life: Romania boasts a high quality of life with access to healthcare, education, and cultural amenities. Cities like Cluj-Napoca and Timișoara are known for their livability.
4. Nature and Recreation: Romania's natural beauty is unparalleled, with opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, and exploring historic sites like castles and monasteries.
5. Cultural Richness: Living in Romania allows you to immerse yourself in a diverse cultural environment, experiencing traditional festivals, arts, and cuisine.
6. Strategic Location: Romania's location in Europe makes it a strategic base for travel within the continent, with easy access to neighboring countries and major European cities.
These advantages make Romania an appealing destination for those seeking a balance of career opportunities, quality of life, and cultural experiences in a vibrant European setting
While some countries may only require a work permit or work visa, these are separate documents in Romania with different application procedures. Non-EU/EAA/Swiss foreign nationals must have both documents to work legally in the country.
Work permits
Before applying for a work visa, you must obtain a work permit. Only a prospective employer can request work permits. They must file the applications with the office of the Inspectorate General for Immigration (IGI).
Work permits (also known as "work authorizations") don’t grant foreign nationals general permission to work in Romania. Instead, they are issued for the specific company that requests them and are only valid for a particular position. If an individual decides to change companies during their employment tenure in Romania, they would need to get a new work permit for their new job, even if the old permit is still valid.
Work permits in Romania generally fall under four categories:
1 Work permits for local hires are issued to foreigners with a valid, local employment contract in Romania. These permits are valid for one year but can be renewed as long as the local contract remains valid.
2 Work permits for highly-skilled employees are issued to foreign nationals working in highly-skilled positions in Romania. Prospective employees must demonstrate their skills and qualifications and have a salary at least double the gross average to obtain these permits. Work permits for highly skilled employees are valid for two years and are extendable.
3 Work permits for intra-corporate transfer (ICT) workers and trainees focus on employees and trainees who work for the same company in another country. These permits are valid for up to three years for professionals and one year for trainees. ICT work permits require professionals to have at least three years of experience in their field and trainees to have three consecutive months of experience within the same company.
4 Other work permits are also issued to seasonal workers, au pairs, athletes, interns, nominal workers, trainees, and cross-border employees.
Once your employer has obtained a work permit on your behalf, you can apply for a Romanian work visa, which is issued to all foreigners who plan to work legally in Romania and aren’t EU/EAA/Swiss nationals.
Types of Romanian work visas
Before we dive into the specifics, standard requirements for all applicants include:
To be eligible for a long-stay Romanian work visa, you need to fall into one of the following categories:
To apply for a long-stay Romanian visa, you need the following additional documents:
Romania digital nomad visa requirements
To apply for a digital nomad visa, you need the following additional documents:
Apostilled document certifying the applicant has paid all taxes in their home country
Only prospective employers can request work permits, which must be obtained from the Inspectorate General for Immigration. Before an employer applies for a work permit, they may ask the applicant for the following:
Additionally, requests for certain jobs might go through a "Labor Market Test" to offer first refusal to locals. Employers need to demonstrate that there are no suitable Romanian or EU/EEA nationals for the same position when applying for work permits for foreign nationals.
Once you have your work permit, you must apply for a Romanian work visa at a diplomatic mission or consulate within 60 days
Work permits
Employers must initiate the application process for obtaining a Romanian work permit with the IGI. However, they might ask you to first present some of the documents listed above to demonstrate that your training and experience meet the company's requirements.
Employers also pay a tax of €100 (US$110) for each permit, a copy of which is needed to start the work (D-type) visa application.
It's important to remember that you must submit your Romanian work visa application at least two weeks before, but no earlier than three months, your intended arrival date.
You can apply for a Romanian work visa directly through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. Here are the steps to applying for a Romanian work visa:
Work permits typically take four to six weeks to be processed and issued. Sometimes, the IGI may request additional documentation, extending the process by another 15 days.
Work visas take between 10 and 14 business days to process.
To find out more about Romania Work permit, please contact us and one of our agents would reach out to you within 24hrs.
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