Romania has introduced a new legal framework for access of foreign nationals to the Romanian labour market through Government Emergency Ordinance no. 32/2026 („OUG 32/2026”). The reform is relevant for Romanian employers, foreign investors, recruitment agencies and companies planning to hire non-EU workers in Romania. Starting from 8 August 2026, applications related to the employment or posting of foreign workers are expected to be submitted through the electronic platform WorkinRomania.gov.ro, as part of a broader digitalisation of the Romanian immigration and labour admission process.
One of the main changes is the removal of the previous requirement to submit the employment or posting notice, commonly referred to in practice as the Romanian work permit approval. At the same time, the former long-stay visa for employment purposes, D/AM, is reorganised into two categories: D/AM1 and D/AM2. The D/AM1 visa applies to specific categories of foreign workers, including highly qualified workers, professional athletes, certain full-time employees from Moldova, Ukraine and Serbia, as well as foreign nationals involved in public-interest, academic, scientific, teaching or cultural activities. Applications for the D/AM1 visa are to be registered exclusively by the employer through the electronic platform.
The D/AM2 visa covers other categories of workers, including permanent, seasonal and cross-border workers who do not fall under the D/AM1 regime. Depending on the case, the application may be submitted either by an authorised foreign worker placement agency or by an authorised employer. For D/AM2 cases, the documentation will generally rely on the individual employment agreement registered in REGES-ONLINE, while placement agency cases may also require the placement agreement and the services agreement. A key eligibility condition is that the relevant position must be included in the list of shortage occupations approved by the Ministry of Labour, which means that employers should assess the job role before committing to a recruitment or relocation timeline.
For companies hiring foreign workers in Romania, OUG 32/2026 makes immigration planning more closely connected to labour compliance, job classification, qualification recognition and contract structure. Seasonal workers, cross-border workers and workers in regulated professions may require additional checks before the visa file is prepared. In all work or posting visa applications, the foreign national must also provide travel medical insurance valid for the relevant period, covering emergency medical treatment, hospitalisation, repatriation for medical reasons or death, with minimum coverage of EUR 30,000. In practice, employers should review their hiring procedures early and align recruitment, employment documentation and visa strategy before the new platform-based system becomes fully applicable, in August 2026.
For a detailed analysis in Romanian, see the author’s full article published on Avocatnet.ro
What can we do for you?
We can assist employers, foreign investors, recruitment-related businesses and companies expanding their workforce in Romania with:
- Assessing the correct immigration route for foreign workers, including whether the D/AM1 or D/AM2 work visa category applies;
- Checking whether the position may qualify as a shortage occupation and identifying potential issues before starting the recruitment process;
- Reviewing the employment relationship from a Romanian labour and immigration law perspective, including job title, duties, salary, contract duration and qualification requirements;
- Preparing or reviewing employment documentation, including individual employment agreements, firm job offers and documents required for platform-based filings;
- Advising on employer registration or authorisation in the WorkinRomania.gov.ro system, depending on the company’s hiring model;
- Reviewing cooperation with worker placement agencies, including placement agreements, services agreements and allocation of responsibilities between the employer, agency and worker;
- Checking compliance obligations towards foreign workers, including accommodation, transport, salary payment, health and safety training, language requirements and internal reporting procedures;
- Supporting companies in preparing the visa file, with close attention to legal consistency, document traceability and avoidable procedural risks;
- Advising on continuous obligations after hiring, including document retention, notifications to authorities and compliance risks connected to foreign employees’ right of stay;
- Helping companies adapt their internal hiring policies to the new Romanian framework for employment of non-EU workers.
Need legal assistance with hiring foreign workers in Romania? We can help you assess the applicable route, review your documentation and prepare your recruitment process under the new Romanian work visa and labour compliance rules.