Romania

Romania is a country of 19.0 million people (2026 estimate) with an employment rate well below the EU average: 69.0% of people aged 20–64 have a job (EU: 76.1%).

Unemployment was 5.6% in 2022 and 2023 and 5.4% in 2024, then rose to 6.1% in 2025 – just above the EU average of 6.0%. Young people find it much harder: youth unemployment is 26.1% among people aged 15–24, compared with 15.2% in the EU, and it has gone up from 22.8% in 2022.

As an EU citizen you do not need a work permit – you can work in Romania for an employer or as self-employed, on the same terms as Romanians. For most jobs you need Romanian: CVs are normally written in Romanian, and your employment contract will be in Romanian too.

The latest EU-wide overview of shortages – the EURES report on labour shortages and surpluses 2025 (European Labour Authority, June 2026) – lists for Romania many occupations, including:

• IT – software developers, applications programmers, systems analysts and administrators, database and network professionals, ICT support technicians and service managers,
• engineering – civil, electrical and mechanical engineers, architects,
• health and care – nursing professionals, physiotherapists, health care assistants,
• construction – bricklayers, carpenters and joiners, plumbers and pipe fitters, roofers,
• hospitality and food – chefs, cooks, bakers and pastry cooks, butchers, hotel and restaurant managers,
• transport – heavy truck drivers; car, taxi and van drivers,
• business – accountants, finance managers, marketing, PR and HR professionals.

For graduates, the best-documented demand is in IT, engineering, health and business services. For most jobs, Romanian makes a big difference.

The public employment service is the National Employment Agency (Agenția Națională pentru Ocuparea Forței de Muncă, ANOFM), with 41 county agencies and one in Bucharest. They offer free information, counselling and job mediation. Start here:

• ANOFM job search – vacancies reported by employers, updated in real time; filter by occupation, sector, county, salary and contract type, including offers for graduates and trainees,
• job fairs (burse ale locurilor de muncă) – organised all year by the county employment agencies,
• EURES – the EU job portal; every county employment agency has EURES advisers.

The most common way to apply is to send a CV, sometimes with a short cover letter. Many employers also post jobs on private job portals and their own websites.

For step-by-step advice on job search, CVs and interviews in any EU country, see our How to find a job abroad – 10 practical guides.

A Romanian application usually contains:

• a CV in Romanian – the EURES network in Romania recommends the Europass CV; if the job requires a foreign language, send the CV in that language,
• a cover letter – optional, at most one page.

The interview: bring your CV and documents that prove your education and qualifications – diplomas, training certificates, papers from previous jobs.

Before you start: by law you need a medical certificate showing you are fit for the job. For some occupations – e.g. work at height, healthcare staff, security guards, work with toxic substances – a psychological test is compulsory.

Diplomas: the National Centre for Recognition and Equivalence of Diplomas (CNRED) evaluates foreign degrees against the Romanian education system and deals with recognition for regulated professions.

• Minimum wage: RON 4,325 gross a month from 1 July 2026 (about RON 2,699 net). In construction the minimum is RON 4,582 gross. For comparison, the average gross salary in February 2026 was RON 9,272 (RON 5,557 net).
• Working time: normally 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week (5 days). Maximum: 48 hours a week, including overtime.
• Overtime is compensated with paid time off within 90 calendar days or with extra pay of at least 75% of your basic salary.
• Night work (10 pm – 6 am): either one hour less work a day with the same pay, or extra pay of at least 25%.
• Holidays: at least 20 days of paid leave a year, paid at least 5 working days before the leave starts; plus paid days off for family events (e.g. 5 days for your wedding).
• Contract: must be in writing, in Romanian, and signed before you start work. The employer enters it in the General Employee Register (REGES) and must give you a signed copy before your first day. Probation: up to 90 calendar days (120 for managers).

Students from the EU/EEA can work in Romania on the same terms as Romanians. A student job is normally a regular (often part-time) employment contract – pay and rights are proportional to your working time.

• Traineeship for graduates (stagiu): if you have a bachelor’s degree and are new to your profession, the first 6 months in a job can be a traineeship under a written traineeship contract, alongside your employment contract, with a mentor. Your salary cannot be lower than the national minimum wage.
• Help for employers: employers who take on graduate trainees can receive RON 2,250 a month per trainee for the 6 months from the unemployment insurance budget.
• Finding offers: the ANOFM job search lets you filter vacancies for graduates and trainees.

Students from outside the EU may work part-time during their studies without a work authorisation, for a maximum of 4 hours a day.

Thinking of studying there first? See Studying in Romania – practical information.

1. Registration certificate (certificat de înregistrare): if you stay longer than 3 months, register your residence at the local office of the Inspectorate-General for Immigration (IGI). As a jobseeker you can stay up to 6 months without conditions.
2. Personal numeric code (CNP): your registration document contains a personal identification number. You need it at the bank, for taxes and for medical services.
3. Work contract in REGES: check that your employer has registered your contract before your first working day.
4. Health insurance: the public system is run by the National Health Insurance House (CNAS). Bring your European Health Insurance Card for the time before you are covered in Romania.
5. Tax: the employer deducts income tax and social contributions from your salary. Example: the minimum wage of RON 4,325 gross is about RON 2,699 net (July 2026).
6. Bank account: you need your CNP to open one.

Problems with your rights as an EU worker? Your Europe Advice and SOLVIT help for free.

If you are not an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen, your employer must first get a work authorisation (aviz de muncă) for you from the Inspectorate-General for Immigration (IGI). It is granted only if the job cannot be filled by a Romanian, EU/EEA or Swiss citizen, and within the yearly quotas set by the government (unless you are exempt). With the authorisation you have 60 days to apply for a long-stay visa for employment (D/AM) at a Romanian embassy. The main routes:

• Graduates of Romanian universities can extend their residence right for studies by 9 months to look for a job or open a business.
• EU Blue Card – for highly qualified jobs (a degree from a programme of at least 3 years or equivalent experience). It is issued for the length of the contract plus 3 months, for at most 2 years.
• Seasonal work – a fixed-term contract based on an employment notice from IGI.

Conditions, salary thresholds and fees change – always check them with the Inspectorate-General for Immigration.

• Eurostat – population on 1 January, unemployment by age, employment rate (data for 2025 and 2026),
• EURES – Living and working conditions: Romania,
• European Labour Authority – EURES report on labour shortages and surpluses 2025,
• ANOFM – job vacancies, job fairs, traineeship for graduates,
• CNRED – recognition of diplomas,
• CNAS – National Health Insurance House,
• IGI – Inspectorate-General for Immigration,
• EU Immigration Portal – students in Romania, highly qualified workers,
• Your Europe – working abroad.

Updated: October 2026.