Who can work in Romania, and with what paperwork

EU / EEA / Swiss citizens

No visa and no work permit. Staying past 90 days, you register with the immigration inspectorate (IGI) for the certificat de înregistrare (registration certificate), which also brings your personal numeric code (CNP) — the ID number Romanian payroll, banks and doctors will ask for. Official source: igi.mai.gov.ro.

Non-EU citizens — the 2026 system changed

Heads up: Romania overhauled its work-immigration system in 2026 (Emergency Ordinance 32/2026). The old employer work-authorization ("aviz de muncă") flow is being replaced by a digital process with two long-stay visa categories: D/AM1 (highly-qualified and special categories, no quota) and D/AM2 (general employment, annual quota + shortage-occupation list), run through the new WorkinRomania platform. The flow remains employer-led: authorization first, then the long-stay visa, then the residence permit at IGI after arrival. Because this is brand-new, verify every step against IGI and official announcements rather than older guides.

The constants

Whatever the route: the process starts with the EMPLOYER, tourist entry doesn't convert into work authorization in standard cases, and applying for jobs is always free — anyone charging you to "arrange" a job is a scam.

Orientation, not legal advice: rules change and cases differ. Every section links the official source — always verify there or with a professional (gestor / consultant) before acting. Facts last verified July 2026.

Common questions

Can I work in Romania with only English?

Legally the language doesn’t matter — the permit rules above do. Practically: the jobs on this site are pre-filtered to openings that don’t require Romanian, and the Working in Romania report shows which sectors hire in English the most (shared services, tech and support lead).

The rest of the toolkit: the expat reference library · the live Working in Romania report · companies hiring right now. Compiled from official sources; corrections welcome.