Standard Employment
Can apply to a broad range of workers and professions.
🇷🇴 Romania
Highly Qualified Employment
Build Your Professional Future in Romania
← Back to Romania
Romania offers a dedicated employment pathway for highly qualified third-country nationals who have received a qualifying employment offer from a Romanian employer.
This route is designed for professionals with advanced qualifications, specialised expertise or higher-level professional skills who will work in a highly qualified position in Romania.
CETO Global Immigration Consulting & Partners assists highly qualified professionals and Romanian employers in assessing the applicable requirements and coordinates the immigration process together with qualified legal and immigration professionals.
Who Can Apply?
This pathway is intended for third-country nationals employed in Romania in a Highly Qualified Position. Applicants generally need to satisfy requirements concerning:
- Professional Qualifications
- Higher-Level Skills
- Employment Contract
- Salary
- Professional Authorization where applicable
- Romanian Employment Conditions
- Other Applicable Immigration Requirements
Employment Contract
The highly qualified worker must generally have a full-time individual employment contract, which can be for an indefinite period or for a fixed period of at least 6 months.
The employment must be for a position classified as highly qualified.
Full-Time Individual Employment Contract
Higher Professional Qualifications
The applicant must demonstrate the professional qualifications required for the highly qualified position. Depending on the profession, evidence can include:
- University Degree
- Higher-Education Diploma
- Professional Qualifications
- Relevant Professional Experience
- Specialist Training
- Professional Authorization where legally required
For regulated professions, the applicant must also satisfy the applicable Romanian authorization or recognition requirements.
Salary Requirement
The employment contract must specify remuneration that meets the applicable Romanian threshold. Under the current rules for highly qualified employment, the salary must generally be at least the Romanian average gross salary.
The exact monetary amount can change as the national average gross salary is updated. For this reason, eligibility should always be checked according to the salary threshold applicable at the time of application.
The Romanian Average Gross Salary
Labour Market Requirement
The Romanian employer generally must demonstrate that steps were taken to fill the available position with an eligible worker already available on the Romanian labour market. The employer may need documentation from the competent employment agency concerning the availability of workers such as:
- Romanian Citizens
- EU / EEA Citizens
- Swiss Citizens
- Qualifying Long-Term Residents
The specific exemptions and procedures depend on the applicant's circumstances.
Employer Responsibilities
The Romanian employer plays an important role in the highly qualified employment procedure. The employer must generally ensure that:
- The proposed job is a highly qualified position
- The employment contract satisfies the applicable requirements
- The salary meets the required threshold
- The worker has the required professional qualifications
- Labour-market requirements have been addressed
- The necessary immigration application is submitted
- Employment conditions comply with Romanian law
Electronic Application
Under Romania's current employment immigration procedure, the employer submits the relevant application electronically through the WorkinRomania.gov.ro platform.
For highly qualified workers, the application is completed by the Romanian employer, who uploads the required employment and immigration documentation through the electronic system.
WorkinRomania.gov.ro Platform
Long-Stay Visa
The highly qualified employee proceeds through Romania's long-stay employment visa procedure.
The current employment visa procedure uses the D/AM1 visa category for certain employment categories, including highly qualified workers, through the single electronic application process.
D/AM1
Long-Stay Visa Documents
Depending on the individual case, documents can include:
- Registered Employment Contract
- Valid Passport
- Criminal Record Certificate
- Travel Medical Insurance
- Evidence of Professional Qualifications
- Professional Authorization where applicable
- Curriculum Vitae
- Additional Documentation Required by the Authorities
Travel medical insurance must satisfy the applicable Romanian requirements.
Employment Contract Registration
The employment contract must be registered in Romania's employee register, REGES-ONLINE.
The registered employment contract forms part of the electronic application.
REGES-ONLINE
Documents for Highly Qualified Workers
The current Romanian procedure requires employers to provide evidence including:
- Full-Time Employment Contract
- Salary Information
- Professional Authorization where applicable
- Applicant's Curriculum Vitae
- Employment Agency Certificate Regarding Available Workers
- Supporting Qualification Documentation
- Other Required Immigration Documents
Residence in Romania
After completing the applicable visa and entry procedure, the highly qualified worker must obtain the appropriate Romanian residence documentation.
The residence permit certifies the employee's right to remain in Romania for the approved employment purpose.
The application should be submitted within the applicable deadline before the existing lawful stay expires.
Processing Time
The Romanian General Inspectorate for Immigration generally processes applications for employment permits within 30 days.
Where additional checks are required, the procedure may be extended by up to 15 additional days.
Special shorter processing rules can apply in certain EU Blue Card mobility cases.
30 Days
Who May Benefit From This Pathway?
Highly Qualified Employment can be particularly relevant for:
- IT Professionals
- Engineers
- Senior Managers
- Financial Professionals
- Scientists
- Technology Specialists
- Healthcare Professionals
- Senior Consultants
- Technical Experts
- International Specialists
- Other Highly Qualified Professionals
Highly Qualified Employment vs. Standard Employment
Highly Qualified Employment
Is specifically intended for professionals employed in highly qualified positions who satisfy higher qualification and salary requirements.
The distinction affects the employment, documentation and immigration procedure.
Highly Qualified Employment & EU Blue Card
Highly qualified employment can also be connected with Romania's EU Blue Card.
The EU Blue Card provides a specific residence status for qualifying highly skilled professionals, offering additional rights and mobility advantages under EU law.
Because the EU Blue Card has its own requirements and benefits, CETO treats it as a separate immigration pathway.
EU Blue Card
Family Relocation
Eligible highly qualified workers may have access to Romanian family reunification pathways. Depending on the circumstances, qualifying family members can include:
- Spouse
- Minor Children
- Other Eligible Family Members
Long-Term Residence
Highly qualified employment can form part of a long-term residence strategy in Romania.
Eligible third-country nationals who establish the required period of lawful and continuous residence may eventually qualify for long-term residence in Romania. Separate requirements apply.
Long-Term Residence in Romania
Our Process
- 01
Professional Assessment
We review your qualifications, professional experience and proposed Romanian employment.
- 02
Employment Review
The job position, contract duration and salary are assessed against the applicable highly qualified employment requirements.
- 03
Employer Coordination
The Romanian employer prepares the required employment and labour-market documentation.
- 04
Electronic Application
The application is submitted through the applicable Romanian electronic immigration platform.
- 05
Visa & Entry Process
The appropriate long-stay employment procedure is completed.
- 06
Residence Permit
After entry into Romania, the applicant completes the residence procedure with the Romanian immigration authorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a university degree?
Not every case is identical, but applicants must demonstrate the higher professional qualifications required for the highly qualified position. Depending on the profession, this can include higher education, professional qualifications or other recognised evidence.
How long must my employment contract be?
The contract must generally be for an indefinite period or for a fixed period of at least 6 months.
Is there a salary requirement?
Yes. The salary must generally be at least at the level of Romania's applicable average gross salary.
Does the employer apply?
Yes. Under the current procedure, the Romanian employer completes the relevant electronic application for highly qualified workers.
Is there a labour-market check?
Generally, the employer must show that steps were taken to fill the vacancy through the Romanian/EU labour market, subject to applicable exemptions.
Can this lead to an EU Blue Card?
Highly qualified professionals may potentially qualify for an EU Blue Card if the specific EU Blue Card requirements are satisfied.
Can my family join me?
Potentially yes, through Romania's family reunification rules.
Can this lead to long-term residence?
Potentially yes. Qualifying employment-based residence can contribute toward eligibility for Romanian long-term residence.
Start Your Highly Qualified Career in Romania
Bring Your Expertise to Romania
If you are a highly qualified professional with a qualifying employment opportunity in Romania, CETO can help you understand the applicable immigration pathway and coordinate the required process.
Salary thresholds, qualification requirements, labour-market procedures and immigration rules may change.
Eligibility depends on the applicant's qualifications, employment contract, salary, profession and Romanian law applicable at the time of application.