Workforce Without Borders: A Step-by-Step Guide to Romanian Work Permits And Visas (II)
- Talpes.law
- Sep 15
- 4 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
Part II: Obtaining a Romanian Long-Stay Visa for Employment Purposes (Visa Type D/AM )
Following the issuance of a Romanian work permit, foreign nationals have up to 180 days to apply for a long-stay visa for employment purposes.
In [Part I of this series – link], we examined the work permit process from the employer’s perspective. In this article, we shift the focus to the employee, offering a practical guide to the legal requirements, documentation, and procedural steps needed to successfully apply for the long-stay employment visa.
I. Legal Framework
The legal framework governing foreign nationals in Romania is primarily established by Government Emergency Ordinance (GEO) No. 194/2002 on the Regime of Foreigners, which has been amended and supplemented over time. This ordinance sets out the general principles regulating the entry, stay, and exit of foreign nationals, as well as the specific conditions for the issuance of visas and residence permits. The following sections will provide a detailed overview of these provisions.
II. General Conditions for Long-Stay Visa Approval
To obtain a Romanian long stay visa, several general conditions must be fulfilled. Broadly, these include:
Entry requirements: The foreign national must hold a valid travel document recognized by Romania, provide evidence of the purpose and conditions of stay, as well as sufficient means of subsistence for the duration of the stay and for return, and must not pose a risk to national security, public order, or public health.
Absence of grounds for refusal of entry: The applicant must not be subject to alerts in the Romanian or Schengen information systems for the purpose of refusing entry, nor be flagged by international organizations for terrorism-related activities, organized crime involvement, or serious international crimes (e.g., war crimes, crimes against humanity).
Health requirements: The applicant must not suffer from diseases that could seriously endanger public health, as determined by the Ministry of Health.
Integrity of documentation: The travel document must not be counterfeit, falsified, or altered, and there should be no reasonable doubts regarding the authenticity of the supporting documents submitted or the applicant’s stated purpose of stay.
Criminal record and migration risks: The applicant must not have been finally convicted abroad for offences incompatible with the purpose of the requested visa, and the visa application must not be made for the purpose of illegal migration.
Additional requirements: The applicant must not be subject to alerts regarding visa refusal in Romania’s integrated migration and asylum system, nor to objections raised by other EU/EEA/Schengen states in the framework of consular cooperation.
III. Application Process and Documentation for Employment Visa
1. Online Submission via E-Visa Platform
The application is submitted online through the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' E-Visa platform ( https://eviza.mae.ro). The process involves:
Filling out the online visa application form;
Uploading scanned copies of all required documents (listed below).
Once submitted online, the original documents must be printed, organized as uploaded, and brought to the consulate or embassy at the time of the scheduled interview.
2. Required Supporting Documents
Applicants must upload the following documents during the online application process:
Work permit (also referred to as employment authorization); Certain categories of foreign nationals (as defined in Article 44, point (3) of GEO No. 194/2002) may be exempt from submitting the work permit.
Proof of means of subsistence; Financial resources must be equivalent to at least the gross minimum salary in Romania for the duration of the visa (90 days). Accepted forms of proof include convertible foreign currency, traveler’s checks, checkbooks linked to a foreign currency account, credit cards, accompanied by a bank statement issued within 2 days of the visa application.
A valid passport that must meet the following criteria: it must be issued within the last 10 years, must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the intended departure date from Romania, and must contain at least 2 blank pages;
Health insurance valid for the entire 90 days visa period;
Criminal record or an equivalent document issued by the country of domicile or residence;
Two recent passport-size photos ( standard ¾ size , compliant with official Romanian requirements).
3. Consular Interview and Visa Fee
Once the online application is reviewed and accepted, the applicant will receive an email confirmation with the appointment details, including the exact date and time for the consular interview.
At the appointment, the applicant must:
Present the printed visa application file, including all supporting documents in the same order and format as uploaded;
Provide proof of payment for the visa fee (120 Euros) which must be paid in advance. The fee is non-refundable, even in case of refusal.
Attend an in-person interview at the Romanian consulate or embassy.
4. Processing Time and Decision
The application will be reviewed by the National Visa Centre, and a decision is typically issued within 20 calendar days from the date the application is submitted.
5. Grounds for Inadmissibility
Visa applications will be rejected as inadmissible under the following conditions:
The application is submitted more than three months before the intended arrival date in Romania;
The application form is incomplete or not signed;
The required photos do not meet specifications;
The visa fee is unpaid or proof of payment is not provided;
For minors, a notarized parental consent form is missing.
IV. Conclusion
While the Romanian long-stay employment visa process can be complex and document-heavy, our firm has successfully handled numerous cases with speed and precision. Clients trust us for efficient, dependable legal support at every step.
In the final article of this series, we’ll cover the process of obtaining a temporary residence permit after arriving in Romania—a necessary requirement for continuing both legal residence and employment beyond the initial 90-day visa. This final stage completes the journey from recruitment to long-term legal stay, with clear and practical guidance at each step.
Author: Paul Andrei Ciorba
For more details, visit us or book a phone or video call — see our contact information below. We speak English, German, Italian, Hungarian, and Romanian.
Talpeș - SCPA (Law Firm)
str. Avram Iancu, nr. 16, ap. 9
400089 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
tel:+40364133211
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