Romania Work Permits 2026: GEO 32/2026, WorkinRomania and D/AM Visas
Since GEO 32/2026 was published on 27 April 2026, Romanian employers hire non-EU workers through a single online application on WorkinRomania.gov.ro for a D/AM1 or D/AM2 long-stay work visa. On 11 September 2026 the Bucharest Court of Appeal suspended the shortage-occupation list (Order 1073/2026). As of October 2026, employer registration, employer authorisation and D/AM2 applications on the platform remain disabled.
| Item | Current rule | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | Government Emergency Ordinance (GEO) 32/2026 on foreigners' access to the labour market, Monitorul Oficial No. 335 of 27 April 2026 | Forvis Mazars – HR and payroll alert on GEO 32/2026 (May 2026) |
| Application channel | Single online application on WorkinRomania.gov.ro | WorkinRomania.gov.ro (Government of Romania) |
| D/AM1 visa | Highly qualified workers and other listed categories; no occupation list; filed by a registered employer | WorkinRomania.gov.ro – employers |
| D/AM2 visa | Permanent, seasonal and cross-border workers in shortage occupations; filed by an authorised employer or a placement agency | WorkinRomania.gov.ro – employers |
| Authorised employer | At least 24 months of activity, an average of 50+ employees, EUR 1,000 guarantee per worker; ANOFM decides within 15 working days | WorkinRomania.gov.ro – employers |
| Court suspension | Order 1073/2026 (shortage list) suspended; employer registration, authorisation and D/AM2 flows disabled | WorkinRomania.gov.ro – platform notice |
| Employer duties | Equal pay with Romanian staff; contract in Romanian and a language the worker understands; notify within 5 working days of absence or termination | WorkinRomania.gov.ro – employers |
What the rule is now
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can work in Romania freely. For other nationals, Government Emergency Ordinance 32/2026, published in Monitorul Oficial No. 335 on 27 April 2026 (Forvis Mazars), created a new system built around two long-stay work visas and the online platform WorkinRomania.gov.ro.
D/AM1 and D/AM2 visas
- D/AM1: for highly qualified workers and other listed categories. It is not tied to the shortage-occupation list, and a registered employer files the application directly.
- D/AM2: for permanent, seasonal and cross-border workers in occupations on the lista ocupațiilor deficitare [shortage-occupation list]. An authorised employer files directly, or a registered employer works through an authorised placement agency.
To be registered, an employer must have no state budget debts and no recent sanctions or relevant convictions. To be authorised, it also needs at least 24 months of activity, an average of at least 50 employees in the previous year, a clean recent compliance record and a guarantee of EUR 1,000 per foreign worker. ANOFM, the national employment agency, decides on authorisation within 15 working days (WorkinRomania).
Status of the court suspension
On 11 September 2026, in case 5633/2/2026 brought by the Patronatul Importatorilor de Forță de Muncă [employers’ association of labour importers], the Bucharest Court of Appeal suspended Order 1073/2026, which approved the shortage-occupation list (Revista Biz). The platform notice says employer registration, employer authorisation and D/AM2 applications are disabled, and it gives no date for restoring them. The association says other flows, including D/AM1 filings and employer changes, are also blocked; the authorities had not confirmed this.
Parliament is also amending the ordinance. On 26 May 2026 the Senate adopted changes, including a shortage list updated every six months and hiring above the previous year’s headcount only with financial viability of EUR 500,000 and at least 50% Romanian full-time staff. The Chamber of Deputies has the final vote (TVR Info).
Who it applies to
Any employer in Romania hiring a national of a country outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland. A foreign company without a Romanian entity cannot register on the platform; an Employer of Record can act as the Romanian employer.
What employers need to do
- Check whether the role qualifies for D/AM1, which is not affected by the shortage list.
- Upload a firm job offer with job title, duties, pay, hours, duration and location.
- Offer the same pay and conditions as Romanian staff, sign the contract in Romanian and a language the worker understands, and never charge the worker recruitment fees.
- Authorised employers must provide Romanian language and integration courses for at least six months.
- Report unexcused absence of more than 3 working days, termination or exploitation to IGI and the agency within 5 working days.
- After arrival, register the contract in REGES-ONLINE and support the residence permit application to IGI.
How it has changed
- Before April 2026: employers obtained a work authorisation (aviz de muncă) from IGI, and the worker then applied for a D/AM visa.
- 27 April 2026: GEO 32/2026 published, introducing D/AM1, D/AM2 and WorkinRomania.gov.ro.
- 26 May 2026: Senate amendments adopted; Chamber of Deputies vote pending.
- 11 September 2026: court suspension of the shortage list; D/AM2 flows disabled.
FAQs: Romania Work Permits for Foreign Workers 2026
Can a Romanian company hire a non-EU worker while the court suspension lasts?
Partly. The suspension of Order 1073/2026 disabled employer registration, employer authorisation and D/AM2 applications on WorkinRomania.gov.ro. Roles that qualify for the D/AM1 visa, such as highly qualified posts, are not tied to the shortage list, but an employers’ association reports delays there too. Check the platform notice before planning start dates.
What is the difference between the D/AM1 and D/AM2 visas in Romania?
D/AM1 is for highly qualified workers and other listed categories, with no occupation list, and a registered employer files it. D/AM2 is for permanent, seasonal and cross-border workers in shortage occupations, filed by an authorised employer or through an authorised placement agency for a registered employer.
What is an authorised employer under GEO 32/2026?
An authorised employer can recruit D/AM2 workers directly. It needs at least 24 months of activity, an average of at least 50 employees in the previous year, a clean recent compliance record and a guarantee of EUR 1,000 per foreign worker. ANOFM decides on authorisation within 15 working days.
Why was the WorkinRomania platform partly suspended?
On 11 September 2026 the Bucharest Court of Appeal suspended Order 1073/2026, which approved the shortage-occupation list, at the request of an employers’ association of labour importers. Because D/AM2 visas depend on that list, the platform disabled employer registration, authorisation and D/AM2 applications until further notice.
Related NNRoad resources: Romania employment law guide · Employer of Record in Romania · Payroll in Romania · Hiring foreign employees in Romania · Romania employer cost calculator
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