Romania's work visa after the 2026 overhaul: D/AM1, D/AM2 and one application
Your employer now files a single request online, the visa fee is €300, and which track you land on decides whether a quota and a shortage list apply to you.
You can't apply for this visa on your own. A Romanian employer has to hire you first and file the paperwork for you. What follows is the process as it stands in September 2026, after Emergency Ordinance 32/2026 rewrote the rules in April.
The numbers that matter
€300
Long-stay visa fee
Since April 2026 (was €120)
30 days
Most a consulate takes to decide the visa
After your employer's application clears
5 to 6 months
Realistic start to finish
One Romanian agency's advice to employers
90,000
2026 cap on new foreign workers
Applies to D/AM2, not D/AM1
How it works now
Two tracks, one online request
Romania used to make you collect a work permit, then a visa, then a residence permit from three offices. Since the platform WorkinRomania.gov.ro fully launched in August 2026, your employer files one request and the visa follows from it.
D/AM1: skilled and special categories
For highly qualified workers and groups like educators, researchers and professional athletes. No annual quota and no shortage list. If you have a degree and a professional-level offer, this is likely your track.
D/AM2: permanent, seasonal and cross-border workers
Capped by the 2026 quota and limited to jobs on Romania's shortage list, which draws only from occupation groups 3 to 9 of the national classification. Manager and professional groups aren't on it.
This page is dated on purpose
The 2026 ordinance is new and some details (salary floors, how and when you can change employer, permit length) are still settling. Treat anything here as the September 2026 picture and have your employer confirm the current rules before you sign.
Step by step
From job offer to residence card
1. Your employer gets set up
The company registers on WorkinRomania.gov.ro, which can take up to 30 business days. For D/AM1 it needs 12 months of operating history and clean tax records. To hire D/AM2 workers directly, it needs 24 months in business, an average of at least 50 employees, and a €1,000 guarantee per worker.
2. The single application
Your employer files it. You get a firm offer that spells out pay, hours, leave and insurance, and a contract in Romanian plus a language you understand. Nobody may charge you a recruitment fee or deposit.
3. The visa
You apply through Romania's e-Viza system and a consulate, pay €300, and wait up to 30 days. Your passport needs at least three months of validity past your planned departure.
4. Residence
Once in Romania you register with the immigration office (IGI). File any renewal at least 30 days before your current right of stay runs out. A medical certificate is now due by your start date, not before you sign.
Here's the catch: housing paperwork trips people up. Get a lease that's properly registered, because unregistered or inconsistent contracts cause many of the delays.
Beyond the job
Family, the Blue Card and a passport down the road
Bringing your family
Your spouse and minor children can join you through family reunification if you show housing, health insurance, and income at or above the minimum gross wage for each person you add. Sources disagree on whether a spouse's family permit now lets them work without their own authorization, so don't count on a second paycheck until that's confirmed.
The EU Blue Card
If you're highly qualified, ask your employer about the Blue Card instead. In Romania the salary floor is pegged to the national average gross wage, a six-month contract is enough, the card lasts up to three years, and family can apply at the same time.
Citizenship
After at least 8 years of legal residence you can apply to naturalize, with Romanian language, basic Romanian culture, and the Constitution on the test. The good news is Romania lets you keep your U.S. citizenship.
Who this visa doesn't fit
It only works if a Romanian company wants to hire you. If your income comes from a U.S. employer, clients or savings, this isn't your route. A U.S. company sending you over temporarily can keep you on U.S. Social Security for up to 5 years under the new agreement, which changes the math.
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Romania work visa questions
Will I pay Social Security to both the U.S. and Romania?
Not for the same work. The U.S.-Romania Social Security agreement took effect in September 2026 and ends double contributions. Employees sent temporarily by a U.S. employer can stay on U.S. Social Security for up to 5 years, and if you're short of U.S. credits, Romanian credits can help you qualify for a partial U.S. benefit.
Can a Romanian work visa lead to citizenship?
It can. Romania's citizenship law requires at least 8 years of legal residence, working Romanian, basic knowledge of Romanian culture, and knowledge of the Constitution and national anthem. You can keep your U.S. citizenship, because Romania allows naturalized citizens to retain their foreign nationality.
What's the difference between the D/AM1 and D/AM2 visas?
D/AM1 is for highly qualified workers and special categories such as educators, researchers and professional athletes, and it isn't limited by a quota or the shortage occupation list. D/AM2 covers permanent, seasonal and cross-border workers, counts against the 2026 cap of 90,000 new foreign workers, and is limited to jobs on the shortage list.
How much does a Romania work visa cost?
The long-stay visa fee is €300 for applications filed on or after April 27, 2026, up from €120. It's set in euros and can be paid in the dollar equivalent. Employers can't charge you recruitment fees or deposits. Companies hiring D/AM2 workers directly post a €1,000 guarantee per worker, which is their cost, not yours.
How long does it take to get a Romania work visa?
Employer registration on WorkinRomania.gov.ro can take up to 30 business days, and the single application plus the visa up to 60 days, with the consulate itself deciding within 30 days. A Romanian agency tells employers to plan on five to six months from start to finish.
Can my spouse and children come with me on a Romania work visa?
Yes, through family reunification. Your spouse and minor children can join you if you show suitable housing, health insurance, and income at or above Romania's minimum gross wage for each family member you add. Whether a spouse can work on that permit without separate authorization is unsettled under the 2026 rules, so confirm it before relying on it.
How much tax do you pay on a salary in Romania?
Romania taxes employment income at a flat 10%. Employees also pay 25% of gross salary for social insurance and 10% for health insurance, and employers pay a 2.25% work insurance contribution on top.
Do Americans need a visa to work in Romania?
Yes. U.S. citizens can visit Romania without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and that time counts toward the Schengen limit. To take a job with a Romanian employer, you need a long-stay employment visa (D/AM1 or D/AM2), which starts with your employer's application on WorkinRomania.gov.ro.
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