Procedures for employing foreign citizens

Romania is facing a severe labour crisis. An increasingly worrying reality is that many Romanian citizens are looking for job opportunities abroad, leaving many vacancies.

Faced with this situation, Romanian employers are turning looking at other countries to compensate for the lack of personnel. Romania has therefore started to register a record number of visas granted to non EU workers who obtain work permits on its territory. Countries such as India, Sri Lanka and Nepal are becoming important sources of recruiting workers.

This trend not only reflects the dynamics of the labour market, but is also in line with the existing legal framework. Through Ordinance no. 25/2014, the Romanian Government provides a regulated framework for the employment and secondment of foreigners in the country.

The measures adopted represent an adaptation to the current economic and social realities. It is essential for Romania to respond effectively to these challenges, while ensuring proper integration of foreign workers and respect for their rights on the labour market.

Employment of foreign citizens in Romania – main steps

Hiring labour from countries outside the European Union is a complex process that involves a series of well-documented steps. Romanian employers who wish to integrate such employees into their teams must take into account the following essential phases:

• Obtaining the employment permit: This is the first and perhaps the most crucial step. The employer cannot proceed to hire a foreign citizen without this permit. The work permit ensures that the employer has received the necessary approval from the competent authorities to recruit an candidate from outside the European area.
• Obtaining a work visa: After obtaining the work permit, the foreign candidate must apply for a long-stay visa for employment purposes. This will allow them to live and work in Romania.
• Issuing of the residence permit for work purposes: Once the long-stay visa is approved, the last step is to obtain the residence permit. This document is essential because it legitimizes the presence and professional activity of the foreign citizen in Romanian.

It is important for employers to be well informed and to strictly follow these steps to ensure that the employment process goes smoothly and in accordance with the legislation in force.

Obtaining the permits for foreign workers

Hiring and recruiting workers form Asia in Romania requires obtaining an work permit. This authorization is issued by the General Inspectorate for Immigration, based on a series of documents attesting to the legality of the process.

Before starting this procedure, the employer must ensure that he has the following documents:

• Request
• Legal evidence concerning the employer, including certification of the current tax situation, proving payment of financial obligations for the last quarter
• Documents related to the vacancy
• Job Offer from the employer
• Information about the candidate: CV, photos, declaration of health and language skills, criminal record, authorization document (if necessary) and copy of border crossing document

Obtaining a work visa

The long-stay visa for foreign workers from Asia is the next step for those who want to work in another country. For those interested in obtaining such a visa, there are a number of requirements and documents that must be completed and submitted.

Among the documents are the work permit already obtained, a job offer with a clear salary (this is a precautionary measure to ensure that the worker can support him/herself while working in that country), taxes, a valid passport, etc.

Issuing a residence permit for work purposes

After the foreigner’s arrival in Romania the last step is to apply for a residence permit. The process, although structured, requires meticulous attention to administrative details to ensure compliance with Romanian legislation.