Romania Skilled Worker Visa 2026 – Full Guidelines

Do you happen to be a highly qualified professional who is interested in changing their career to the heart of the European Union? By January 2026 Romania has implemented a paradigm shifting New Foreign Workforce Legislation altering the way skilled workers can gain residency profoundly.

As the quota in 2026 to be distributed has been established as 90,000 working permits and Romania is fully integrated into the Schengen Area, the demand of specialized talent in the IT, engineering, and logistics areas is booming. This proposal offers the current, information-driven design to achieving your upcoming in Romania.

Basic Visa and Legality Important words

You should start by learning the legal lingo. The Romanian General Inspectorate of Immigration (IGI) digitized most of the processes in 2026; however, the fundamental demands are attached to the professional merit.

Aviz de Angajare (Work Authorization): It is the main permit that your employer should get. In the case of skilled workers, this is specially classified as a permit of “Highly Qualified Workers.”
D/AM Visa: The employment long-stay visa code, which is obligatory. After 2026 changes, after you get your Aviz, you have 180 days (not the former 60 days) to apply to this visa.
(Single Permit): The biometric abidance card that you will return on achievement. In the case of the extremely skilled jobs, this is normally true within a time period of up to 2 years, which is more than stable compared to the all-purpose labor permits.
Labor Market Test: The employer has to demonstrate that there is no qualified Romanian or EU/EEA citizen available by a 15 day period of vacancy advertisement.
EU Blue Card (Romania): This is a high-end residence permit that allows a university degree (3+ years) or 5+ years of high-level experience.

Romania Skilled Worker Visa 2026 – Full Guidelines

Essential Documentation and Adherence

The 2026 guidelines put a lot of emphasis on the Integration Readiness. You are not a worker anymore, you are a future resident.

Diplomia de Studii (Degree Recognition): The skilled workers have to have their diplomas recognized by CNRED (National Centre of Recognition and Equivalence of Diplomas). This is a very important requirement of the Highly Qualified status.
PCC (Police Clearance Certificate): This should be issued within 6 months, apostled or legalized in your home country by MOFA and translated into Romanian.
Language Integration Statement A new 2026 requirement. To guarantee that there will be safety and social unity, applicants are required to state (or demonstrate) having at least a basic knowledge of Romanian or being familiar with an international language (English/French) in which they will work.
Apostille/Legalization: To be legally binding in Bucharest all your personal documents should be certified by your local Romanian Embassy.

Geographic and Sector Specific Hubs

Where are the jobs? The highly-growing indefinite quantity that were recovered to have collected skilled worker permission in 2026 exclude:

Bucharest (The Capital): The main centre of Financial Services, Information Technology and Civil Engineering.
Cluj-Napoca & Iaasi: These cities are also the so-called Sillicon Valley of Europe, with an unquenchable needs in Software Developers and Systems Engineers.
Timișoara: The automotive engineering and R&D paradise.
Brașov: An Aerospace Engineer and Logistics Management boom center.

Application Instructions to 2026 Applicants

Employer Sponsorship: Get a job and then. The process becomes initiated through the IGI Digital Portal by the employer.
CNRED Approval: Forward your degree today. It is a process that normally lasts 30+ days.
Work Authorization (Aviz): Within 30 45 days the IGI handles the request of the employer.
Making the appointment of the Embassy: You have the Aviz, now make your registration on evisa.mae.ro. Within 180 days, you need to apply to the D/AM visa.
Local Registration: Once you have entered Romania, it takes 30 days to register your address and apply your physical biometric permit.

FAQs

Is Romania Skilled Worker Visa equivalent with EU Blue Card?

Not exactly. Although they both are professionally oriented, EU Blue card has quicker permanent residence routes and simplified family reunification, so long as you fulfill the particular 2026 wage and education qualifications.

Will I be able to relocate to Romania with the family in 2026?

Yes. Talented employees are entitled to Family Reunification. As soon as you have your own permit, your spouse and children are able to apply to be granted residency.

How many days does it take to process Romanian skilled visa in 2026?

Take around 3 to 4 months: it will take about 45 days to obtain the work permit, 20 days to obtain the embassy visa and 30 days to obtain the residence card.

Would a qualified visa require me to speak Romanian?

It is not required to obtain the visa but the 2026 Language Integration Statement presupposes that you should demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively in Romanian or English in the field of your practice.

What happens if I lose my job?

Your permit under 2026 regulations lasts 90 days following the end of the contract so that you have an opportunity to find another employer without being deported.

Final Thought

The 2026 labor market in Romania is moving towards the quality rather than the quantity. Having lowered the quota to 90,000, workers who are highly qualified are at the first position of the government. With a specialized degree and in case you can afford the medium gross salary threshold, your Europe way is even clearer than ever.

Disclimber

This article is informative and educative. It is recommended that the readers check the information related to the trusted sources like the official General Inspectorate of Immigration (IGI) or the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make any decision