Immigration
Schengen since 2024 with an annual work-permit quota
Romania joined Schengen for air and sea borders in March 2024 and for land borders in January 2025. Third-country nationals are governed by Ordinance 194/2002, and the government sets an annual quota of newly admitted workers that has grown sharply.
Key rules
- Employment requires an employment permit obtained by the employer before the visa.
- A long-stay D visa is applied for at a consulate and converted into a residence permit after entry.
- Long-term residence generally requires five years of continuous legal stay.
- The General Inspectorate for Immigration issues and renews residence permits.
Governing law
- Government Ordinance No. 194/2002 on the regime of foreigners (2002)
- Law No. 122/2006 on asylum (2006)
- Government Ordinance No. 25/2014 on employment of foreigners (2014)
In practice
The permit and visa must be applied for in that order and within a fixed window, so a permit obtained too early can lapse before the consular appointment is available.