Romania Work Permits 2026: 90,000 Quota for Non-EU Workers and the New WorkinRomania Portal
Romania will admit up to 90,000 new non-EU workers in 2026, mainly in construction, factories and hotels. Hiring now runs through the WorkinRomania portal.
Europe| Country | Europe |
|---|---|
| Organization | Government of Romania / Ministry of Labour |
| Official source | DLA Piper – Romania 2026 work and secondment permit quota announced ✓ knowledge.dlapiper.com |
Romania has set a quota of 90,000 work and secondment permits for 2026 for workers from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland. The limit was set by Government Decision 1169/2025, which took effect on 31 December 2025.
Key facts
| 2026 quota | 90,000 new non-EU workers |
| 2025 quota | 100,000 |
| Permits issued by 15 July 2026 | 65,040 |
| Non-EU workers already living in Romania (end of 2025) | over 148,000 |
This is the first time since 2022 that the quota has dropped below 100,000. Romania's Labour Minister has said the number can be revised during the year depending on the job market.
Which jobs are in demand
Employers mainly hire foreign workers for:
- Construction (builders, welders, especially near shipyards)
- Industry and factories (production workers, tailors in textiles)
- Hotels, restaurants and cafés (HoReCa)
Most foreign workers in Romania currently come from Nepal, Sri Lanka and India.
New hiring system: WorkinRomania portal
Since 8 August 2026, all hiring of non-EU workers goes through the official WorkinRomania.gov.ro portal, which links the immigration office, employment agency, visa system and tax authority.
What changed:
- Applications are fully digital.
- Workers must get a bilingual employment contract.
- When an agency is involved, a three-way contract is signed by the agency, the employer and the worker.
- Recruitment agencies are now legally responsible for the welfare of the workers they bring in, and must hold a financial guarantee of €75,000.
Because employers and agencies first had to register on the new portal, the first applications under it were expected from early October 2026, so expect slower processing for the rest of the year.
Pay and rights
Foreign workers must receive at least Romania's minimum wage, and Romanian labour law does not allow lower pay based on nationality for the same work.
How to apply safely
- Look for a real job offer from a Romanian employer or a licensed agency.
- The employer (or agency) files the application on WorkinRomania; you then apply for a long-stay work visa.
- Ask to see the bilingual contract before paying anything or travelling.
- Be careful with agents who charge large fees or promise a visa without a contract.
Sources: DLA Piper (16 January 2026); Undelucram.ro (5 August and 18 September 2026); Actual de Cluj.
Related: EU Talent Pool for non-EU job seekers.
Apply only through the official source.
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