Working in Romania from Brazil: Visa, Permit, Costs (2026)

Moving from Brazil to Romania for trade work

If you are a Brazilian worker with practical skills in construction, logistics, driving, or services, Romania offers a clear and legal pathway for employment. Unlike many Western European nations that focus primarily on university graduates, Romania actively sets an annual national quota for foreign workers from outside the European Union. This quota allows Romanian companies to recruit skilled and manual workers directly when local labor is unavailable.

The process requires step-by-step paperwork, but it is completely structured. You do not need to enter the country secretly or risk illegal employment. By following the correct official channels, you can arrive in Romania with full working rights, health coverage, and a legal residency card. This guide breaks down the exact steps, required documents, and real expenses you will encounter when moving from Brazil to Romania in 2026.

The official visa and work permit process

To work legally in Romania as a Brazilian citizen, you must go through a two-stage process. The most important rule to understand is that your employer in Romania must start the process before you apply for your visa in Brazil.

• Stage 1: Work Authorization (Aviz de Muncă) - Your prospective employer in Romania applies for this document on your behalf through the General Inspectorate for Immigration (Inspectoratul General pentru Imigrări or IGI). The employer must prove that the job position was published locally and that no suitable Romanian or EU candidate was found. Once approved, IGI issues the official work authorization permit.
• Stage 2: Long-Stay Visa for Employment (Viza de lungă ședere pentru angajare în muncă) - This is a Type D/AM visa. Once your employer receives the approved work permit, they send a copy to you in Brazil. With this document, you file your application for the Type D/AM long-stay visa, which grants you legal entry into Romania for work purposes.
• Stage 3: Residency Permit (Permis de Ședere) - After arriving in Romania on your Type D/AM visa, you must visit the local IGI office within your first 30 days to register your biometric data and receive a temporary residence card for work.

Where to apply and key documents

You start your visa application online through the official Romanian e-Visa portal (evisa.mae.ro). Once your application is reviewed online, you will be scheduled to present your physical documents and submit biometrics in person.

Brazilian applicants submit their original documents at the nearest Romanian diplomatic mission serving Brazil. This is typically the Embassy of Romania in Brasília or the Consulates General of Romania in Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo, depending on which diplomatic jurisdiction your Brazilian state falls under.

You will need to gather and prepare several crucial documents before your visa interview:

• Valid Passport - Must be valid for at least six months beyond your planned date of entry into Romania and contain at least two blank pages.
• Approved Work Permit - A copy of the official Aviz de Muncă issued by IGI in Romania.
• Signed Employment Contract - A legal contract or binding job offer detailing your position, working hours, and monthly salary.
• Brazilian Police Clearance - An official criminal record certificate (Atestado de Antecedentes Criminais da Polícia Federal) showing a clean record.
• Proof of Accommodation - A rental agreement or an official letter from your Romanian employer confirming that company housing is provided.
• Medical Certificate and Insurance - A medical certificate stating you are fit for work, alongside international travel insurance valid until your residence permit is issued.
• Qualifications and Work History - Your employment record book (Carteira de Trabalho) or certificates demonstrating your experience in your trade.

Because Brazil and Romania are both signatories to the Hague Apostille Convention, your Brazilian public documents (such as your federal police clearance and professional certificates) must carry an Hague Apostille (Apostila de Haia). You obtain this apostille at an authorized cartório in Brazil. Afterwards, the documents must be translated into Romanian by a sworn translator.

Official fees, processing times, and costs in Brazil

Understanding your budget before starting is essential. Costs are split between official government fees and preparation expenses on the Brazilian side.

• Work Permit Fee (Paid by Employer) - Approximately 100 EUR to 200 EUR, paid directly to IGI in Romania by the company hiring you.
• Type D/AM Visa Fee - Set by the Romanian government at approximately 120 EUR, payable when submitting your visa application.
• Processing Times - Obtaining the initial Aviz de Muncă in Romania takes approximately 30 to 60 days. Once submitted in Brazil, the Type D/AM visa processing takes approximately 10 to 30 days.

On the Brazilian side, you will incur several out-of-pocket preparation expenses before departure:

• Federal Police Certificate - Free of charge online from the Polícia Federal website.
• Hague Apostille Fees - Issued by Brazilian cartórios, costing approximately R$ 100 to R$ 220 (roughly 15 EUR to 35 EUR) per document.
• Sworn Translations - Certified translation into Romanian costs approximately R$ 120 to R$ 250 (roughly 20 EUR to 40 EUR) per page.
• Medical Examination - Standard occupational medical checkup in Brazil costs approximately R$ 150 to R$ 350 (roughly 25 EUR to 55 EUR).
• Air Travel - A flight from Brazil to Bucharest typically costs approximately R$ 3,500 to R$ 6,500 (roughly 550 EUR to 1,000 EUR), depending on the season and departure city.

Be aware of recruitment scams. European labor regulations forbid recruitment agencies or employers from charging job seekers a fee for a job placement. The employer pays for the recruitment and the Romanian work permit. If an agency in Brazil or online demands a processing fee, placement payment, or visa guarantee money, it is almost certainly a scam.

Trades in high demand right now

Romania relies heavily on foreign trade workers to support expanding industries across the country:

• Construction - Masons, carpenters, steel fixers, and welders are urgently required for large civil infrastructure projects and residential developments.
• Logistics and Warehousing - Forklift drivers, inventory checkers, and warehouse sorters are continuously hired to handle regional distribution centers.
• Hospitality and Food Services - Commercial line cooks, kitchen assistants, and hotel maintenance staff are needed to support growing tourism and service sectors.

Myths vs facts

• Myth: You can enter Romania as a tourist and legally start working immediately.
  Fact: Entering as a tourist does not grant you work rights. You must receive an approved Aviz de Muncă and a Type D/AM visa before you can perform legal work in Romania.
• Myth: You must pay thousands of Reais to an agency to buy a Romanian work contract.
  Fact: Legitimate recruitment costs are paid by the hiring employer, and charging workers for a job position is illegal under labor standards.
• Myth: You cannot work in Romania unless you speak fluent Romanian from day one.
  Fact: Many technical and trade job sites operate with basic English or practical job demonstrations, though learning basic Romanian helps you settle in much faster.
• Myth: A Romanian work permit allows you to freely move and work anywhere in Western Europe.
  Fact: Your work permit and visa are tied directly to your registered employer in Romania and do not give you automatic legal work rights in other EU countries.

Before you sign

Review this checklist before signing any agreement or submitting your papers:

• Check contract details - Verify that your job title, daily duties, weekly hours, and exact monthly wage are explicitly stated in writing.
• Confirm work permit status - Ensure the employer has submitted the paperwork for your official Aviz de Muncă with IGI in Romania.
• Inspect passport validity - Check that your passport has at least six months of validity remaining and sufficient blank pages.
• Apostille key documents - Ensure your Brazilian police clearance certificate and trade credentials carry an official Apostila de Haia from a cartório.
• Clarify accommodation arrangements - Confirm whether your employer provides housing or if a housing allowance is included in your contract.

Build your Workuro profile today

Taking your trade skills to Romania begins with presenting your qualifications clearly to real employers. On your Workuro profile, list your primary trade, your specific practical skills, your passport status, and any ready documents like an apostilled police record. Adding details about your basic language skills helps Romanian companies identify you quickly for open positions.

Workuro is free for workers - employers pay to search the register, and nobody may charge you for a job.