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

If you are a skilled or manual worker in India looking for legal employment in Europe, Romania is currently one of the most active choices. The Romanian government sets an annual national quota for foreign workers, frequently granting tens of thousands of work permits to fill labor shortages in construction, transport, logistics, and hospitality. For Indian welders, drivers, warehouse staff, and factory workers, the legal pathway is open and active.

However, moving from India to Romania requires completing specific steps in India, obtaining proper Indian government clearances, and protecting yourself from fake agents. You do not need to pay heavy fees to secure a job in Europe. This guide explains how the Romanian work permit route functions for Indian citizens, what documents you need to collect in India, and what expenses you will actually face.

The official permit route to Romania

To work legally in Romania as an Indian national, you cannot apply for a work permit on your own. The process must start inside Romania, initiated entirely by your future employer.

• Step 1: Work Authorization (Aviz de munca) - Your employer in Romania applies for an employment approval document on your behalf through the General Inspectorate for Immigration (Inspectoratul General pentru Imigrari - IGI) in Romania. The employer must prove they could not find a local or EU candidate for the job and pay the Romanian filing fee.
• Step 2: Long-Stay Visa Application (Type D/AM) - Once the IGI approves and issues your Aviz de munca, your employer sends this approval to you in India. You then apply for a Long-Stay Visa for Work (classified as Type D/AM) through the official Romanian online visa portal.
• Step 3: Document Submission in India - You submit your passport, application forms, and required certificates to the Romanian Embassy in New Delhi, or through an authorized visa application centre such as VFS Global operating in major Indian cities.
• Step 4: Residence Permit (Permis de sedere) - After you land in Romania on your Type D/AM visa, your employer helps you register with the local immigration office to collect your temporary residence card for work.

Work permit processing by the IGI in Romania usually takes approximately 30 to 90 days depending on local processing volume. Once you hold the permit approval, visa processing at the embassy in India typically takes approximately 15 to 45 days.

Documents and MEA apostille in India

Gathering and legalizing your paperwork correctly in India is essential before submitting your file to the embassy. You will need to prepare the following items:

• Valid Indian Passport - Must have at least two blank pages and remain valid for at least 3 to 6 months beyond your intended stay.
• Signed employment contract - A binding job offer or signed contract from the Romanian employer detailing your position, duty hours, and wage terms.
• Approved Work Permit (Aviz de munca) - The original or official digital authorization issued by the IGI in Romania.
• Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) - An official PCC issued by your local Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Regional Passport Office (RPO) in India.
• MEA Apostille stamp - Romania requires your Indian Police Clearance Certificate to be apostilled by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India to prove its legal validity.
• Proof of qualifications or work experience - Vocational certificates, trade test records, or employment reference letters stamped by relevant authorities if requested by the employer.
• Medical fitness certificate - A complete medical report from a recognized clinic confirming you are physically fit for trade labor and free from major infectious diseases.
• Biometrics and health insurance - Travel medical insurance for your flight journey, along with biometrics collected at the embassy or visa application centre.

Official fees and actual costs in India

Knowing what you must pay helps you set an accurate budget and avoid inflated fees from middlemen. Official visa fees are established by Romanian authorities, while document costs take place in India.

• Romanian work permit fee - Set directly by the Romanian government and legally paid by the employer in Romania during the IGI filing process.
• Long-stay visa fee - Set by Romania and is approximately 120 EUR (approx 10,800 INR), paid when you submit your visa application.
• Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) - The official processing fee at Passport Seva Kendra is approximately 500 INR (approx 5 EUR).
• MEA Apostille charges - Official ministry apostille fees are low, but using an authorized document submission agency in India typically costs approximately 1,000 INR to 3,000 INR (approx 10 EUR to 35 EUR).
• Medical checkup - Standard medical evaluations at diagnostic centers in India cost approximately 2,000 INR to 5,000 INR (approx 20 EUR to 55 EUR).
• Flight ticket to Bucharest - A one-way flight ticket from major Indian cities to Bucharest costs approximately 35,000 INR to 55,000 INR (approx 380 EUR to 600 EUR). Good employers often provide or reimburse this ticket, though some require workers to buy it upfront.

Beware of unverified recruitment agents in India who demand 2 Lakh to 5 Lakh INR (2,000 EUR to 5,000 EUR) for job guarantees or processing fees. European labor guidelines state that employers carry recruitment costs. While you pay for your local Indian paperwork, medical check, and official visa fee, paying lakhs of rupees to an agent for a job is a clear sign of a scam. Check local Romanian employment rules before transferring money to any private agency.

Trades hiring Indian workers right now

Romania regularly recruits foreign workers across multiple technical and physical sectors to support ongoing infrastructure growth.

• Construction trades - Romanian building contractors hire Indian welders, masons, carpenters, and site laborers for urban housing and civil engineering projects.
• Logistics and warehousing - Commercial supply hubs recruit forklift operators, warehouse packers, and heavy vehicle drivers to manage freight transport.
• Hospitality and services - Hotel chains and commercial kitchens across major Romanian cities hire line cooks, kitchen stewards, and room attendants to support service operations.

Myths vs facts

• Myth: You can travel to Romania on a tourist visa and change it into a work permit after landing.
  Fact: You cannot convert a visitor visa into a work residence permit inside Romania; you must receive your IGI work permit approval and get your Type D/AM visa in India before traveling.
• Myth: Paying 3 Lakh INR to an agent in India guarantees you a visa and high salary.
  Fact: Private agents cannot control Romanian immigration decisions, and charging job seekers massive recruitment fees is unethical and often illegal under labor rules.
• Myth: You must pass an official Romanian language exam before getting a visa.
  Fact: Trades and manual labor roles do not require official Romanian language certificates, although knowing basic English or learning key work phrases is helpful on the job.
• Myth: A Romanian work visa lets you automatically move and work in any other country in Europe.
  Fact: Your work visa and residence permit are legally tied to your specific employer in Romania, and moving to work in another country without a local permit is illegal.

Before you sign

Protect your job rights and savings by completing this checklist before signing any agreement or submitting your original passport:

• Verify employer details - Check that the company name, tax ID number, and corporate address match the official details on your draft contract offer.
• Review work hours and duties - Ensure your daily trade responsibilities, working hours, rest days, and overtime rates are written out in clear language.
• Confirm net salary terms - Ensure your agreement states your exact cash salary, how payment will be transferred to your bank account, and tax deductions.
• Check housing terms - Confirm whether your employer provides free or subsidized accommodation, utility coverage, or daily transit to the site.
• Keep your original passport - Never hand over your passport to a local agent for safekeeping; only present it directly to official embassy staff or authorized visa centers.

Put your details on Workuro

If you are an Indian trade worker ready to search for genuine employment opportunities in Romania, set up your profile on Workuro. Add your trade skills, vocational background, years of work experience, and passport availability so verified European employers can search for you directly. Mention any language abilities, like basic English or industrial experience abroad, to make your profile stand out.

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