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

The path from Kenya to Romania for work

If you are a Kenyan worker with experience in construction, transport, hospitality, or manual trades, Romania offers a realistic and legal route for overseas employment. Romanian companies actively recruit workers from outside the European Union to fill critical labor shortages across major industrial hubs and growing cities. Unlike some European nations with extremely limited entry routes, Romania sets an annual immigration quota specifically for foreign workers, making it a viable target for trade workers from Kenya.

Navigating the legal pathway requires patience and strict adherence to official procedures. You cannot travel to Bucharest on a visitor visa and search for employment after arrival. The process involves direct coordination between your employer in Romania, the Romanian immigration authority, and the Romanian Embassy in Nairobi. Understanding how this system functions protects you from fraudulent brokers and ensures you arrive safely with full work rights.

The work permit and visa process explained

Moving legally from Kenya to Romania is a two-stage procedure. The most important rule to remember is that your employer in Romania must start the process long before you visit any embassy or book a flight.

• Work permit (Aviz de muncă): Your future employer in Romania must apply for this official document through the General Inspectorate for Immigration (Inspectoratul General pentru Imigrării - IGI). The employer must prove that the position was advertised locally and could not be filled by a Romanian or EU citizen. You cannot submit this application yourself.
• Long-stay visa for work (Viza de lungă ședere pentru angajare în muncă - Type D/AM): Once IGI approves your work permit, your employer sends the original permit to you in Kenya. Only after receiving this document can you apply for your national work visa.
• Temporary residence permit (Permis de ședere): Within 30 days of arriving in Romania, your employer will assist you in registering with the local IGI office to receive your residence card, which covers your stay for the duration of your labor contract.

Where to apply in Kenya and required documents

Once your work permit is approved in Romania, you will process your visa in Kenya. You must start your visa application online through the official e-Visa portal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania. After your submitted files pass initial online approval, you will attend an in-person appointment at the Embassy of Romania in Nairobi to present your physical documents and submit biometrics.

You need to prepare several essential documents well in advance of your embassy appointment:

• Valid Kenyan passport: Must be valid for at least three months beyond your visa expiration date and contain at least two blank pages.
• Approved work permit: An official copy of the Aviz de muncă issued by IGI in Romania.
• Signed labor contract: A binding job offer or signed employment contract specifying your job role, working hours, basic salary, and rest periods.
• Police clearance certificate: An official Certificate of Good Conduct issued by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kenya.
• Legalised documents: Your DCI police clearance certificate and relevant trade qualifications or diplomas must be legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in Nairobi for use in Romania.
• Medical certificate: A medical clearance from an accredited clinic in Kenya confirming you are physically fit for trade labor and free from infectious diseases.
• Travel medical insurance: A temporary health insurance policy covering emergency medical treatment upon your initial entry into Romania.
• Biometrics: Your digital fingerprints and photograph taken directly at the embassy in Nairobi.

Expected costs and processing timelines

Moving abroad involves fees on both the Romanian and Kenyan sides. Understanding these ranges helps you budget accurately and avoid falling into debt traps.

Official administrative costs and timeframes are established by government authorities:

• Work permit timeline: Approval of the Aviz de muncă by IGI in Romania takes approximately 30 to 60 days from the date your employer files the petition.
• Visa processing timeline: Processing of your Type D work visa at the Romanian Embassy in Nairobi takes approximately 10 to 30 days after your appointment. Overall processing time from receiving a job offer to flying usually ranges between two and four months.
• Official visa fees: The long-stay work visa fee is set by Romanian law and is approximately 120 EUR, payable during your visa application. The employer pays the work permit fee of approximately 100 EUR directly to authorities in Romania.

You should also budget for direct costs required on the Kenya side:

• DCI police clearance: Approximately KES 1,050 (~7 EUR to 10 EUR) via the eCitizen platform.
• MFA document legalisation: Approximately KES 1,000 to KES 3,000 (~8 EUR to 22 EUR) per document depending on processing speed at the MFA in Nairobi.
• Medical checkup: Approximately KES 3,000 to KES 8,000 (~20 EUR to 55 EUR) at an approved medical facility.
• Certified translations: Translation of trade credentials into Romanian (if requested) costs approximately KES 2,500 to KES 5,000 (~18 EUR to 38 EUR) per page.
• Flight to Bucharest: A standard air ticket from Nairobi to Romania costs approximately KES 65,000 to KES 110,000 (~450 EUR to 750 EUR). Many reputable Romanian companies purchase your flight ticket directly or reimburse the cost upon arrival, so check your offer letter details carefully.

Under Romanian labor legislation and European standards, employers are expected to cover recruitment costs. Agencies or middlemen in Kenya and Romania are not legally permitted to charge jobseekers placement fees for providing a job. Be on high alert for fraudulent brokers demanding upfront charges of KES 100,000 or more under the guise of guaranteed work slots or service fees.

Trades in demand in Romania

Romania regularly recruits non-EU workers across multiple technical and physical sectors:

• Construction workers: Infrastructure development across major Romanian cities drives demand for qualified welders, bricklayers, concrete workers, and site laborers.
• Hospitality and kitchen staff: Hotels, restaurants, and resort facilities in Romanian cities regularly employ Kenyan waiters, cooks, kitchen stewards, and room attendants.
• Logistics and drivers: Supply chain hubs and transport fleets actively seek heavy commercial vehicle drivers and warehouse material handlers.

Myths vs facts

Knowing the truth about working in Eastern Europe keeps you safe from false promises.

• Myth: You can travel to Romania as a tourist and convert to a work permit after landing.
• Fact: Working on a tourist visa is illegal in Romania, resulting in immediate detention, fines, and formal deportation back to Kenya.
• Myth: A recruitment agency in Nairobi can issue your official Romanian work authorization.
• Fact: Only the Romanian General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) can issue an Aviz de muncă, and the application must be submitted directly by your employer in Romania.
• Myth: Paying an agent extra money in Kenya guarantees faster visa approval at the embassy.
• Fact: Embassy schedules and visa reviews are strictly handled by government officials; private agents have no influence over official decisions.
• Myth: A Romanian work permit allows you to leave and work legally in Germany, Italy, or France whenever you choose.
• Fact: Your work permit and residence card are legally tied to your specific employer in Romania and do not confer work rights in other European countries.

Before you sign

Protect your rights and funds by reviewing this checklist before signing any contract or paying for document processing:

• Review contract terms: Ensure your offer clearly lists your trade role, basic monthly salary, weekly working hours, overtime compensation, and housing provisions.
• Verify the work permit: Confirm that your employer has secured the official Aviz de muncă from IGI displaying your correct name and passport details.
• Check passport validity: Confirm your Kenyan passport has at least 18 months of validity remaining to prevent renewal issues while abroad.
• Complete legalisations: Ensure your DCI police clearance and trade certificates are fully legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nairobi.
• Clarify flight responsibility: Confirm in writing whether your employer purchases your flight ticket directly or provides reimbursement upon arrival in Romania.
• Reject illegal charges: Stop dealing immediately with any agent or agency that demands money for job placement, contract access, or guaranteed visas.

Build your Workuro profile today

Positioning yourself for direct recruitment by international employers starts with a clear, professional profile. Make sure your Workuro profile highlights all key details foreign employers look for, including your specific trade background, certifications, passport validity, and language abilities such as English or basic Romanian terms. Having your DCI police clearance ready and trade credentials verified demonstrates to employers that you are ready for the immigration process.

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