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

How Pakistani Workers Can Work Legally in Romania

If you live in Pakistan and want to work legally in Romania, you need to understand the exact path required by law. Romania has a growing demand for workers in manual and skilled trades, and thousands of Pakistani workers apply every year. However, you cannot simply buy a visa or travel to Europe to look for work on arrival. You must follow a structured process before you leave Pakistan.

The official route for a foreign worker going to Romania for long term employment is the Long-Stay Visa for Work, known locally as Viza de lungă ședere pentru angajare în muncă (Type D/AM). This visa is based on an official work authorization permit called Aviz de Muncă.

The process always starts in Romania, not in Pakistan. Your prospective employer in Romania must initiate the entire process. They must apply to the General Inspectorate for Immigration, known in Romania as Inspectoratul General pentru Imigrări (IGI). The employer must prove to the Romanian government that they tried to hire a Romanian or EU citizen first, that they pay their local taxes, and that they have a genuine full-time position for you. You cannot apply for a work visa yourself until your employer in Romania receives the approved Aviz de Muncă document on your behalf.

Applying from Pakistan: Visa Steps and Locations

Once your employer in Romania secures the approved Aviz de Muncă, they will send a copy or the original document to you in Pakistan. Only then can you begin your official visa application.

Pakistani applicants must submit their visa applications through official channels serving Pakistan:

• E-Visa Portal Online Submission: You must first register and upload your documents on the official Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs E-Visa portal (eviza.mae.ro). Once your online file is validated, you will receive an appointment date.
• In-Person Submission in Pakistan: You will submit your physical passport, original documents, and biometrics at the Embassy of Romania in Islamabad or an authorized visa application partner such as Gerry's Visa Centre, depending on current embassy booking guidelines. Never pay an unverified broker outside these official centers.

Processing times can vary. Obtaining the initial work authorization (Aviz de Muncă) in Romania usually takes approximately 1 to 3 months. Once you submit your application at the embassy or visa center in Pakistan, processing the Type D/AM visa typically takes approximately 2 to 6 weeks. You should account for potential appointment wait times in Islamabad during peak periods.

Required Documents and Legalisation in Pakistan

Preparing correct documentation in Pakistan is essential. Missing or unverified papers will cause your visa application to be rejected instantly. Prepare the following items carefully:

• Valid Passport: Your Pakistani passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you intend to enter Romania, with at least two blank pages available.
• Work Authorization (Aviz de Muncă): The official approval document issued by IGI in Romania and provided by your employer.
• Signed Work Contract: A binding draft or signed employment contract stating your role, duty hours, provided housing conditions, and monthly wage in Romanian Lei (RON).
• Police Clearance Certificate (PCC): An official character certificate issued by your local police authority or the Police Khidmat Markaz in Pakistan showing no criminal record.
• Attestation and Legalisation: Because Pakistan is not fully integrated with all standard European document systems without extra verification, your Police Clearance Certificate and educational or skill certificates must be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Pakistan and subsequently translated into Romanian by an authorized translator and legalised by the Romanian Embassy in Islamabad.
• Medical Certificate: A comprehensive health fitness report issued by a recognized medical facility in Pakistan proving you are free from contagious diseases.
• Travel Health Insurance: Medical insurance covering emergency medical expenses in Romania with a minimum coverage threshold of approximately €30,000 for your travel period.
• Biometrics: Facial photograph and fingerprint scans taken at the time of your visa appointment.

Official Fees and Real Costs in Pakistan

You must understand the difference between official government fees and your personal preparation expenses. Understanding these numbers will protect you from being overcharged by dishonest agents in Pakistan.

Official government fees are standardized by Romanian immigration authorities:

• Work Permit Fee (Aviz de Muncă): Set by Romania at approximately €100. This fee is legally the responsibility of the employer in Romania.
• Long-Stay Visa Fee (Type D/AM): The embassy visa processing fee is approximately €120, payable at the time of your appointment in Pakistan.

Out-of-pocket costs on the Pakistan side vary depending on your location and specific service providers. Here are the realistic rough ranges you should budget for:

• Police Character Certificate: Approximately PKR 3,000 to PKR 6,000 (roughly €10 to €20).
• MOFA Attestation and Romanian Translation: Approximately PKR 15,000 to PKR 35,000 (roughly €50 to €115), depending on how many trade certificates you translate.
• Medical Examination: Approximately PKR 10,000 to PKR 22,000 (roughly €33 to €73).
• Travel Insurance: Approximately PKR 8,000 to PKR 15,000 (roughly €26 to €50).
• One-Way Airline Ticket to Bucharest: Approximately PKR 140,000 to PKR 260,000 (roughly €460 to €850), depending on season and airline.

Under European Union standards and Romanian labor legislation, recruitment costs and legal filing fees belong to the employer. No recruitment agency or middleman in Pakistan has the right to demand millions of rupees for a guaranteed job offer. Be extremely cautious of local brokers who charge massive non-refundable processing fees.

In-Demand Skilled and Manual Trades in Romania

Romania regularly recruits foreign workers to fill structural gaps in its industrial and service sectors. Here are three major fields hiring Pakistani workers right now:

• Construction and Technical Work: Romanian building companies actively hire welders, masons, carpenters, plumbers, and general site laborers to support infrastructure and commercial construction projects across major cities.
• Logistics and Warehousing: E-commerce centers and distribution hubs routinely seek warehouse loaders, order packers, material handlers, and licensed forklift drivers to support European supply networks.
• Hospitality and Services: Hotels, commercial kitchens, and catering businesses frequently recruit line cooks, kitchen assistants, room attendants, and cleaning staff to support Romania's tourism industry.

Myths vs facts

• Myth: You can pay an agent in Lahore, Rawalpindi, or Karachi to get a work visa without an official employer permit from Romania.
  Fact: No agent can generate a genuine visa. A real visa requires an official Aviz de Muncă issued directly by the Romanian immigration department (IGI) to a registered Romanian employer.
• Myth: You can enter Romania on a visit visa and easily convert it to a legal work visa after finding a job locally.
  Fact: Romanian law prohibits converting a short-stay tourist visa into a long-stay employment visa within the country. You must return to Pakistan to apply for your Type D/AM visa.
• Myth: You must pay several thousand Euros directly to an agency to buy your employment contract.
  Fact: Legitimate employers cover their own hiring fees, and charging workers massive fees for a job placement is illegal under EU labor guidelines.
• Myth: A Romanian work permit allows you to freely move and work legally in Germany, Italy, or France.
  Fact: A Romanian work permit restricts your legal right to work strictly to the specific employer in Romania who sponsored your document. Working elsewhere in Europe on a Romanian permit is illegal.

Before you sign

Before you sign an employment contract or hand over any documents, go through this safety checklist:

• Verify Employer Identity: Ensure the contract lists the full legal name, registration number (CUI), and address of the business in Romania.
• Check Housing and Wage Details: Ensure the contract states your exact duty hours, rest days, gross monthly salary, and whether free accommodation is provided by the employer.
• Confirm the Work Permit Copy: Ask for a clear digital copy of the Aviz de Muncă and check that your name and passport number match perfectly.
• Refuse Unreasonable Upfront Fees: Never pay illegal processing fees or sell personal assets to pay an agent promising a guaranteed job.
• Verify Document Attestations: Confirm that your police record and technical diplomas have been properly attested by MOFA in Pakistan before submitting them for visa processing.

Build Your Workuro Profile for Romanian Employers

To attract legitimate European employers without relying on costly brokers, keep your professional information updated online. Make sure your Workuro profile clearly details your trade skills, years of practical experience, and current availability. Highlight specific skills such as welding certificates, heavy vehicle licenses, or construction training, and indicate your English or basic Romanian language abilities. Upload clear confirmation that your Pakistani passport and police clearance documents are ready for processing.

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