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

If you are a skilled worker in the Philippines looking for opportunities in Europe, Romania is one of the most accessible destinations right now. Due to local labor shortages, Romanian employers in construction, manufacturing, hospitality, and logistics actively recruit foreign workers. Romania sets large annual quotas for non-EU workers, making it a realistic target for Filipinos seeking legal employment.

Moving to Romania requires a clear legal process. You cannot simply buy a plane ticket and look for a job on arrival. You must follow the exact steps set by the Romanian government and the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). This guide explains the visa process, real costs, apostille requirements, and how to protect yourself from recruitment scams.

The Romania work permit and visa route for Filipinos

To work legally in Romania as a Filipino national, you must obtain a Long-Stay Visa for Employment (known locally as the Viză de lungă ședere pentru angajare în muncă or Type D/AM visa). However, you cannot apply for this visa on your own. The process starts entirely with your prospective employer in Romania.

• Step 1: Work Authorization (Aviz de Muncă). Your employer in Romania must apply for a Work Authorization document on your behalf through the General Inspectorate for Immigration (Inspectoratul General pentru Imigrări or IGI). The employer must prove that the position could not be filled by a Romanian or EU citizen.
• Step 2: Visa Application in the Philippines. Once the IGI issues your official Aviz de Muncă, your employer sends the original or digital approval to you. Only then can you submit your Type D/AM visa application in the Philippines.
• Step 3: Submission location. You must submit your visa application, passport, and supporting documents to the Embassy of Romania in Manila or an authorized visa application center serving the Philippines. You will also provide biometrics (fingerprints and photo) during your appointment.
• Step 4: Residence Permit in Romania. After arriving in Romania on your Type D visa, your employer will assist you in applying for a single permit residence card (Permis de Ședere) at the local IGI office before your visa expires.

Required documents and DFA apostille steps

Preparing your paperwork accurately is critical. Romanian immigration authorities strict about document verification, and missing stamps will cause delays.

• Signed employment contract: A binding job offer or labor contract issued by the employer in Romania, stating your trade, working hours, and salary.
• Valid Philippine passport: Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the intended visa duration and have at least two blank pages.
• NBI Clearance: A fresh National Bureau of Investigation clearance showing no criminal record.
• Proof of qualifications: Trade certificates, TESDA national certificates, or employment certificates proving your work experience in your specific trade.
• Medical certificate: A physical and mental health clearance issued by an accredited medical clinic in the Philippines.
• DFA Apostille requirement: Your NBI clearance and educational or trade certificates must receive an official Apostille stamp from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in the Philippines. Romania is a party to the Apostille Convention, so an Apostille stamp makes your Philippine public documents legally recognized in Romania without extra consular legalization.

Processing times and expected fees

Processing times depend on government workload in both Bucharest and Manila. You should plan for a total timeframe of 2 to 4 months from signing the contract to departure.

• Work Authorization processing time: The IGI in Romania usually takes approximately 30 to 90 days to process and approve the Aviz de Muncă for your employer.
• Visa processing time: Once you submit your application at the Romania Embassy or visa center in Manila, visa decision time takes approximately 10 to 30 days.
• Official visa fee: The long-stay employment visa fee set by the Romanian government is approximately 120 EUR. This fee is subject to official updates, so check the embassy website for current rates at the time of submission.
• Worker costs on the Philippines side: You should budget for medical examinations, NBI clearance fees, DFA apostille fees, passport renewal if needed, and travel to Manila for appointments. These local costs typically range from approximately ₱15,000 to ₱35,000 (roughly €250 to €580 total).

Placement fees and avoiding recruitment scams

Under official rules from the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and international labor standards, employers are responsible for direct recruitment expenses, including the work authorization fee in Romania and airfare. You should never be forced into debt to secure a trade job.

Be extremely cautious of unauthorized fixers or illegal agencies targeting Filipino workers with promises of guaranteed visas. Common scam tactics include demanding large upfront fees labeled as mandatory processing fees, reservation fees, or expedited visa costs. Legitimate agencies registered with the DMW will never ask you to transfer money into personal bank accounts or cryptocurrency wallets. Always verify that your recruitment agency holds an active DMW license before handing over personal documents or paying any fees.

Trades hiring foreign workers in Romania right now

Romania regularly recruits skilled manual workers from abroad to fill persistent staffing gaps across several major industries.

• Construction workers: Romanian construction firms actively recruit Filipino scaffolders, masons, and rebar fitters to support major infrastructure and commercial building projects across the country.
• Welders and fabricators: Industrial factories and shipyards in Romania regularly seek certified MIG, TIG, and arc welders to fill critical technical gaps in local workshops.
• Hospitality staff: Hotels and restaurants in major Romanian cities frequently hire line cooks, kitchen helpers, and housekeepers to meet rising service demands.

Myths vs facts

• Myth: You can travel to Romania on a tourist visa and convert it to a work permit after arriving.
  Fact: Romanian law requires you to secure a work authorization through an employer first and obtain a Type D employment visa in the Philippines before traveling.
• Myth: You must pay an agency hundreds of thousands of pesos to secure a guaranteed job offer in Romania.
  Fact: Romanian employers cover official recruitment fees, and illegal placement fees charged to workers are against Department of Migrant Workers rules.
• Myth: You need to speak fluent Romanian before you can apply for a trade job.
  Fact: Most industrial and construction employers use basic English or site supervisors to communicate work instructions to international teams.
• Myth: A work permit from Romania allows you to move freely and work in any other EU country immediately.
  Fact: Your work permit is strictly tied to your specific employer in Romania, and moving to another country to work without a new visa is illegal.

Before you sign: Your pre-departure checklist

• Check work authorization: Confirm that your employer in Romania has already applied for or received your official Work Authorization (Aviz de Muncă) from IGI.
• Review contract terms: Verify that your job contract explicitly details your job title, working hours, basic salary, accommodation arrangements, and food allowances.
• Apostille your documents: Ensure your NBI clearance and trade diplomas have received the official DFA Apostille stamp in the Philippines.
• Verify passport validity: Check that your Philippine passport has at least 6 to 12 months of validity remaining beyond your intended travel date.
• Confirm DMW clearance: Confirm that your recruitment agency is properly registered with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to ensure your overseas employment certificate (OEC) can be issued legally.

Create your Workuro profile today

Ready to make yourself visible to European employers? Create your free worker profile on Workuro. Make sure to list your specific trade skills, your hands-on experience, the languages you speak, and the document stage you are currently in, such as having a valid passport and DFA-apostilled NBI clearance ready to go.

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