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

Is Romania a realistic target from Algeria?

Algeria's deepest labour ties in Europe run through France, which shares your language, has a long-established Algerian community, and recruitment channels that already understand Algerian qualifications and documents. Romania has none of that history. The number of Algerians working legally in Romania through this route is small, with no bilateral labour agreement between the two countries and very little Arabic or French spoken on Romanian job sites outside a handful of international firms.

That said, Romania is actively bringing in non-EU workers right now, more than most people realise, because its own workforce has shrunk as Romanians have emigrated west for better pay. If France isn't moving fast enough for you, Romania is a genuine option, just one you should go into with accurate expectations about the paperwork and the pace.

The route: aviz de angajare through IGI

Romania's system works differently from a single combined permit. First, the employer obtains a work authorisation (aviz de angajare) from the General Inspectorate for Immigration (Inspectoratul General pentru Imigrari, IGI). This is issued against an annual quota set by government decision each year, which caps how many non-EU workers can be authorised across all sectors.

• Employer applies first for the aviz de angajare directly with IGI - you cannot start this process from Algeria on your own.
• Annual quota: Romania sets a yearly limit on new non-EU work authorisations, so timing within the year can matter.
• Visa step: once the authorisation is granted, you apply for a long-stay visa (viza de lunga sedere, type D/AM) at the Romanian embassy to travel, then get a residence permit once in Romania.

Three areas where Romanian employers are genuinely hiring non-EU workers right now: construction, where labour shortages are acute across the country, manufacturing tied to the automotive supply chain, particularly component assembly plants, and logistics and driving roles supporting Romania's growing role as a transit hub. No wage is promised in any of these, but they're where real demand sits.

Where you apply and the documents you'll need

Romania maintains an embassy in Algiers, which should be your starting point once the aviz de angajare is approved and you need to apply for the long-stay visa - confirm current procedures and any visa application centre requirements directly with the embassy, since some steps may be outsourced to a visa centre rather than handled in person.

You'll typically need a signed employment contract, a valid passport, a police clearance certificate (extrait du casier judiciaire) from Algeria, proof of your trade qualifications or work history, and health insurance for your stay. Algeria is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, so your documents need full consular legalisation rather than a simple apostille - this generally means a visit to Algeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs before the embassy stage, and it takes real time, so start the process well ahead of any planned travel date.

What this actually costs

Romania's long-stay visa fee is set by the Romanian state and has historically sat in a range that is modest compared to the Schengen uniform fee - confirm the current amount directly with the embassy in Algiers rather than relying on an old figure, since Romania is not yet a full Schengen member and sets some of its own visa pricing. The aviz de angajare fee itself is paid by the employer, not by you, under Romanian rules.

On the Algerian side, budget roughly for your police clearance, a medical certificate, translation into English or Romanian, and legalisation fees - together this might run somewhere around 8,000 to 20,000 DZD at the official exchange rate, roughly 55 to 135 EUR, though the dinar's rate varies and this is only a rough planning figure. Flights from Algeria to Romania, often routed through another European hub or direct depending on the season, vary considerably, so price that separately.

In Romania, as in other EU countries, an employer or agency is not allowed to charge you for the job itself - recruitment costs, including the aviz de angajare fee, are meant to sit with the employer. Be very wary of anyone in Algeria offering a Romanian job placement in exchange for an upfront "guarantee" or "processing" payment; this scam pattern targets Algerian workers looking at any part of Europe, and it shows up often enough on social media that it's worth assuming any such offer is false until you've verified the employer directly through its own official contact details, not through whatever number the recruiter gives you.

Myths vs facts

Myth: Romania is a poor country with nothing to offer, so skip it. Fact: Romania actively recruits non-EU workers right now precisely because its own labour force has shrunk through emigration, and real openings exist in construction and manufacturing.

Myth: Paying an agent in Algeria speeds up IGI's review. Fact: only IGI decides on the work authorisation, and the annual quota and processing timeline are not something any payment changes.

Myth: French is widely understood on Romanian job sites. Fact: Romanian is the standard working language, and French fluency gives you little practical advantage there.

Myth: You can travel to Romania as a tourist and sort out the work authorisation once there. Fact: the employer has to secure the aviz de angajare and you need the long-stay visa before you travel, in nearly every case.

Before you sign

• Is the contract written in a language you fully understand, with pay, hours and job title clearly stated?
• Has the employer confirmed in writing that they have applied for, or already hold, the aviz de angajare from IGI?
• Have you checked whether Romania's annual quota for the year still has room for new authorisations in your sector?
• Have you ruled out paying any recruitment, processing or quota fee yourself?
• Is your police clearance certificate recent and will it stay valid through the legalisation and application process?
• Have you started the legalisation process for your documents, given Algeria is outside the Apostille Convention?

Put it on your Workuro profile

When you build your Workuro profile, name your trade precisely, whether that's construction, manufacturing, logistics or driving, and state clearly that you understand Romania's aviz de angajare process and its annual quota system. Mention how far along your legalisation and police clearance are, since that single detail shows a Romanian employer you're not starting from zero. If you speak any Romanian, English or French, list it specifically, since even basic language ability can set you apart from other applicants in a market where very few Algerians have gone before you. Workuro is free for workers - employers pay to search the register, and nobody may charge you for a job.