Romania Issues New Emergency Ordinance Overhauling Foreign Worker Hiring and Long‑Stay Visa Procedures

Key Point  

• Romania’s Emergency Ordinance No. 32/2026 establishes a unified system governing the hiring of foreign nationals, the authorization and monitoring of recruitment and placement agencies and the procedures for long‑stay visas (D‑category visas) issued for employment purposes. 

Romania’s Emergency Ordinance No. 32/2026 

On April 27, 2026, Romania published Emergency Ordinance No. 32/2026, which creates a comprehensive framework for: 

• Employer registration and authorization 
• Recruitment and placement agency licensing 
• Long‑stay visa and residence procedures 
• Digitalization of application processes 
• New compliance, monitoring and enforcement mechanisms 

A transition period for these changes will run through August 7, 2026, during which the government will register employers, authorize agencies, and test the new digital platform. Full implementation begins August 8, 2026. 

Employer Registration and Authorization 

Employers hiring foreign nationals must register in a new government‑managed electronic platform. The ordinance establishes two employer categories: 

• Registered employer – an employer with an active account in the platform 
• Authorized employer – an employer permitted to hire foreign nationals directly, without using a licensed placement agency 

Employer obligations include: 

• Maintaining an active platform account 
• Submitting required documentation 
• Complying with monitoring and inspection rules 
• Updating information as needed 
• Submitting single applications for foreign workers through the platform 

Non‑compliance may result in suspension or deletion of the employer’s account. 

Recruitment and Placement Agency Licensing 

Agencies that recruit or place foreign nationals must obtain authorization and meet operational, transparency and worker‑protection standards. 

Authorized agencies must: 

• Complete authorization and renewal procedures 
• Provide pre‑contract information to foreign workers 
• Upload single applications on behalf of employers 
• Maintain records and comply with inspections 
• Meet reporting and transparency obligations 

Authorization may be suspended, withdrawn or annulled for violations. 

Shortage Occupation List 

The ordinance establishes a national shortage occupation list, approved by the Ministry of Labor and published in the Official Gazette. 

Key rules: 

• Hiring under Article 27² GEO 194/2002 is permitted only for occupations on the list 
• The list is updated twice per year or as needed 
• Updates are based on national and county‑level labor‑market data 
• Employers may submit proposals for updates through the digital platform 

Digital Platform: WorkinRomania.gov.ro 

A new centralized platform will support: 

• Employer registration and account management 
• Agency authorization and renewal 
• Submission and processing of single applications 
• Publication of the shortage occupation list 
• Monitoring of employer and agency activity 
• Data collection, reporting and inter‑agency access 
• Foreign worker self‑registration and information access 

The platform will also store data on legal representatives, shareholders and administrators of applicant entities. 

Long‑Stay Visa (D‑Category) and Residence Procedures 

The ordinance updates procedures for long‑stay employment visas and the single permit system, including: 

• Eligibility criteria 
• Employer sponsorship obligations 
• Required documentation 
• Integration of visa and residence processes into the digital platform 

These rules apply during the transition period and after full implementation. 

Transition Period  

Until August 7, 2026, the existing single‑application system remains in effect only for: 

• employer registration 
• agency authorization 
• testing of the digital platform through simulated applications 

Full implementation of the unified system begins August 8, 2026. 

Employer‑Change Rules 

Beginning August 8, 2026, foreign nationals who obtained temporary work permits under the previous legal framework may change employers under Articles 56(9)–(12) of GEO 194/2002. 

During this period: 

• New employers may hire foreign nationals without using a licensed placement agency 
• Employers may submit single applications for a number of foreign workers up to their average annual number of employees from the previous year 

This creates a capped, direct‑hire exception during the transition. 

Temporary Stay Extension Pathway 

Foreign nationals who: 

• remained in the country after their long‑stay visa or single permit expired, and 
• do not have a return obligation 

may apply to extend temporary stay through December  31, 2026, without obtaining a new long‑stay visa. 

To qualify, individuals must: 

• appear within 60 days of the ordinance’s entry into force to declare their address 
• meet conditions in Article 27¹ or 27² GEO 194/2002 (with certain exceptions) 
• not be flagged in the Schengen Information System or national security databases 
• not be suspected of terrorism, organized crime or crimes against humanity 

Appeals and Administrative Deadlines 

Employers may appeal: 

• registration rejections 
• suspensions 
• account deletions 

Appeals must be filed within 30 days, and the National Employment Agency must resolve them within 45 days. 

Oversight and Penalties 

The ordinance strengthens enforcement through: 

• suspension or withdrawal of employer or agency authorization 
• administrative sanctions 
• enhanced inspection authority 
• inter‑agency data access for public order, security and immigration bodies 

These measures aim to reduce illegal recruitment, prevent exploitation and ensure compliance. 

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