With Romania’s labor shortage, more and more employers are looking to recruit workers from Asia – Vietnam, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, the Philippines, India and Vietnam.
But how long does the whole process actually take, from signing the contract with a recruitment agency to when the Asian workers actually start working in Romania? Here’s everything you need to know, step by step!
Process Steps & Estimated Duration
Estimated total: between 60 and 90 days
- workers' country of origin (Vietnam, India, Nepal, etc.)
- processing time of Romanian authorities and embassies
- the volume of applications in that period
- completeness and correctness of the dossier
1. Obtaining the work permit - the longest stage
This stage is managed by the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) in Romania. The employer submits the complete file and the IGI analyzes the documents and issues the work permit within 45 working days.
Useful tips:
Errors in the file can lead to delays of 2-3 weeks.
Work with a specialized agency that knows exactly what documents are needed and in what format.
2. Long-stay visa (D/AM)
After receiving the work permit, workers go to the Romanian embassy or consulate in their home country to submit the D/AM visa application.
The average time for issuing the visa is between 7 and 15 working days.
3. Transportation and arrival in Romania
After obtaining a visa, workers can immediately travel to Romania. Most agencies organize group or individual transportation – depending on logistic partners and available airports.
The arrival is followed by:
Temporary accommodation (provided by employer or agency)
IGI registration for residence permit
Work adaptation and integration
4. When can I start work?
After arrival, workers can start work within a few days – after accommodation, training and possible medical check-ups.
Recommendation: allow 2-5 days for initial integration – it is essential for cultural adaptation and long-term efficiency.