Romania Work Visa and EU Blue Card Timeline and Documents

Romania work files are employer-sequenced. The employer side prepares the WorkinRomania request. The worker side normally applies for the D/AM long-stay visa at the consular stage, enters Romania, and then applies to IGI for the residence permit before the visa expires.

For route choice, see Romania Work Visa vs EU Blue Card.

Timeline Summary

Stage	D/AM Work Visa and Residence Permit	EU Blue Card
Route screening	Check whether the file is D/AM1, D/AM2, seasonal, cross-border, or another worker category	Check highly qualified role, salary, qualification evidence, and contract duration
Employer filing	Employer, authorized employer, or placement route files the single request through the WorkinRomania framework	Employer-backed D/AM1/highly qualified request is the entry frame
Authority review	Work, salary, worker data, qualification or experience, employer data, accommodation, insurance, and category conditions are checked	Same core sequence, with Blue Card-specific salary and qualification logic
Consular step	Worker applies for a D/AM long-stay visa after approval	Worker applies for the relevant long-stay visa entry step
Entry validity	D/AM visa is initially valid for 90 days	Entry visa is the bridge to Romanian residence filing
Residence filing	Worker applies to IGI before visa expiry	Worker applies for Blue Card residence after entry
First residence validity	Contract period, capped at 2 years for ordinary temporary work residence	Contract period plus 3 months, capped at 3 years

Core Documents

Document Area	Why It Matters
WorkinRomania single request	Employer-side basis for the work route
Worker identity and passport data	Core visa and residence identity evidence
Employment contract or firm job offer	Connects the worker to the Romanian employer, role, salary, duration, and working hours
Qualification or experience evidence	Essential for EU Blue Card and other highly qualified D/AM1 cases
Salary evidence	Must support the chosen route and current Romanian threshold
Criminal-record evidence	The 2026 ordinance refers to criminal record evidence for visa filing, with translation/legalization requirements
Travel medical insurance	The ordinance refers to travel medical insurance coverage of at least EUR 30,000 for visa purposes
Proof of living space	WorkinRomania lists living-space evidence for the residence-permit stage
Health insurance and payment evidence	WorkinRomania lists health-insurance and payment/tax evidence for IGI residence filing

Practical Sequencing

Do not treat the worker’s consular appointment as the first real step. The file needs employer route screening, contract consistency, salary checks, qualification evidence, and WorkinRomania request preparation before the worker can rely on the visa stage.

Because WorkinRomania says the platform is in testing and operationalization, employers should also confirm the current operational filing channel before committing to a timeline. The legal framework is active, but the platform notice matters for day-to-day process planning.

Editorial Status

This article was checked against Romania’s 2026 emergency ordinance, WorkinRomania, and IGI sources on July 22, 2026. It is informational only and is not legal, immigration, employment, payroll, recruitment, or relocation advice.