Comprehensive Overview of Romania's New D/AM1 and D/AM2 Visas, 289 Shortage Occupations, and €75K Agency Guarantees
- Editorial Team
- 22 hours ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 7 hours ago
BUCHAREST, August 29, 2026 — The Romanian government has implemented a sweeping overhaul of its foreign worker immigration system through Emergency Ordinance No. 32/2026, introducing two new long-stay work visa categories — D/AM1 for highly qualified workers and D/AM2 for permanent, seasonal, and cross-border workers .
The legislation, which came into full effect on August 8, 2026, also establishes new employer regimes, a mandatory List of Shortage Occupations comprising 289 roles, and financial guarantee requirements for recruitment agencies . All procedures are now managed through the digital platform WorkinRomania.gov.ro .
New Visa Categories: D/AM1 and D/AM2
Visa Type | Who It Applies To |
D/AM1 | Highly qualified workers; citizens of Moldova, Serbia, and Ukraine employed under full-time contracts; teaching staff, researchers, professional athletes |
D/AM2 | Permanent workers (only for shortage occupations), seasonal workers, and cross-border workers |
Key Difference: D/AM1 workers are not subject to quotas or the shortage occupation list, while D/AM2 workers may only be employed in occupations on the official shortage list .
New Employer Regimes
The legislation creates two separate regimes for employers :
Employer Type | Key Features |
Registered Employer (Standard) | Can directly recruit D/AM1 workers; must use an authorized placement agency for D/AM2 workers |
Authorised Employer | Can directly recruit permanent D/AM2 workers without a placement agency; requires financial guarantee, minimum 50 employees in previous year, and 24 months of activity |
Why It Matters: Access to immigration procedures now depends on the employer's status, not just the individual application . This change favors employers recruiting for specialized or highly qualified roles .
List of 289 Shortage Occupations Approved
The List of Shortage Occupations was approved through Ministerial Order No. 1,073/2026 and published in Romania's Official Gazette on August 5, 2026 . The final list includes 53 more occupations than the initial draft .
Example Occupations Across Sectors :
Sector | Occupations |
Transport & Logistics | Delivery agents, road transport drivers, sales representatives |
Construction | Electricians, bricklayers, plasterers, carpenters, welders |
HoReCa | Chefs, cooks, waiters, bartenders, baristas, hotel staff |
Agriculture | Tractor drivers, agricultural workers, cattle breeders |
Retail & Services | Cashiers, sales associates, janitorial staff, packaging workers |
Important: The list will be updated semiannually or as needed based on labour market data . Hiring is further limited by the annual quota of 90,000 newly admitted foreign workers for 2026 .
Financial Guarantees for Agencies
Recruitment agencies placing foreign workers must provide substantial financial guarantees :
Workers | Guarantee Amount |
Up to 250 workers | €75,000 |
Each additional 250 workers | Additional €50,000 |
Purpose: The guarantee covers repatriation costs, support for workers in risk situations, and payment of fines for agencies that fail to meet their legal obligations . Authorisations are valid for two years and can be renewed .
New Contractual Requirements & Worker Protections
Employers must now provide a firm job offer containing expanded mandatory elements :
Required Element | Details |
Salary | Gross and net salary |
Working Conditions | Working time, conditions, leave, benefits |
Accommodation | Accommodation and transport conditions |
Taxes | Applicable taxes and contributions |
Repatriation | Repatriation conditions |
Health & Safety | Occupational health and safety measures |
Worker Protection Requirements :
Employment contracts must be made available to workers in a language they understand
Rent withheld from salary cannot exceed 25% of net remuneration if accommodation is not provided
"Employer pays" principle — no commissions, taxes, guarantees, or deposits may be requested from workers (aligning with OECD standards)
The WorkinRomania.gov.ro Digital Platform
All procedures are now managed through the WorkinRomania.gov.ro platform, which became fully operational on August 8, 2026 .
Platform Features :
Single application for work visas and residence permits
Real-time tracking of each application
Automatic notifications for document requests and decisions
Secure data exchange between institutions (Trade Register, Employee Records Register, tax authorities)
Support chat in Romanian and other languages
"Reduced bureaucracy, quicker timelines, and the ability to monitor each application in real time."— Ministry of Internal Affairs
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Quick Reference Summary
Aspect | Details |
Legal Basis | Emergency Ordinance No. 32/2026 |
Digital Platform | |
Effective Date | August 8, 2026 |
New Visa Categories | D/AM1 (highly qualified) & D/AM2 (shortage, seasonal, cross-border) |
Shortage Occupations | 289 occupations (Ministerial Order No. 1,073/2026) |
Annual Quota (2026) | 90,000 workers |
Agency Guarantee | €75,000 (up to 250 workers) |
Authorisation Validity | 2 years (renewable) |
Max Rent Deduction | 25% of net salary |
For the latest immigration updates, visa policy changes, and 2026 developments worldwide, visit: visasupdate.com/blog/category/romania
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