Romania Work Visa from Pakistan (2026): The Honest Guide
Romania is now a Schengen member and actively hiring foreign workers — but there is no "direct apply" work visa. Every legitimate route starts with a real job offer and an employer who gets you a work permit first. Here's the honest 2026 process, real salaries, costs, and the scams to avoid.
How the Romania work visa actually works
To work legally in Romania as a Pakistani (a non-EU citizen), you need two things in order: a work permit (called aviz de angajare) that your employer obtains, and then a D/AM long-stay employment visa that you apply for from Pakistan.
The most important thing to understand: you cannot start this process alone. The employer applies first. A Romanian employer (or their licensed recruiter) must confirm your role, salary and start date, and then apply for your work authorisation from the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) in Romania. Usually they must first show the job couldn't be filled by a local or EU worker.
Step 1 — Employer gets your work permit (aviz) from IGI in Romania. → Step 2 — You apply for the D/AM long-stay visa at the Romanian side from Pakistan using the official eVisa portal.
Step-by-step process for Pakistanis
- Secure a genuine job offer. A Romanian employer confirms your role, salary and start date and agrees to sponsor you. This is the real bottleneck — everything depends on a legitimate offer.
- Employer obtains the work permit (aviz de angajare) from IGI in Romania, usually after a labour-market check. Processing on their side typically takes a few weeks.
- You receive the approved aviz from the employer — you need it for your visa application.
- Apply for the D/AM long-stay visa through Romania's official eVisa portal at evisa.mae.ro. Create an account, fill the form exactly as your documents read, and upload the required scans.
- Submit biometrics and originals per the Romanian mission's checklist — passport, photos, the aviz, signed contract/offer, proof of accommodation, and supporting documents.
- Travel after approval, then apply for your residence permit at IGI inside Romania after you arrive.
Jobs in demand & realistic salaries
Romania's growing sectors for foreign workers include construction, manufacturing, agriculture, transport/driving, healthcare, hospitality and IT. Salaries vary widely by role, experience, contract and overtime — treat any figure as a general range, not a promise.
| Role type | Approx. monthly range (gross) |
|---|---|
| General / entry-level labour | €900 – €1,200 |
| Skilled trades | €1,200 – €1,800+ |
| Drivers / transport | €1,000 – €1,600+ |
| Hospitality & support | €900 – €1,400 |
| Highly skilled (IT, engineers, doctors — EU Blue Card route) | ~€2,400+ (around twice the national average) |
Ranges are indicative for 2026 and depend heavily on the employer and contract. Always confirm the exact gross salary in your signed contract before paying anyone anything.
Residence, PR and citizenship timeline
- Residence permit: usually issued for 1 year, renewable annually while you remain employed.
- Permanent residence: generally eligible after 5 years of legal residence.
- Citizenship: generally eligible after 8 years of residence (less in certain cases such as marriage to a Romanian citizen).
Costs & processing time
The long-stay D-type visa fee itself is modest (typically under €120), but your real costs are documents, translations, medical, police character certificate, travel and accommodation proof. Be very wary of anyone quoting "all-inclusive" lakhs-of-rupees packages.
On timing: the employer's work-permit stage takes a few weeks, and the visa stage can take from a few weeks to several months end-to-end — work visas are among the slower categories because of the employer-permit and inter-agency checks. Plan well ahead of any intended start date.
How to protect yourself
- Verify the employer exists independently and that the aviz is genuine before paying anything substantial.
- Never hand over your passport or large cash to an unlicensed "agent" on a promise.
- Apply through the official portal evisa.mae.ro and follow the Romanian mission's own checklist.
- Use only BEOE/OEP-registered recruiters for overseas employment from Pakistan.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for a Romania work visa without a job offer?
No. The process is employer-led — your employer must obtain a work permit (aviz) for you before you can apply for the D/AM visa. There is no "open" work visa you apply for on your own.
Is Romania in Schengen now?
Yes. Romania joined the Schengen Area, so a Romanian residence permit lets you travel to other Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a separate visa.
How much does a Romanian worker earn?
Roughly €900–€1,200 for entry-level labour and €1,200–€1,800+ for skilled trades, depending on role, overtime and contract. Highly skilled Blue Card roles require around twice the national average (~€2,400+).
How long does the whole process take?
The employer's work-permit stage takes a few weeks; the visa stage can take from weeks to several months. Work visas are slower than tourist visas, so apply well in advance.
What is the official portal for the visa?
Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs eVisa portal at evisa.mae.ro is where you fill and submit the long-stay (Type D) visa application.
This guide is for general information only and is not legal or immigration advice. Visa rules, fees and quotas change frequently. Always confirm current requirements with official sources — the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI, igi.mai.gov.ro) and the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (evisa.mae.ro) — before applying or paying anyone.