How to Apply for an A1 Certificate in Romania: A Step-by-Step 2026 Guide

A posted worker who arrives on-site without a valid A1 certificate is not carrying a missing formality, they are carrying a compliance liability that a labour inspector can act on the same day. Host-country authorities that catch an uncovered worker during an on-the-spot check can require immediate registration in the local social security system, which in practice means the employer ends up paying contributions in both the home and host country for the same period of work. Romanian companies posting staff abroad, and foreign employers bringing workers into Romania, both face this exposure, and the fix is procedural: know who applies, where, with what documents, and how long it takes.

This guide sets out the concrete 2026 application steps for the Portable Document A1, issued in Romania by the Casa Nationala de Pensii Publice (CNPP), focused on the mechanics of applying rather than what the A1 is used for in general.

Who Needs to Apply and When

The A1 certificate confirms which country's social security legislation applies to a worker temporarily performing work in another EU or EEA member state or Switzerland. The application obligation sits primarily with the employer, though self-employed individuals and multi-state workers apply in their own name.

• Employers posting an employee from Romania to another member state for a temporary assignment
• Self-employed individuals temporarily pursuing an activity in another member state
• Workers who normally work in two or more member states simultaneously
• Foreign employers whose non-Romanian workforce is temporarily assigned into Romania, where the sending state's equivalent institution issues the document

The certificate should be requested before the posting starts, because CNPP allows retroactive validity from the date the application was submitted, not from the date it is finally issued.

The CNPP RODPA1 Online Portal

CNPP now processes most A1 requests through RODPA1, an online system that became operational in January 2024 and remains the current channel in 2026. The portal replaced a largely paper-based process and connects to other institutional databases, including the tax authority, trade registry, and labour inspectorate, to verify the file faster than manual review.

• Create an online access account at CNPP's dedicated registration page for legal entities or individuals
• Log in and select the option to add a new A1 request
• Complete the four required sections: general information, specific data about the posting, employee details, and declarations
• Enter each posted worker's data, including any prior A1 periods they have already used
• Download the auto-generated PDF, sign it electronically or by hand, and re-upload the signed copy
• Submit the file for processing and track its status inside the account

Applications move through defined statuses inside RODPA1: New, In Processing, Additional Clarifications Requested, Approved, or Rejected. If CNPP needs more information, it contacts the applicant by email rather than rejecting the file outright.

Required Documents and Eligibility Conditions

CNPP's request forms specify exactly which documents must accompany each category of applicant, and the file has to be complete before it can move forward. For an employer posting staff abroad, the dossier needs to demonstrate a genuine operating link to Romania, not just a contract on paper.

• Completed application form for the applicant category: employee, self-employed, multi-state worker, seafarer, or public servant
• Company registration documents, including the CUI and a current trade registry extract
• The individual employment contract for each posted worker, plus the transnational assignment addendum
• Evidence of Revisal registration confirming the worker's tenure with the company before posting
• Confirmation of active Romanian social security contributions covering a prior period before departure
• ANAF confirmation the company has no outstanding social contribution debts
• Proof that a meaningful share of turnover is generated in Romania with genuine administrative activity there

Missing or inconsistent documents are the most common reason a file sits in Additional Clarifications rather than moving to Approved.

Processing Time, Cost, and Validity

CNPP does not charge a fee for issuing the A1 certificate, but employers should not plan a posting around a same-week turnaround. Processing time varies with the completeness of the file and CNPP's current application volume.

• No administrative fee is charged for issuing the Portable Document A1
• Review and issuance can take an extended period when volumes are high or the file needs clarification, so submit well ahead of the departure date
• The certificate is generally issued for the duration of the posting, up to a maximum continuous period under EU coordination rules, commonly cited as up to 24 months in a single host state
• If the worker departs before the certificate is issued, coverage can apply retroactively to the submission date, provided the file is later approved
• Renewals beyond the initial period require a new application, not an automatic rollover

Employers with recurring postings should treat A1 lead time as a fixed part of assignment planning, alongside visa or work authorization steps.

Legal Basis and What Happens Without an A1

The A1 certificate exists because of two EU regulations that coordinate, rather than harmonize, social security across member states. Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 sets the substantive rule that a posted worker generally stays covered by the sending state's social security system during a temporary assignment, so contributions are not owed twice. Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 sets out the implementing procedure, including the issuing institution's role in confirming applicable legislation through the A1 document.

• Without a valid A1, a host-country inspector can treat the worker as subject to local social security law from the start of the assignment
• This can trigger a requirement to register and pay contributions locally for a period already covered in Romania, producing double contributions for the same work
• On-the-spot labour inspections in several EU states specifically check for A1 documentation as part of posted-worker compliance controls
• Employers unable to produce the certificate during or shortly after an inspection risk further sanctions under host-country posting rules
• A retroactive application filed after work has already started does not eliminate this exposure window, it only limits it

The safest posture is to treat A1 issuance as a precondition for departure, not a document chased down after the assignment has already begun.

How Nestlers Group Supports A1 Certificate Applications

Nestlers Group's Immigration Advisory team manages the practical mechanics of A1 applications for employers posting workers from Romania and for foreign companies assigning staff into Romania, including preparing the RODPA1 submission, assembling the supporting dossier, and tracking the file through CNPP's status stages until approval. The team reviews employment contracts, assignment addenda, and Revisal records before submission to catch the gaps that most often delay issuance.

The Payroll and HR Compliance team confirms that a posted worker's Romanian contribution history meets the eligibility conditions before an application goes in, and keeps records aligned with what CNPP and host-country authorities expect to see during an inspection. This matters most for companies with recurring postings, where each assignment needs its own timeline and documentation.

For employers running multiple simultaneous postings, Nestlers Group also maintains a calendar of A1 validity periods and renewal deadlines, so certificates are requested with enough lead time to avoid a coverage gap between assignments.

Sources: Casa Nationala de Pensii Publice (CNPP), RODPA1 online portal and Applicant Guide (Ghidul Solicitantului RODPA1), 2024-2026; Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems; Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation 883/2004; CNPP public communications on Portable Document A1 issuance requirements, 2026