Qualifications vs. Job Positions: Why Studies Matter for Romanian Work Permits

Romania's immigration legislation, including Ministerial Ordinance 3630/2018, Government Emergency Ordinance 194/2002, and Government Emergency Ordinance 25/2014, places real weight on an expat's level of studies, both for joining the Romanian workforce generally and for applying to a specific job that may require a particular level of education. Even when employers prioritize experience, Romanian law still requires a matching level of studies for certain positions.

The legal link between position and studies

The relationship between a position at a company and the required level of studies is rooted in Romanian legislation and procedure. Ministerial Order 3630/2018, Annex, Article 3, point b, states clearly that anyone applying for a job needs the qualifications for that position, meaning both studies and experience.

How COR codes define job requirements

These requirements can be found by looking up a job's COR code, as set out in Government Resolution 1352/2010, Articles 1 and 2. COR stands for the Classification of Occupations in Romania (Clasificarea Ocupatiilor din Romania), a system of codes that groups every job in the country by domain, required level of studies, and name.

COR codes generally organize the required level of studies into five categories, per Government Resolution 1352/2010, Article 3:

• At least a bachelor's degree, such as group 241, Administration Professionals
• A high school diploma or secondary education, such as group 342, Sports and Fitness Workers
• A high school diploma, such as group 4411, Library Clerks
• Minimal education, usually primary school, for roles classified as Elementary Occupations, such as group 962, Other Elementary Workers
• Undefined, or defined by other legal rules, where the requirement is set elsewhere or not directly relevant to the position

Different procedures by citizenship

Immigration procedures under Ministerial Ordinance 3630/2018 differ depending on the expat's citizenship. EU, Swiss, and EEA citizens follow the process set out in Article 3, point a, while non-EU citizens follow the process in Article 3, point b. The distinction also depends on where the underlying university is based, since a degree from an EU institution follows a different procedure than one from outside the EU, under Article 4.

Equating diplomas

Non-EU, Swiss, or EEA citizens holding a bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degree from a university outside the EU, Switzerland, or the EEA are required to have their diplomas equated before joining the Romanian workforce, under Article 4 of Ministerial Ordinance 3630/2018. CNRED is the institution responsible for certifying an expat's degree and equating it to the Romanian educational system, and it typically requires diplomas to be apostilled or over-legalized, depending on whether the issuing country is party to the 1961 Hague Convention.

Qualifications for highly skilled workers

The link between education and eligibility is especially clear for highly skilled workers. Government Emergency Ordinance 25/2014, Article 2, paragraph 1, points i, 15, and 16, defines a highly qualified worker as someone with adequate and specific skills, proven through qualifications obtained during graduate or postgraduate education, or through relevant professional experience gained in Romania or another EU country. Graduate education is therefore a mandatory condition for an expat entering Romania under this category.

Why this matters

Checking an applicant's level of studies against Romanian legislation is in every employer's interest, since the position offered and the qualifications required are interdependent under the law. Understanding COR codes and the diploma equation process helps employers and expats navigate the work permit process correctly from the start.

Sources: Ministerial Ordinance 3630/2018, Government Emergency Ordinance 194/2002, Government Emergency Ordinance 25/2014, Government Resolution 1352/2010