WorkinRomania.gov.ro: Romania's New Hiring Platform Explained

Romania's overhauled immigration framework does not just change the rules for hiring non-EU workers — it changes where and how every process happens. At the centre of Government Emergency Ordinance No. 32/2026 is a single digital infrastructure: WorkinRomania.gov.ro, the new national platform integrated within hub.mai.gov. For HR managers and global mobility professionals with workforce operations in Romania, understanding this platform is now as important as understanding the law itself. Every authorisation, every single visa application, every agency registration flows through here.

What WorkinRomania.gov.ro Is

WorkinRomania.gov.ro is a government-operated electronic platform built to consolidate Romania's entire non-EU labour migration process into one digital environment. Before GEO 32/2026, the process was fragmented: employment permits were issued through the National Agency for Employment (ANOFM), visa applications went to Romanian consulates, and secondment permits involved separate administrative channels.

Under the new framework, all of these functions are migrated into WorkinRomania.gov.ro. The platform handles employer registrations, employer authorisations, placement agency authorisations, single-application submissions for long-stay employment visas, publication of the shortage occupations list, and monitoring and compliance tracking for registered entities.

This is a deliberate centralisation — the Romanian government's answer to a fragmented system that created inconsistency, delays, and compliance gaps.

The Transitional Phase: Now Until 7 August 2026

GEO 32/2026 came into force on 27 April 2026, but it included a critical transitional provision: the full functionality of WorkinRomania.gov.ro — specifically the visa-granting and single-application submission functionality — is being tested from enactment until 7 August 2026.

During this transitional period:

• The platform is live and accepting employer registrations and agency authorisation applications
• Visa-granting functionality is being tested, meaning new D/AM1 and D/AM2 applications cannot yet be fully processed through the platform
• Applications submitted before 27 April 2026 under the old GO No. 25/2014 framework continue under the old rules
• Long-term residence applications submitted before 31 December 2026 are processed under pre-GEO 32/2026 legislation

The practical implication: companies should use the transitional period to register on the platform now, so they are positioned for Day 1 processing when full functionality launches after August 7.

How the Platform Works: Two Types of Employer Access

WorkinRomania.gov.ro distinguishes between two categories of employer access, reflecting the two-track system introduced by GEO 32/2026.

Employer Registration (Simpler Track)

Registration is available to employers who either hire highly skilled workers under the D/AM1 visa (the EU Blue Card-equivalent track), or hire workers under D/AM2 using an authorised placement agency as intermediary.

Registration conditions include: no outstanding tax obligations, active economic operations for at least 12 months, and a clean administrative record with no relevant sanctions in the prior year. Registration is lighter than full authorisation and does not require a financial guarantee at the employer level (the agency carries that obligation instead).

Employer Authorisation (Full Track)

Full authorisation is required for employers hiring permanent, seasonal, or cross-border workers directly under D/AM2 without a placement agency. Authorisation requirements are stricter: at least 24 months of uninterrupted economic activity, a minimum average of 50 employees in the prior year, and a financial guarantee of EUR 1,000 per worker deposited at the State Treasury or provided as a bank guarantee letter.

Employers choosing the direct-hire route must obtain this authorisation before submitting any worker applications. Authorisation is valid for two years and is renewable.

Placement Agency Authorisation on the Platform

Placement agencies that wish to operate in the non-EU worker market under GEO 32/2026 must also obtain authorisation through WorkinRomania.gov.ro, granted by ANOFM. The financial guarantee thresholds for agencies are substantially higher: EUR 75,000 for agencies placing up to 250 foreign workers, and an additional EUR 50,000 for each additional tranche of 250 workers.

Agency authorisations are valid for two years. Failure to replenish an enforced guarantee within 30 days automatically suspends the authorisation, halting all pending applications the agency has submitted.

The Single Application Process

Once an employer or agency is registered or authorised on the platform, they submit what GEO 32/2026 calls a single application for a long-stay employment visa. This is a unified submission that replaces the old multi-step sequence (employment permit from ANOFM, visa from consulate, residence permit from IGI).

The single application process on WorkinRomania.gov.ro covers the employer's or agency's firm job offer, the worker's personal documentation, the specific visa category (D/AM1 or D/AM2), for D/AM2: confirmation that the role appears on the official shortage occupations list, and financial guarantee confirmation (for direct-hire authorised employers).

The platform then coordinates the review process between ANOFM, the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), and the relevant consulate for the final visa issuance.

What the Shortage Occupations List Means for Platform Users

GEO 32/2026 mandated the Minister of Labour to publish a List of Shortage Occupations within 45 days of the Ordinance's enactment. This list is published on and accessible through WorkinRomania.gov.ro. Employers hiring under D/AM2 must confirm that the role they are filling appears on this list before the platform will accept the single application.

This is a real operational constraint. Companies that have identified candidates for roles not on the shortage list will face a procedural block at the platform level, regardless of whether they have completed registration or authorisation. Checking the shortage list before initiating the hiring process is now a required first step.

Monitoring and Compliance Functions

Beyond application processing, WorkinRomania.gov.ro functions as an ongoing compliance monitoring tool. The platform tracks active authorisations for employers and agencies, the number of foreign workers registered under each authorised employer or agency, notifications of worker absences (employers must notify the platform and IGI within 5 working days of any unjustified absence exceeding 3 consecutive days), and financial guarantee status for authorised employers and agencies.

Non-compliance with notification obligations carries fines of up to RON 40,000 per breach.

Practical Steps for HR Teams Right Now

With the August 7 deadline approaching, HR and global mobility teams should take three immediate actions:

First, register your organisation on WorkinRomania.gov.ro. The platform is accepting registrations now. Early registration prevents bottlenecks when full functionality goes live. Gather the required documentation: corporate registration evidence, tax compliance certificates, and — if pursuing full authorisation — the financial guarantee instrument.

Second, determine your hiring track. Decide whether you will hire under D/AM1, D/AM2 via an agency, or D/AM2 directly. This determines whether you need registration or full authorisation, which shapes both the timeline and the cost of getting platform-ready.

Third, audit your agency partnerships. If you use placement agencies, confirm they have valid GEO 32/2026 authorisation on the platform. Using an unauthorised agency after the transitional window closes exposes your company to sanctions and invalidates the applications the agency submits on your behalf.

How Nestlers Group Supports Companies on WorkinRomania.gov.ro

Nestlers Group guides HR teams and multinationals through the complete WorkinRomania.gov.ro onboarding and application process. From assessing which hiring track applies to your situation, to preparing the documentation required for registration or authorisation, to submitting and tracking single applications through the platform, our team handles the operational complexity so yours does not have to.

For companies without a Romanian legal entity, our Employer of Record (EOR) service provides immediate access to compliant hiring in Romania — including platform registration under the EOR structure — without the need to establish a local subsidiary. Our Work Permit and Visa Support team works directly with IGI and ANOFM on your behalf, and our Payroll and HR Compliance specialists ensure every downstream obligation under GEO 32/2026 is met from day one.

The August 7 launch of full WorkinRomania.gov.ro functionality is a fixed deadline. Organisations that arrive prepared will have a structural advantage in hiring non-EU talent in Romania in 2026 and beyond.

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Sources: Government Emergency Ordinance No. 32/2026 (Official Gazette No. 335, 27 April 2026); WorkinRomania.gov.ro platform documentation; National Agency for Employment (ANOFM) guidance; General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), 2026.