Work

Steps

1. Look for vacancies with the National Employment Agency (ANOFM, anofm.ro), its 41 county agencies and the Bucharest agency, free of charge; the vacancies are published there in Romanian. EURES advisers are present in each county agency. Private agencies must be on the national register kept by the ANOFM.
2. Prepare a CV in Romanian (and in a foreign language if requested), in Europass format if possible; bring your diplomas and certificates to the interview. Some jobs require a psychological test and a medical certificate.
3. Insist on your written contract before you start: the employer gives you a signed copy and enters it in the general register of employees.
4. Register your residence at the General Inspectorate for Immigration: the certificate shows your personal number (CNP), useful for the bank, taxes and health care (sheet RO-SEJOUR-TOUS-001).
5. If you lose your job, register with the employment agency of your place of domicile or residence and claim the benefit no later than 12 months after the end of the contract. If you have worked in another country, ask there for form U1 (statement of your insurance periods): it speeds up processing, but the agency can also obtain the information directly.
6. For a regulated profession or a diploma, contact the Ministry of Education and the diploma recognition centre (CNRED; see sheet RO-ECOLE-TOUS-001).

Documents

• ID, residence registration certificate with CNP, medical certificate of fitness.
• Diplomas and references, preferably translated into Romanian.
• In case of unemployment: registration application, benefit application, proof of end of contract, form U1.

Costs and timelines

• Gross minimum wage: 4,325 RON per month full time since 1 July 2026 (about 2,699 RON net); 4,582 RON in construction in 2026. An amount of 200 RON per month is exempt from tax and contributions since 1 July 2026 (300 RON until 30 June 2026) for a minimum-wage salary, if the gross income does not exceed 4,325 RON.
• Employee pension contribution: 25% of gross, of which 4.75% goes to the private pension fund (EURES).
• Contracts: permanent or fixed-term contract of 36 months at most; full time or part time; remote work written into the contract.
• Probation period (permanent contract): 90 calendar days at most for an executive position, 120 for a management position, 30 for a disabled person; during probation, the contract ends on simple notification.
• Notice for resignation: set by the contract or the collective agreement, and may not exceed 20 working days (45 working days for a management position) under the Labour Code (the EURES page speaks of 20 calendar days: check the length written in your contract); you do not have to give reasons for your resignation and you can leave without notice if the employer does not meet its obligations (Labour Code, art. 81).
• Notice for dismissal: at least 20 working days if you are dismissed for physical or mental unfitness, for professional inadequacy (except during the probation period), for redundancy of the post or in a collective dismissal; it is suspended if your contract is suspended. The dismissal decision is in writing and states the reasons and the length of the notice (Labour Code, art. 75 and 76). A disciplinary dismissal does not give entitlement to this notice. Source: consolidated version of 21/03/2023 published by the Labour Inspectorate; later amendments to be checked on legislatie.just.ro (portal unreachable on 20/10/2026).
• Working time: 8 hours per day, 40 per week, 48 hours at most with overtime; overtime made up within 90 days or paid at a premium of at least 75%.
• Paid leave: at least 20 working days per year, plus at least 3 days for people under 18, disabled people and arduous work; holiday pay at least 5 working days before departure.
• Unemployment (indemnizație de șomaj): at least 12 months of contributions in the previous 24 months, loss of job through no fault of your own, legal domicile or residence in Romania. Amount: 100% of the social reference indicator (ISR: 660 RON, value in force since 1 March 2024 and still cited by the ANOFM in June 2026; EURES also states 660 RON. The European Commission guide gives 660.20 RON: this is just a different rounding, the Ministry of Labour and the ANOFM speak of 660 RON. The indicator is supposed to be indexed to inflation each 1 March; check the current value on anofm.ro), plus 3 to 10% of the average gross salary of the last 12 months from 3 years of contributions. Duration: 6 months (1 year of contributions), 9 months (5 years), 12 months (10 years). The benefit is not taxable.

Common pitfalls

• Resigning: without a loss of job through no fault of your own, no unemployment benefit.
• Leaving for more than 3 months abroad while receiving Romanian unemployment benefit: payment stops.
• Missing a monthly appointment at the employment agency: the benefit is suspended.
• Coming with foreign unemployment benefit: ask for the U2 from the body that pays your benefit (the national employment service of the country where you lost your job) and register with the agency of the county where you live within 7 days; the benefit is only exported for 3 to 6 months (EURES, Your Europe).

What changes by country of origin

• EU, EEA, Switzerland: free access, same conditions as Romanians; periods aggregated thanks to the U1.
• British citizens (Scots included) and other non-Europeans: work permit needed, unless protected by the Withdrawal Agreement (to be checked with the General Inspectorate for Immigration).