According to Government Emergency Ordinance No. 32/2026 on the access of foreigners to the Romanian labour market, as well as on the amendment and supplementation of certain legislative acts (“GEO 32/2026”), the provisions of Title I of GEO 32/2026, as well as those regarding obtaining and extension of the right of residence for employment purposes based on a single application submitted via the electronic platform WorkinRomania.gov.ro (“the Electronic Platform”) were applicable, until 7 August 2026, exclusively for conducting the procedures for registering employers of foreigners and the procedures for the authorization of foreigners’ employment agencies, as well as for testing the functionality of the Electronic Platform.
In this context, in early August 2026, a series of regulations governing foreigners’ access to the Romanian labour market came into effect, as follows:
1. The WorkinRomania.gov.ro Platform - features and technical and organisational measures for use
According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs ("MAI") dated 6 August 2026, the Electronic Platform, implemented within MAI's services hub, became operational as of that same date.
At the same time, on 7 August 2026, Government Decision No. 602/2026 establishing the categories of data, the technical and organisational data security measures applicable to data processed within the Electronic Platform, as well as the informatic records held by public institutions that interconnect with the Electronic Platform ("GD 602/2026"), entered into force.
GD 602/2026 established the categories of data, the organisational and technical measures necessary for the organisation, functioning and use of the Electronic Platform, as well as the manner of cooperation between the institutions and authorities involved in its operationalisation and use.
From an architectural standpoint, the Electronic Platform is structured into two distinct components:
- the public component, accessible via the internet at "WorkinRomania.gov.ro", dedicated to making public information and electronic services available to individuals, employers and foreigners’ employment agencies, in accordance with GEO 32/2026; and
- the internal component, made available through the Voice-Data Communications Network (RCVD) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and through the STS Extranet communications network, dedicated to staff of the public institutions and authorities who directly process applications submitted through the public component, in accordance with GEO 32/2026 or Government Emergency Ordinance No. 194/2002 on the legal status of foreigners in Romania, republished, as subsequently amended and supplemented.
GD 602/2026 regulates, among other things, the steps to be followed for the registration/authorization of employers, the submission of single applications for granting the long-stay visa for employment purposes, or the uploading of firm job offers.
Through the Electronic Platform, a number of actions may be carried out, including the following:
- registration and authorization of employers;
- authorization and renewal of authorizations for foreigners’ employment agencies;
- submission and processing of single applications for long-stay visas for employment and for the extension of the right of residence for employment purposes, in the cases provided by law;
- uploading job offers and the documents necessary for the operation of foreigners’ employment agencies;
- submitting complaints and proposals regarding the implementation of legislation on foreigners’ access to the labour market.
The Electronic Platform is interconnected, among others, with the National Register of Personal Records, the informatic records of the General Inspectorate for Immigration, the informatic records of the National Agency for Employment, the informatic records of the National Trade Register Office, the General Register of Employee Records REGES-ONLINE, and the IT systems of the Ministry of Finance.
2. The list of shortage occupations has been approved
On 6 August 2026, Order No. 1073/2026 of the Minister of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity approving the List of Shortage Occupations ("List of Shortage Occupations"), as provided for in Art. 1 para. (2) of GEO 32/2026, entered into force.
The List of Shortage Occupations includes 289 occupations from the Romanian Classification of Occupations (COR), among which we mention, by way of example, the following:
- sales agent - COR code 332401
- courier agent - COR code 432333
- road freight transport driver - COR code 833201
- electrical wire insulation fitter - COR code 812219
- electrician in civil and industrial construction - COR code 741110
- foreign trade officer - COR code 333911
The List of Shortage Occupations will be updated semi-annually or whenever necessary, under the conditions established by Order No. 987/2026 of the Minister of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity approving the Methodology for drawing up and updating the List of Shortage Occupations provided for in Art. 1 para. (4) of GEO 32/2026.
