Romanian Employers Gain Easier Access to Foreign Labor
Hiring managers can now source full-time staff from Moldova, Ukraine, and Serbia without meeting highly qualified thresholds.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Job Search
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Romania has expanded eligibility for its D/AM1 work visa, allowing citizens from Moldova, Ukraine, and Serbia to access the route without meeting the usual highly qualified worker threshold. Employers hiring staff from these three nations now face a streamlined entry process for full-time contract workers.
Why it matters
By removing the advanced credential requirements for these specific nationalities, Romanian employers can more easily source labor for a wider range of roles. This shift leverages regional proximity to help businesses fill persistent talent gaps in sectors ranging from IT and engineering to professional athletics.
Romania has opened the D/AM1 visa route to citizens from 3 countries, waiving the previous highly qualified worker requirement for these applicants. All beneficiaries must secure a full-time employment contract with a minimum duration of 6 months.
The players
Romania
A European nation that manages strict immigration controls to regulate its labor market and professional sectors.
The details
The D/AM1 visa traditionally targets IT specialists, engineers, economists, and managers who meet strict higher education or advanced skill benchmarks. Under the new policy, residents of Moldova, Ukraine, and Serbia are exempt from the highly qualified criteria, provided they hold a full-time individual employment contract. This change broadens the labor pool for local businesses by simplifying the hiring mechanism for foreign nationals from these neighboring regions.
Timeline
October 26, 2026: The policy update was announced.
Market Landscape
This policy change represents a tactical easing of immigration constraints compared to the strict requirements of the European Union's Blue Card Directive. It allows local firms to bypass high-skill thresholds to address immediate labor needs.
Employers should re-evaluate their recruitment pipelines for staff from Moldova, Ukraine, and Serbia to account for the lowered credential requirements. Management teams should confirm that all full-time contracts meet the 6-month minimum duration to qualify under the new rules.
The takeaway
This policy adjustment signals that Romanian authorities are prioritizing regional labor integration to stabilize domestic staffing levels. Operators should monitor the updated application criteria on official government channels before initiating new hiring processes for affected workers.
Further reading
Learn more about navigating Job Search regulations for your international hiring needs.
More information
For full details on application procedures, visit the official Work in Romania portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Legit.ng - Nigeria news..
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Should Romania prioritize citizens from neighboring countries for its specialized work visa programs?
