Romania

Employment taxes

• Income tax: A flat 10% applied to your taxable income.
• Employee contributions (CAS and CASS ): Employees contribute 25% for pension and 10% for health insurance.
• Payroll deductions: Your employer withholds all taxes/contributions monthly and pays them to the authorities.

Leave policy

• Annual leave: You get 20 paid vacation days per year (minimum statutory requirement). Many employers offer more.
• Public holidays: Romania has 17 national public holidays.
• Sick leave: Employees are entitled to paid sick leave for up to 90 days per year. The first 5 days are covered by the employer, after that social health insurance fund covers it.
• Maternity leave: 126 days of paid maternity leave, paid at 85% of your average income, covered by social insurance.
• Paternity leave: Fathers are entitled to 10 working days of paternity leave, extendable to 15 if the father takes a childcare course. Paternity leave is fully paid by the employer.
• Parental leave is available until the child turns 2 years old, and the parent receives a monthly allowance from the state at 85% calculated based on their income in the 12 months preceding the leave.

Employment termination

• Legal grounds for terminating a contract in Romania include performance issues, misconduct, redundancy, mutual agreement, or employee resignation.
• Notice period: Minimum 20 working days for non-managerial roles or minimum 45 working days for managerial roles.
• Severance pay: Not legally mandatory, but many companies provide it as part of their internal policies or collective agreements.

Hiring and contracts

• Types of contracts: Indefinite-term (most common), fixed-term, part-time, or seasonal are all accepted.
• Contracts must be available in Romanian, but bilingual versions (Romanian/English) are allowed and common.
• Contracts must include job role and responsibilities, working hours, salary and benefits, leave entitlement, workplace location, notice period, social security details.
• Probation period is not mandatory, but if applicable usually depends on the type of employment. and role: For non-executive positions, the maximum duration is 30 days, while for managerial roles is 45 days. When the contract is fixed-termed it can vary between 5 days to 30 days, or 45 for managerial roles.

Payroll and salary payments

• Salary is paid monthly in Romanian leu (RON)
• Minimum wage: 4,500 RON per month
• Payslips are mandatory and must include gross salary, net salary, all deductions, employer contributions, payment period.

Benefits

Mandatory:

• Social security contributions
• Health insurance coverage
• Paid annual leave
• Paid public holidays

Optional:

• Meal vouchers
• Private health insurance
• Transport allowance
• Remote-work or home-office
• Gym memberships
• Extra paid leave
• Learning budget

Monthly living cost (Bucharest Edition)

Romania offers solid European living at a very comfortable price.

• Rent (city center): €550-€800
• Utilities: €90-€140
• Internet: €10
• Groceries: €200-€300
• Monthly public transport: €15-€20
• Dining out/going out: €120-€200

How to get a local ID number (CNP)

Romania’s personal identification number is called the CNP (Cod Numeric Personal).

• You receive it when you register your residence with the local authorities.
• Needed for employment, healthcare, banking, renting, and tax registration.
• Remote workers or non-residents can obtain a CNP through the National Tax Agency when registering as a taxpayer.

Social security registration

• Your employer registers you with Romania’s social security system via the Revisal platform.
• This includes pension (CAS), health insurance (CASS), and unemployment insurance.

Banking

Opening a bank account is straightforward with a passport, residence certificate, and CNP.

Popular banks:

• Banca Transilvania
• BRD Groupe Société Générale
• ING Bank
• Raiffeisen Bank
• CEC Bank

Mobile banking is popular, and card payments are widely accepted.

Housing and rental process

• Rental contracts are usually for 12 months, but flexible options exist.
• Deposits typically equal 1–2 months’ rent.
• Apartments are often fully furnished.

Tenant rights:

• Landlords must register the contract with tax authorities.
• Rent cannot increase arbitrarily during the contract period.
• Tenants must be notified in advance if the landlord plans changes.

Healthcare system

• Romania offers universal healthcare funded through employee contributions (CASS).
• Public healthcare is free or low-cost for insured residents.
• Many expats and employees also use private medical clinics, which offer faster service and English-speaking doctors.

Driving and public transport

• Public transport is affordable and easy to use. It includes buses, trams, trolleybuses, and metro (in Bucharest).
• Ridesharing apps (Bolt, Uber) are widely available.
• EU driver’s licenses are valid, while non-EU licenses may require exchange depending on bilateral agreements.

Emergency and important contacts

Emergency number (police, medical, fire): 112

Work permit and visa requirements

EU/EEA Citizens

• No visa or work permit is required.
• You can work freely and only need to register your residence after arrival.

Non-EU/EEA Citizens

Working in Romania as a non-EU citizen involves three official steps, and your employer acts as the sponsor for the entire process.

1. Your employer applies for your work permit (Aviz de Muncă) on your behalf.
2. After approval, you apply for the long-stay work visa (D/AM) at a Romanian embassy or consulate. You will need a valid passport, the approved work permit, an employment contract, proof of qualifications, medical insurance, criminal record check.
3. After entering Romania with your visa, you must apply for a residence permit at the Immigration Office. The residence permit is usually valid for 1 year and renewable.

Business culture and work norms

• Friendly, collaborative, and honest communication
• English is commonly used in international companies
• Punctuality is appreciated, but the vibe is not overly stiff
• People value respect, clarity, and personal connection
• Team lunches and coffee breaks matter, they’re where relationships are built
• Work-life balance is improving, especially in tech and modern companies