Complete Romania Truck Driver Guide for Foreign Drivers

Romania is one of the EU’s most active recruiters of non-EU workers, issuing tens of thousands of work permits a year across a large annual quota, and transport and driving are consistently among the roles in demand. For a qualified driver, Romania is a genuinely accessible route into the EU, built around an employer-led work permit followed by a long-stay visa and residence permit.

Romania is also reforming and digitalising its labour-migration system, so treat this guide as a general orientation and confirm the current details and platform with the official authorities before acting.

Who Needs Work Authorisation

Citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland work freely. Everyone else needs a work permit and a long-stay visa. The central authority is the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI, Inspectoratul General pentru Imigrări), which issues both the work permit and the residence permit; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues the entry visa, and the National Employment Agency checks the labour market.

The Three-Stage Process

Romania’s route runs in three clear stages. First, the employer obtains the work permit (aviz de angajare) from the IGI — this is employer-led and tied to one company and one position. Second, once approved, you apply for a long-stay employment visa (symbol D/AM) at a Romanian embassy. Third, upon arrival, you apply for a temporary residence permit at the IGI well before the visa expires. The work permit is specific to that employer and role, so any change means a new permit.

Quota, Labour-Market Check and the Ongoing Reform

Romania sets a large annual quota for non-EU work permits, allocated across sectors, and the employer generally has to show the role could not be filled locally. The system is being modernised into a digital platform with new long-stay visa categories — one for highly qualified and special cases outside the quota, and one for general labour subject to the quota and a shortage-occupation list. Because this is changing, confirm which category and platform apply to your role before starting.

Your Driving Licence and Code 95

An EU/EEA licence is recognised. A non-EU licence must be exchanged for a Romanian EU-standard licence after you take up residence, sometimes with a test. For professional driving, you need Category C or C+E and Code 95 (Driver CPC); a non-EU Code 95 may need to be completed in the EU, and you will need the digital tachograph driver card and a medical fitness certificate. More on Code 95 here.

Pay, Tax and Social Security

Romanian driver pay is a base salary plus per diem allowances for international routes, above the statutory minimum wage. Lawfully employed drivers pay Romanian social-security and health contributions, giving access to the public health system once the residence permit is in place, with tax handled by the national tax authority. Put the whole pay package in writing before committing. More on health insurance here.

Changing Employers, Family and Long-Term Stay

Because the permit is tied to a specific employer and position, changing employers means a new work permit. Family reunification is possible once you hold a residence permit, and continuous lawful residence — commonly five years — can lead to long-term residence. Documents from abroad require a certified Romanian translation and legalisation, and a basic Romanian-language declaration is included in the file.

How FastDriver.eu Helps

Create a free driver profile so Romanian employers can find you and browse live roles on the vacancies page. We help you understand which visa category fits under the reformed system so your application starts correctly. This is general information, not legal advice; final decisions rest with the Romanian authorities.

Official Government References

Always verify procedures, documents and timelines with the competent authorities, as the system is being reformed and requirements vary by nationality, employer and situation: the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) for the work permit and residence permit (https://igi.mai.gov.ro/en/); the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the e-Visa portal for the D/AM long-stay visa (https://evisa.mae.ro/); the Ministry of Labour and the National Employment Agency for labour-market matters; and the new WorkinRomania digital platform as it goes live. All final decisions rest with the relevant authorities.