Foreign Workers in Romania in 2025: Official IGI Statistics
Romania managed in 2025 the largest wave of foreign workers in its recent history: the annual quota of 100,000 newly admitted workers was fully achieved, and the number of third-country nationals with valid residence rights increased by over 54,000 in a single year. The figures below come from the Official Analysis of the Activity of the General Immigration Inspectorate (IGI) for the year 2025 (no. 186276/11.02.2026), published on igi.mai.gov.ro.
Overall picture on 31 December 2025
- 299,839 foreign nationals (third-country nationals, EU, EEA and UK) managed by IGI — 61,742 more than at the end of 2024 (+25.9%).
- 227,865 of these (76%) were nationals of third-country states (non-EU) — an increase of 54,702 persons compared to the end of 2024.
- The quota of newly admitted foreign workers for 2025, set at 100,000, was achieved 100% (in 2024: 92.8%).
Employment authorizations: record demand
In 2025, IGI territorial structures registered 145,102 requests for the issuance of employment authorization — 9.6% more than in 2024 (132,347). A total of 118,071 employment authorizations were issued, an increase of 11.4% compared to the previous year.
Where workers come from: top employment authorization requests
| Country of origin | Requests 2024 | Requests 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nepal | 40,069 | 54,588 | +36% |
| Sri Lanka | 26,825 | 16,307 | −39% |
| Bangladesh | 8,925 | 10,894 | +22% |
| Egypt | 5,628 | 10,216 | +82% |
| India | 8,045 | 9,647 | +20% |
| Pakistan | 10,914 | 9,022 | −17% |
| Morocco | 4,093 | 5,101 | +25% |
| Turkey | 5,242 | 4,665 | −11% |
| Ethiopia | 3,319 | 4,365 | +32% |
| Turkmenistan | 1,246 | 2,929 | +135% |
Nepal dominates by far, with 37.6% of all requests — 14,519 more than in 2024. Also remarkable are the near doubling of requests for Egyptian nationals and more than doubling of those for Turkmenistan, while Sri Lanka declines sharply after peaks in previous years.
Where requests are filed: top counties
Bucharest concentrates 24% of all employment authorization requests (34,770, with 11,062 more than in 2024), followed by Ilfov (10,641), Constanța (5,298), Satu Mare (4,538), Sălaj (4,448), Mehedinți (4,052) and Suceava (4,049). By residence, the picture is similar: 41.5% of third-country nationals live in Bucharest (63,106) and Ilfov (31,474), followed by Constanța (13,724), Timiș (13,034) and Cluj (11,158).
Long-stay visas
IGI approved in 2025 long-stay visa requests with the main purposes: studies (9,475, approximately 45% of total), employment (7,361, approximately 35%) and family reunification (3,225, approximately 18% — up 23% compared to 2024). The rejection rate for long-stay visas was approximately 21% — a signal that incomplete or incorrectly prepared files come at a high cost, in lost time and missed quota positions.
What these figures mean for employers
- Competition for quota. The quota of 100,000 was entirely exhausted in 2025 — whoever submits late or with incomplete documentation risks remaining outside it. Document preparation before starting recruitment is no longer optional.
- Diversification of origin countries. Accelerated increases in Egypt, Ethiopia and Turkmenistan show that recruitment pools are diversifying — and that means more languages and cultures to integrate into teams.
- Post-employment obligations. Once the worker arrives in Romania, according to OUG 32/2026 (Ordinance 32/2026), the employer is responsible for the integration programme (156 hours), the bilingual contract and occupational safety and health training in a language the worker understands.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many foreign workers can Romania admit in a year?
The contingent is set annually by Government decision. For 2025 it was 100,000 newly admitted workers — fully achieved. For 2026, the Ministry of Labour approved a contingent of 90,000.
Why does country of origin matter to an employer?
For the worker's language: information obligations, occupational safety and health training and the integration programme must be delivered in a language the worker understands. A worker from Nepal, one from Egypt and one from Turkmenistan means three different language approaches.
Where can I find the complete official data?
In the Analysis of IGI Activity for the year 2025, published on the official website igi.mai.gov.ro — the document covers admission, residence, asylum and inspections.
Recruiting workers from these countries? The WantJOB platform covers your post-employment obligations: bilingual contracts, occupational safety and health training in the worker's language and the integration programme required by OUG 32/2026 (Ordinance 32/2026) — in Nepali, Urdu, Hindi, Tagalog and other languages.