Non-EU Driver at Romanian Company: International Routes in the EU

Non-EU Driver at Romanian Company: International Routes in the EU

The shortage of professional drivers in Romania is pushing more and more transport companies to recruit citizens from outside the European Union: Republic of Moldova, Turkey, Central or South Asia. The good news is that a non-EU citizen employed under an employment contract at a Romanian company can legally perform international routes within EU territory, including in a circuit (for example RO → DE → IT → FR), provided they correctly follow two parallel routes: immigration (work and residence rights) and professional certification in road transport. Below you will find the steps, reference legislation and a checklist of mandatory documents on board the truck.

Step 1: Work Rights and Residence in Romania

Before any discussion about transport licenses, the driver must have a legal work status in Romania:

1. Employment authorization – requested by the employer from the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), for the occupation of driver/transport operator for road freight.
2. Long-stay visa for employment (type D/AM) – obtained by the worker at the Romanian diplomatic mission in the country of origin, based on the employment authorization.
3. Individual employment contract – concluded and registered in REVISAL before the start of work, in accordance with the Labor Code (Codul muncii).
4. Single residence permit – requested at IGI after entering the country; it attests both residence and work rights simultaneously.

Also note the integration obligations introduced by Emergency Ordinance No. 32/2026 (OUG 32/2026), including a 156-hour integration course for foreign workers, detailed in Order No. 655/26.05.2026 (Ordinul 655/2026) – a compliance element that employers must plan from the recruitment phase.

Step 2: Professional Certification in Transport (EU Requirement)

Immigration status is not sufficient to put the driver in the truck on community routes. Three distinct components are required:

• Valid driving license, categories C and CE – exchanged or recognized in Romania, in accordance with driving license regulations. Check in advance whether the country of origin has an exchange agreement with Romania; otherwise, the driver will need to take an exam.
• Certificate of Professional Qualification (Code 95 / CPC) – required by Directive 2003/59/EC and transposed through OMT No. 1214/2015. A non-EU driver cannot perform professional road transport in the community without Code 95 obtained or recognized in a member state.
• Driving certificate for third-country nationals – issued by the Romanian Road Authority (ARR, Autoritatea Rutieră Română) under Regulation (EC) No. 1072/2009. This document proves, at any control in the EU, that the driver is legally employed at a licensed transport operator from Romania and meets professional training requirements. The certificate is personal, linked to the company, and must be kept in original form on board the vehicle.

Step 3: Mandatory Documents on Board for Routes in Circuit (RO → DE → IT → FR)

Practical checklist for the transport manager before each trip:

• Driving license (C/CE) + driver's tachograph card;
• Single residence permit in Romania (or valid D visa) + passport;
• Certified copy of the company's EU transport license;
• Driving certificate for third-country nationals (ARR) in original, in the driver's name and the operator's;
• IMI Posting Declaration – mandatory for cross-trade operations and cabotage, in accordance with Directive (EU) 2020/1057 from the Mobility Package I; filed via the IMI portal before the start of the operation;
• Form A1 (or proof of application filing at CNPP) – certifies that the driver is insured in Romania's social security system;
• Employment contract or an extract thereof, recommended in copy, for labor authority inspections in transit states.

Golden rule: transit and bilateral transport have a more relaxed regime, but cross-trade (e.g., DE → IT) and cabotage trigger posting obligations from the Mobility Package, including the minimum wage applicable in the host state for those periods.

Why Compliance Matters: Controls in the EU

Authorities in Germany (BALM/BAG), France and Italy systematically check Eastern European trucks, and the absence of an ARR certificate, IMI declaration or Form A1 can result in substantial fines, in the order of thousands or tens of thousands of euros, vehicle immobilization and risk of damage to the transport operator's reputation. In Romania, ISCTR and the Labor Inspectorate similarly sanction undeclared work by foreigners and posting violations. The cost of compliance is always less than the cost of a single major sanction.

For employers managing multiple foreign drivers, the WantJOB platform automates the hiring file for non-EU workers – from documents for work authorization to tracking validity periods for licenses and certificates – significantly reducing compliance risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Moldovan driver employed in Romania do a route Germany → France?

Yes, if he has a driving certificate issued by ARR, valid Code 95, residence permit in Romania and if the operator has filed the IMI posting declaration for the cross-trade operation.

Is Code 95 obtained in a non-EU country sufficient?

Not automatically. Code 95 must be obtained or recognized in an EU member state, in accordance with Directive 2003/59/EC. In practice, most non-EU drivers undergo CPC training in Romania.

Does the ARR certificate remain valid if the driver changes employer?

No. The driving certificate for third-country nationals is issued in the driver's name and the transport operator's name; when changing employer, a new certificate must be requested.

Is the IMI declaration required for all international routes?

No. Bilateral transport (RO → member state and return) and transit are generally exempted. The IMI declaration becomes mandatory for cross-trade and cabotage, in accordance with Directive (EU) 2020/1057.

How long does the entire process of hiring a non-EU driver take?

Duration varies depending on the country of origin, IGI and diplomatic mission workload, plus time for license exchange and obtaining Code 95. Realistically plan a few months and check updated deadlines on IGI and ARR websites.