Author
Asylum applicants have access to the labour market following 3 months from the lodging of the application, if no decision has been taken by IGI-DAI due to no fault of the applicant, or during the appeal stage.[1] This means that if a decision was made in the administrative phase of the procedure, the asylum applicant is allowed access to labour market even sooner than 3 months. Persons who, at the time of filing an application for asylum, have a right of residence on the territory of Romania and are working legally, may continue to work.[2]
Access to the labour market is granted under the same conditions set out in law for Romanian citizens.[3] Accordingly, there is no labour market test, sectoral limitation or other restriction laid down in the law.
The Asylum Law prescribes that asylum applicants may benefit, upon request, from mediation services, professional information and counselling services provided to persons seeking employment by the County Employment Agencies (AJOFM).[4]
In order to be registered as a job seeker by the AJOFM and to benefit from the aforementioned services, asylum applicants must present the documents requested by law, except for the civil status documents issued by the country of origin, together with their temporary identity document issued by IGI-DAI and a certificate which confirms their right to work. The same conditions apply for asylum applicants’ participation in a vocational training program or the evaluation of professional competences acquired through non-formal means.
Diplomas or certificates of education or graduation, as well as certificates of professional competence, qualification or other relevant documents, are accepted only if they are recognised on the territory of Romania according to the applicable legal provisions.
According to the law, asylum applicants who have access to the labour market have the right to benefit from measures promoting employment, as well as protection within the unemployment insurance system, under the conditions provided by the law for the Romanian citizens.[5] Moreover, the provisions of the Asylum Law on access to employment for asylum applicants also refer to the possibility to participate in vocational training programs.[6]
According to CNRR, in 2023, 2024, and 2025, asylum applicants in Romania were granted the right to work after three months from the date of submitting their asylum application, provided no decision had been issued in the administrative phase.[7] This right could also be obtained earlier if the applicant entered the judicial phase of the asylum procedure. However, CNRR noted inconsistencies in the interpretation of this legal provision at the regional level, with variations observed in different reception centres, such as in Giurgiu.[8]
In previous years, the number of asylum applicants securing formal employment remained relatively low. Data from IGI-DAI indicate the following:[9]
- 2019: 26 asylum applicants were formally employed.
- 2021: 18 asylum applicants held employment contracts.
- 2020: 970 asylum applicants had the right to work, but only 276 were reported to be employed.
- 2023: The National Employment Agency did not maintain records on the number of asylum applicants working under formal employment contracts.
- 2024: 64 asylum applicants with the right to work were employed under contract.
- 2025: 36 people were hired with an employment contract.
Despite having the right to work, asylum applicants continue to face significant barriers to employment. According to CNRR, the most frequently reported challenges include:[10]
- Language barrier – primary obstacle is the lack of proficiency in Romanian. Those who speak English have an easier time finding employment.
- Lack of recognition of qualifications – many asylum applicants face difficulties due to missing or unrecognized diplomas, certificates, and work experience. This forces them to accept unskilled labour positions.
- Administrative and legal barriers – the temporary nature of their identity documents and the uncertainty regarding the duration of the asylum procedure deter employers from hiring asylum applicants.
- Limited access to employment services – although asylum applicants are theoretically eligible to receive assistance from the National Employment Agency, they rarely use these services due to language barriers and insufficient guidance.
- Risk of exploitation: Given these challenges, many asylum applicants are vulnerable to informal or illegal work arrangements, exposing them to labour exploitation.
From documented cases, asylum applicants who do find work are often employed in construction, car service and car wash facilities, fast food and delivery services.[11]
According to CNRR, in the past years, representatives from the National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons (ANITP) have visited the Regional Centre for Asylum applicants in Galați to provide asylum applicants with key information on labour legislation and protection against exploitation. In 2024, ANITP expanded its outreach by distributing informational leaflets in Romanian, English, Arabic, and Nepali on various employment-related topics.[12] In 2025, according to CNRR, no additional information was available regarding the distribution of informational materials by the National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons (ANITP).[13]
In 2025, according to the National Agency for Employment (ANOFM), asylum applicants may access employment-related services after 3 months from lodging the asylum application, provided that no decision has been issued and the delay is not attributable to them, or if they are in the judicial phase of the asylum procedure. According to ANOFM, both asylum applicants and beneficiaries of international protection who register with employment agencies may benefit from employment services, including information, counselling and job mediation.[14]
CNRR stated that there are currently no known projects specifically focused on the labour market integration of asylum applicants or their vocational training and qualification. [15]
According to information provided by IOM, the number of asylum applicants requesting support to access employment during the asylum procedure remained low in 2025. In some regions, asylum procedures were completed relatively quickly (approximately one month), which limited the period during which applicants could seek employment while their application was pending. For those who remained in the procedure for more than three months, the main obstacle to accessing employment was the language barrier. IOM observations also indicate differences in mobility patterns among beneficiaries of international protection. Families with children tend to remain in cities located in regions hosting reception centres, whereas single individuals often relocate to Bucharest after obtaining protection in order to increase their chances of accessing employment opportunities.[16]
LOGS offered support to approximately 20–30 asylum applicants in 2025 in accessing the labour market in Timișoara. Assistance provided by the organisation included information on the right to work and employment procedures in Romania, support in drafting CVs, mediation with potential employers and assistance in interactions with employment agencies such as AJOFM/ANOFM. LOGS reported several obstacles affecting asylum applicants’ access to employment, including limited information among employers regarding the legal framework for hiring asylum applicants, language barriers, difficulties in the recognition and equivalence of diplomas, lack of documentation, and cases of discrimination. The organisation also noted that some employers may be reluctant to hire asylum applicants due to uncertainty regarding the outcome of the asylum procedure.[17]
In 2025, according to the Labour Inspectorate Maramureș, no data is available on asylum applicants who have entered the labour market. In 2025, according to the Labour Inspectorate Maramureș, information on asylum applicants is held by the Regional Centre for Accommodation and Procedures for Asylum applicants, which is responsible for monitoring their situation.[18] According to the Labour Inspectorate Suceava, no data is available regarding the status of employees registered in the Reges-Online system, including whether they are asylum applicants or beneficiaries of international protection.[19]
[1] Article 17(1)(o) Asylum Act.
[2] ibid.
[3] ibid.
[4] Article 6^1(1) -(5) Asylum Decree.
[5] Article 17(1) (o^1) Asylum Act.
[6] Article 6^1(4) Asylum Decree.
[7] CNRR, Input by civil society organisations to the Asylum Report 2024, 2023, available here. Information provided by CNRR in February 2025 and confirmed in April 2026.
[8] Information provided by CNRR in February 2025.
[9] Information provided by IGI-DAI, 20 February 2020, 16 February 2021, 10 March 2022, National Employment Agency, 10 January 2024, IGI-DAI, 02 March 2026.
[10] Information provided in February 2025 and confirmed also by JRS Romania representatives in Galati. CNRR, Input by civil society organisations to the Asylum Report 2024, 2023, available here. Re-confirmed in February 2026
[11] CNRR, Input by civil society organisations to the Asylum Report 2024, 2023, available here.
[12] Information provided in February 2025.
[13] Information provided by CNRR in April 2026.
[14] Information provided by ANOFM in 03 March 2026.
[15] ibid. Confirmed in February 2026.
[16] Information provided by IOM, 25 February 2026.
[17] Information provided by LOGS, 16 February 2026.
[18] Information provided by ITM Maramures on 25 February 2026
[19] Information provided by ITM Suceava on 04 March 2026