Under Romania's new work-permit law (GEO 32/2026), most blue-collar foreign workers are hired under the D/AM2 visa — and that route has a hard condition: the job must be on Romania's List of Shortage Occupations. If the occupation is not on the list, a D/AM2 work visa cannot be obtained.
This guide explains the list, what's on it, and how it affects Indian candidates.
What the shortage list is
The List of Shortage Occupations is the official list of roles Romania has identified as having a genuine shortage of workers. It is set by order of the Minister of Labour, published in the Official Gazette, and updated every six months or whenever necessary, based on data from ANOFM (the National Employment Agency), the Labour Inspectorate, IGI and consultations with social partners.
For D/AM2 applicants, the occupation you are hired for must be on this list.
Which blue-collar trades are on it
The list is broad and covers the sectors Romania needs most. Trades relevant to Indian blue-collar workers include:
- Construction: concrete workers (betonist), carpenters, masons, steel fixers, formwork workers, construction electricians, welders and metalworkers
- Metalworking & welding: MIG/MAG welders, fitters, CNC operators, machine operators
- Hospitality & food: cooks, assistant cooks, waiters, hotel housekeeping staff, bakers, pastry chefs
- Drivers & logistics: freight-road drivers, passenger-transport drivers, drivers of truck-and-trailer combinations, warehouse and loading workers
- Factory & production: production, assembly and packaging operators, quality controllers
- Agriculture: farmers, vegetable growers, gardeners, animal caretakers
- Care: care assistants, elderly-care workers, infirmiers
- Cleaning/facility: building cleaners, window and cleaning staff
Why the list matters to you
- It decides eligibility. A job offer only qualifies for a D/AM2 visa if the occupation is on the list at the time of application.
- It changes every six months. A role on the list today may be removed next update. Always check the current list, not last year's.
- It is the employer's responsibility too. The employer (via an authorised placement agency) confirms the occupation is on the list before filing.
- It limits the "job offers" you should trust. If a recruiter offers a role that is not a recognised shortage occupation, that is a red flag under the new system — such a file cannot move.
A narrower lane than before
The list is a deliberate filter: it narrows legal hiring to roles Romania actually needs, and it reduces the gap between approved permits and workers who actually arrive. For candidates, it means genuine openings are in the listed trades — and demand is concentrated and verifiable.
The honest picture
- No guarantees. Even with the occupation on the list, quotas and consular decisions apply. No agency can guarantee an outcome.
- Placement is through a licensed agency. The standard D/AM2 route uses an ANOFM-licensed placement agency; a recruiter asking you to pay them is a red flag.
- Licensed channels only: MEA-licensed agent on the Indian side (verify on emigrate.gov.in).
- Service-charge cap for Indian workers: ₹30,000 + GST (Rule 25 of the Emigration Rules), payable digitally against a receipt — never cash.
- Confirm at application time — the list updates every six months; always verify the current version on the official platform.
The bottom line
Romania's shortage-occupation list is the gatekeeper for D/AM2 work visas. Candidates with skills in an in-demand trade — construction, welding, hospitality, driving, production, care — are positioned when genuine openings run. Those offered roles outside the list should be cautious. The full embassy-wise document checklists are on our visa checklists page: https://www.greenoutdoors.in/visa-checklists
Green Outdoors Global Pvt Ltd is a Registered Recruiting Agent (MEA Licence B-1873/GUJ/COM/100/5/10332/2023) with offices in Vadodara, New Delhi, and a subsidiary in Bucharest, Romania. Contact: [email protected] | WhatsApp +91 77789 78988