Under Romania's new foreign-worker framework (GEO 32/2026, effective 8 August 2026), official guidance includes proposed visa fee changes. For Indian candidates, understanding the cost side is essential — both for budgeting and for spotting genuine from non-genuine processes.
This guide explains the official fee picture and the honest rules around who pays what.
The proposed visa fee changes
Romania has proposed updating its long-stay visa fees:
| Visa type | Current fee | Proposed fee |
|---|---|---|
| Long-stay visa for employment (D/AM) | €120 | €300 |
| Other long-stay visas | €120 | €200 |
These reflect a one-time cost update. Note they are proposals from the official platform's transparency data — always confirm the current applicable fee with the consulate at application time.
The honest rule: who pays what
- Visa fees, medicals and travel are employer-borne costs in genuine overseas-recruitment processes. In a compliant Romanian D/AM2 file, the employer or authorised placement agency carries these.
- Placement costs are the employer's, not yours. Under GEO 32/2026, placement agencies are prohibited from charging foreign workers any commission, tariff, guarantee or fee. The cost of placement is borne exclusively by the employer.
- You should not pay the agency. If a recruiter asks you to pay them for placement, that is a red flag under the new rules.
The Indian-side service fee cap
On the Indian side, for MEA-licensed recruiting services, the candidate service charge is capped at:
- ₹30,000 + GST (Rule 25 of the Emigration Rules), payable by digital payment against a receipt — never cash.
This applies to the MEA-registered recruiting agent's service, separate from the employer-borne visa/medical/travel costs.
What the official data shows
Romania's transparency data also estimates the financial impact of the fee changes — projected to add substantially to state budget revenues from employment visas and other long-stay visas. For candidates, the key takeaway is that the fee structure is being formalised, and legitimate processes keep costs clearly documented.
The honest picture
- No guarantees. Fees and procedures are set by the authorities; there is no "guaranteed visa for a fee."
- Confirm current fees. Proposed amounts can change; always verify the applicable fee with the Romanian consulate before paying.
- Never pay cash for a "visa." Genuine processes issue receipts and document every charge.
- Licensed channels only: MEA-licensed agent on the Indian side (verify on emigrate.gov.in).
The bottom line
Romania's work-visa fee changes are part of a broader formalisation of the foreign-worker system. Candidates should budget for legitimate costs (which are largely employer-borne), never pay an agency directly, and always use licensed channels. 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