The D/AM1 visa explained
The D/AM1 visa: who it is for (highly skilled workers, ministry projects, Moldova/Ukraine/Serbia), who files the single application, conditions, documents, deadlines.
Updated on 4 September 2026 · 6 min read
The D/AM1 visa is the long-stay visa for employment introduced by OUG 32/2026 (Emergency Ordinance no. 32/2026 on the access of foreign nationals to the labour market) in art. 27^1 of OUG 194/2002 (the law on the status of foreign nationals in Romania). It is the visa for highly skilled workers and a few special categories. The cerere unică (single application; the electronic form in the WorkinRomania.gov.ro platform through which the visa is requested) is filed exclusively by the employer, without a placement agency.
Who the D/AM1 visa is for
- Highly skilled workers: foreign nationals employed in a highly skilled position, with an open-ended contract or one of at least 6 months, with a salary at least equal to the average gross salary (9,192 lei in 2026, under Law 44/2026).
- Foreign nationals employed for activities requested by ministries or other central bodies, including infrastructure projects.
- Teaching, scientific or artistic staff (based on an order of the minister of education or culture or a decision of the university rector).
- Professional athletes.
- Citizens of the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and the Republic of Serbia, employed under a full-time individual employment contract, for any occupation, not only shortage occupations.
Unlike D/AM2, the D/AM1 visa is not conditional on the occupation being on the Lista ocupațiilor deficitare (List of shortage occupations), and art. 44 para. (6) OUG 194/2002 ties only the issuance of D/AM2 visas to the quota. The employer also does not have to meet the condition of one year of activity compatible with shortage occupations (art. 5 para. (1) letter b) OUG 32/2026 exempts the D/AM1 categories).
Special conditions for highly skilled workers
Art. 27^1 para. (3)–(7) OUG 194/2002 requires: a full-time contract, open-ended or of at least 6 months; a salary at least equal to the average gross salary; higher professional competences (as a rule at least 5 years of comparable experience; 3 years in the last 7 for the IT field); and proof that the employer tried to fill the position with a Romanian, EU or long-term resident citizen. This last condition is proven with the certificate on available labour force issued by the county employment agency no more than 90 days before the single application is filed. In other words, the labour market test has not disappeared for highly skilled workers.
Documents uploaded with the single application (art. 27^1 para. (2))
- The individual employment contract registered in REGES-ONLINE (the electronic employee register).
- Travel medical insurance with coverage of at least 30,000 EUR, valid in the Member States.
- Criminal record certificate from the country of origin or residence, translated into Romanian, English or French and legalised.
- Proof of means of subsistence at the level of the national gross minimum wage for 90 days; not required for highly skilled workers.
- Copy of the passport (border-crossing document).
- For highly skilled workers, in addition: the ANOFM certificate, CV, the document recognising studies issued by the Ministry of Education and Research or a diploma obtained in Romania, and the authorisation document where applicable.
Steps and deadlines
- The employer registers in WorkinRomania.gov.ro (ANOFM (National Employment Agency) replies within 30 working days at most).
- The bilingual CIM is concluded and registered in REGES-ONLINE.
- The employer completes the single application and uploads the documents.
- IGI (General Inspectorate for Immigration) and, for highly skilled workers, the Ministry of Education check the conditions within 30 days of filing at most (art. 44 para. (10)).
- The foreign national appears in person at the Romanian consulate in their country with the original documents; MAE (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) decides on the application within 30 days of the appearance at most (art. 44 para. (14)).
- The D/AM1 visa is valid for 90 days; after entry, the foreign national files the single permit application with IGI at least 30 days before the visa expires.
Under art. 29 para. (4) OUG 194/2002, the visa application is inadmissible if filed more than 3 months before the expected arrival date. Plan the single application around the actual arrival date.
D/AM1 versus D/AM2
| Criterion | D/AM1 | D/AM2 |
|---|---|---|
| Who files the single application | The employer | The authorised placement agency or the authorised employer |
| For whom | Highly skilled workers, ministry projects, teaching/artistic staff, athletes, citizens of Moldova/Ukraine/Serbia | Permanent, seasonal and cross-border workers |
| Shortage occupation required? | No | Yes |
| Quota? | No | Yes (90,000 in 2026) |
| Minimum salary | Highly skilled: ≥ average gross salary (9,192 lei); others: ≥ minimum wage | ≥ gross minimum wage (4,325 lei from 1 July 2026) |
| Labour market test | Yes, ANOFM certificate for highly skilled workers | No; job declared vacant to ANOFM |
| Specific documents | CV, recognition of studies by the Ministry of Education, ANOFM certificate | Placement contract, service contract, organisation chart |
Visa fee
Law 198/2008 on consular fees, as amended by art. 47 OUG 32/2026, provides a fee of 300 EUR for the long-stay visa, applicable to applications submitted via eViza from 27 April 2026.
The content reflects OUG 194/2002 and OUG 32/2026 as in force on 4 September 2026. Conditions, salary thresholds and fees must be verified on the date the single application is filed. This article is not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
No, with one exception: citizens of the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Serbia with a full-time contract qualify for D/AM1 regardless of occupation. For all other countries, permanent workers go through D/AM2, in shortage occupations.
No. Art. 27^1 OUG 194/2002 states that the single application is completed exclusively by the employer. You may, however, use a consultant to prepare the file.
The right of residence is extended for the duration of the contract plus 3 months, but no more than 3 years (art. 56 para. (3) OUG 194/2002).
At least the average gross salary used to draw up the social insurance budget: 9,192 lei gross in 2026. The threshold is updated annually through the budget law.
Update of 17 September 2026
Following the decision of the Bucharest Court of Appeal admitting the application, filed by the Employers' Association of Labour Importers (Patronatul Importatorilor de Forță de Muncă) in case no. 5633/2/2026, to suspend the enforcement of Order no. 1073/2026 of the Minister of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity approving the List of shortage occupations provided for in art. 1 para. (2) of Government Emergency Ordinance no. 32/2026 on the access of foreign nationals to the labour market in Romania, and amending and supplementing certain legal acts (Order no. 1073/2026), the WorkinRomania platform flows for employer registration, employer authorisation and filing the single application for D/AM2 long-stay visas are deactivated.
This information explains the law in plain language and is indicative only. Your specific situation must be checked against the legislation in force on the filing date.
Official sources: OUG nr. 194/2002 privind regimul străinilor în România (forma consolidată) · OUG nr. 32/2026 privind accesul străinilor pe piața muncii din România, precum și pentru modificarea și completarea unor acte normative · Tipuri de vize de lungă ședere (D/AM1, D/AM2), portalul eViza · Documente justificative pentru viza de lungă ședere, portalul eViza · MMFTSS, Salariul de bază minim brut pe țară garantat în plată se majorează (HG 146/2026) · MAE, Taxe de vize