Romania is in the EU and the Schengen area; Ukraine is outside both. Romania now hires foreign workers through one application on WorkinRomania.gov.ro, which on 31 October 2026 showed it disabled after a court decision. Ukraine’s employment centre decides a work permit within 7 working days, and the D-04 visa (USD 404) follows within 10.
Ukraine and Romania side by side
Every line carries its source. Romanian processing terms and quotas are left out: the official pages we checked on 31 October 2026 do not state them.
| Point | Ukraine | Romania |
|---|---|---|
| EU and Schengen | Outside the EU and the Schengen area | EU member since 1 January 2007; Schengen member since 31 March 2024, the last step on 1 January 2025europa.eu · European Commission |
| Who files for a foreign worker | The Ukrainian employer files with the State Employment Service; decision within 7 working daysLaw 5067-VI, Art. 42-6 | A registered or authorised employer, or an authorised placement agency, files a single application on WorkinRomania.gov.roGEO No. 32/2026 |
| Visa on that basis | Type D work visa (D-04), USD 404; decided within 10 working days, up to 30 with extra checksEmbassy tariff; Resolution 118, para. 19 | Long-stay employment visa D/AM2, requested through the same single applicationWorkinRomania.gov.ro |
| Status on 31 October 2026 | Procedure set in statute: application, decision, publicationLaw 5067-VI, Arts. 42-2 to 42-7 | Employer registration, employer authorisation and the single application for D/AM2 visas are disabled after a Bucharest Court of Appeal decision suspended Order 1073/2026WorkinRomania.gov.ro notice |
| Long-term status | Immigration permit after 5 years of continuous TRP on work or founder grounds; permanent card valid 10 yearsLaw “On Immigration”, Art. 4(2)(11) | EU long-term resident status after 5 years of legal, uninterrupted residenceDirective 2003/109/EC |
Romanian facts checked on europa.eu, home-affairs.ec.europa.eu and WorkinRomania.gov.ro on 31 October 2026.
Romania’s 2026 platform, and why it is paused
Government Emergency Ordinance No. 32/2026 on foreigners’ access to the Romanian labour market moved the hiring of foreign workers onto WorkinRomania.gov.ro. An employer creates an account and uploads firm job offers; registered or authorised employers, or authorised placement agencies, then file a single application for each worker, tied to the D/AM2 long-stay employment visa.
On 31 October 2026 the platform carried a notice: employer registration, employer authorisation and the single application for D/AM2 visas are disabled, following a Bucharest Court of Appeal decision that suspended Order 1073/2026, which had approved the list of deficit occupations. For a Pakistani applicant this means a Romanian job offer made today cannot move to the single application while that notice stands.
What the Ukrainian route gives you
- A procedure set in statute. The Ukrainian employer files with the State Employment Service, which decides within 7 working days (Art. 42-6).
- A permit you can check. Each decision is published within 2 working days (Art. 42-7). See how a fake work permit looks.
- Known costs on your side. The employer pays the permit fee; you pay the D-04 visa, USD 404, decided within 10 working days (Resolution 118), plus VFS and document legalisation.
- Residence and family. The TRP is issued within 15 working days in Ukraine (Resolution 322); your spouse and minor children can join you once it is issued, and five years of continuous TRP on work grounds lead to an immigration permit.
The documents for this route are listed in Ukraine work visa requirements for Pakistani applicants; each stage’s term is in the work permit timeline.
Which route fits whom
Ukraine fits when
- a registered Ukrainian employer is ready to file now
- you want each stage on a statutory clock
- you can check the published permit before travelling
Romania fits when
- you need residence inside the EU and Schengen
- your employer is registered on WorkinRomania.gov.ro
- you can wait for the single application to reopen
Questions about Ukraine vs Romania
Is Ukraine or Romania better for a Pakistani worker?
Can I apply for a Romania work visa right now?
What is Romania’s single application for foreign workers?
Is Romania in the Schengen area?
Which gives permanent residence, Ukraine or Romania?
An agent offers me a Romanian work visa now. What should I ask?
Read next
- Ukraine vs PolandPoland’s 2025 permit rules, PLN 400 fee and Schengen
- Best Ukrainian routes for Pakistani citizensWork, study, founder and family grounds side by side
- Ukraine work visa from PakistanThe permit-then-D-04 sequence, step by step
- Fake job offersHow offers for European work visas are faked
Sources
Get a written answer on your own route.
Eligibility assessment, $99: a lawyer-validated note sets out the routes open to you in order, an indicative timeline for each and your first action, within 3 working days. Have a Ukrainian job offer? Employer verification, $199, checks the company behind it.
Last reviewed: 31 October 2026. Facts about other countries are taken from the official pages listed under Sources on that date and can change without notice; Ukrainian terms are statutory maximums. Decisions rest with the authorities of each country. This page is general information; advice on your own case comes from a lawyer under a written engagement.