Employment in Bucharest

Local Economy

As of January 2013, Bucharest had an unemployment rate of only 2.1%, much lower than the national average. In 2013, Romania’s GDP was 189.6 billion USD ‎and the GDP per capita for the country as a whole was 9,499.21 USD. However, the earning power of people living in Bucharest is much higher than the national average. Almost one third of national taxes are paid by city companies and people working in Bucharest.

Bucharest’s economy depends on both industry and services, with services growing in importance in recent years. Also quickly expanding are the property and construction sectors. Bucharest is a hub for information technology and communications, and several software companies operate offshore delivery centers. The Bucharest Stock Exchange plays a significant role in the economy, and the city is experiencing a retail boom.

For expats, working in Bucharest as an English teacher is an option. Opportunities are increasing and international organizations such as the British Council and Berlitz operate in the city. Salary average is USD 600–1,000 USD per month.

Work Permit for Bucharest

The first step for somebody looking to work in Bucharest is to obtain a work permit. This would need to come from an employer having already made a job offer.

Once the work permit is obtained, foreigners must apply for a long stay visa and can do so at the Romanian embassy in their home country. The visa is tied to the work permit, which must be renewed each year 30 days before expiring. There are also visas for study and staying with family, but family members would need their own work permit in order to work.

On arriving in Romania, non-EU expats must register with the Romanian Ministry of Finance to get a tax registration certificate.

Income Taxation in Bucharest

Romania’s income tax system is kind to expats, being relatively easy to understand and having a low flat rate of 16%. An individual is considered a resident for tax purposes if they reside in Romania for at least 183 days during a 12 month period. Romania has double tax avoidance agreements with several countries and expats should check with their home country.

Employers should automatically deduct tax from wages.

PWC has a very useful and comprehensive guide to tax in Romania online and you can find it here.