Business Licences

Because Romania is an EU member state, you can generally expect licensing requirements to be broadly similar to those in other EU countries. However, obtaining certain licenses or permits in Romania can be significantly more difficult than in your home country. While Romanian bureaucracy can be challenging to navigate, we understand how it works and know how to handle the process efficiently.

We can obtain any license in Romania, provided that your company meets the formal requirements. We manage the entire process – from company formation, through bringing the business into compliance with licensing requirements, all the way to securing the license itself.

Road freight forwarding, meaning the paid intermediation of road transport operations, is a licensed activity in Romania.

A freight forwarding license is issued by the ARR, the Romanian Road Authority, as a license for activities involving the intermediation of paid road transport operations.

The freight forwarding license is issued upon application by the entrepreneur. The application must be accompanied, in particular, by:

• a certificate of company incorporation and company documents confirming that the business activity includes road transport-related services,
• a document confirming the right to use the premises in which the forwarding activity will be carried out, for a period of at least one year,
• the appointment decision for the transport manager,
• the transport manager’s certificate of professional competence,
• the transport manager’s criminal record certificate,
• documentation confirming the financial capacity to carry out the activity,
• proof of payment of the license fee.

The entrepreneur must demonstrate material resources, professional competence, good reputation, and financial capacity. In practice, the ARR requires the economic operator to have capital and reserves of at least EUR 50,000. This requirement may also be met, for example, through a bank guarantee or appropriate insurance, which we can also help you obtain.

This license is issued for 5 years. The current official fee for a freight forwarding license is 5,000 lei for 5 years.

The transport of goods over 3.5 tons or passenger transport is a licensed business activity in Romania.

A transport license is issued by the ARR (Romanian Road Authority) upon application by the entrepreneur. The application must be accompanied by:

• a certificate of company incorporation,
• documentation relating to the condition of the vehicles used in your business,
• criminal record certificates for both the entrepreneur and the company,
• documentation confirming the financial capacity to carry out transport operations,
• professional qualification certificates for transport operations, obtained by the responsible manager.

Such a license is issued for 10 years, and you must also obtain a copy for each vehicle in your company. These copies are valid for one year.

In addition to the basic transport license, you may also need road traffic permits. Naturally, vehicles must be properly registered and regularly monitored for technical condition.

There are three main stages involved in setting up an employment agency licensed to place workers abroad:

• incorporating a company whose main business activity is NACE code 7810 – Employment agency activities,
• obtaining authorization (a license) issued by the Ministry of Labor and Social Solidarity – through the Labor Inspectorate / Territorial Labor Inspectorate,
• once registered, the employment agency may place workers abroad.

In order to carry out this activity, employment agencies must meet the following conditions:

• they must have a physical office and the equipment necessary to carry out the activity,
• they must employ staff with experience in the field of labor intermediation,
• they must organize databases containing job offers and job requests from abroad, information on working conditions, and the qualifications and skills of candidates,
• they must conclude agreements containing specific job offers with legal entities, individuals, and employer organizations from abroad.

For more details, please contact us. We provide full support to entrepreneurs who want to establish an employment agency in Romania.

Whether you are working abroad as a freelancer or posting employees abroad, you must take care of mandatory social security coverage. Any situation involving the posting of workers to another EU member state creates an obligation for the entrepreneur to obtain an A1 Certificate. This document is required when:

• you post an employee to work temporarily in another EU member state,
• you are self-employed and temporarily work in another EU member state,
• you are self-employed and carry out at least two types of activity within an EU member state.

The A1 Certificate confirms that the person concerned is covered by the social security system of one of the EU member states. This document allows you to avoid paying social security contributions in two countries at the same time. The application must be submitted to the Social Security Office (CNPP).

The Romanian Parliament has introduced measures aimed at preventing the outflow of labor from Romania. In order to obtain an A1 Certificate, the company must have been operating for at least 1 year, demonstrate business contracts with other Romanian companies, submit financial statements, and have paid all taxes due to the state budget.

Have you ever been to Romania? If so, you may have noticed that urban planning is not always particularly well organized. If you are planning a construction investment, you will need to contact the local authorities in order to obtain the necessary building permits. The application must be submitted to the city hall in order to obtain the zoning certificate, building permit, and other required approvals. The local authorities issue a zoning certificate for the construction site. To obtain this certificate, your proposal must be supported by the relevant project parameters and topographic plans.

In order to obtain permission for construction works, you must have:

• additional opinions and agreements relating to the construction project, for example agreements with neighbors or matters relating to the protection of nearby monuments,
• a construction design prepared by architects and structural engineers, in line with the zoning certificate and any additional requirements.

Before starting the formal process, it is worth checking first whether your investment plans are actually subject to these building permit requirements.

The food industry in Romania is strictly regulated, including in relation to sanitary requirements. The regulatory focus is placed on compliance with food safety standards and environmental protection requirements.

To trade in food products, you must obtain several basic certificates:

• a trade permit – this document is issued by the local authorities; the competent city hall depends on the location of your business activity,
• a certificate issued by the local environmental protection agency,
• a sanitary permit – registration is handled by the health authority (ANSVSA). The certificate confirms that your business meets health and safety requirements and that the products you sell do not pose a risk to consumers’ health,
• fire protection compliance at your place of business.

In the case of food production, especially meat production, it is also necessary to prepare the required production project. This document must be approved by the public health department. ISO certificates are required where EU regulations make them mandatory.

There are two types of education licenses:

• Accreditation – this applies only to vocational teachers, schools, and universities; accreditation is granted by the Romanian Ministry of Education.
• Authorization / permit – this is intended for all other categories.

In order for a course to receive authorization, the following conditions must be met:

• the company must be established as a limited liability company (LLC) or as an association / foundation,
• the business must have at least 2 (two) instructors,
• NACE code 8559 – Other education – must be set as the main or an additional business activity.

It is important to note that authorization is granted only where professional standards exist. A professional standard is a detailed description of a profession, including the skills acquired. Example: IT technician.

Learn more in the Free Advice section.