Net emigration in Romania rose to almost 70 000 people in 2016, the third straight year of increase. The number of temporary immigrants resident in Romania increased (+7% compared to 2015) for the third year in a row, to close on 137 500 persons. According to the National Statistics Institute, the total resident population of Romania in January 2017 was 19.6 million persons, a decrease of 122 000 compared to 2016; immigrants accounted for 1.5% of the total population.
In 2016, the total number of immigrants with legal status in Romania was 112 100, including 64 900 third-country nationals and 47 200 nationals of EEA Member States and Switzerland. The five main countries of origin for third-country nationals with legal stay in Romania were Moldova (10 500), Turkey (9 100), China (7 700), Syria (4 850) and Israel (2 800). EU citizens in Romania mainly came from Italy (13 700), Germany (5 600), France (5 300), Hungary (2 900) and Greece (2 600).
As in previous years, almost half of the third-country nationals in Romania were family members of third-country national migrants or those of Romanian citizens. Another third came to Romania to study.
The number of permits that can be issued to new labour migrants is decided by the government on a yearly basis. In 2016, the General Inspectorate for Immigration issued 2 900 work permits, a slight increase compared to 2015 (2 500). Most permits were issued for permanent workers (2 300) followed by posted workers (500) and highly skilled workers (160). The number of work permits issued every year during 2010-2016 remained stable. Issues exceeded 50% of the established annual quota (5 500) for the first time in 2016. Quotas for admission to the labour market in 2017 were set at 5 500, the same as the previous two years, with subcategories for different types of work authorisation: 3 000 permanent workers; 700 posted workers; 700 intra-company transfers; 500 highly skilled employees; 400 seasonal workers; 100 internship workers; and 100 cross-border workers. In November 2017, the quota for permanent workers and intra-company transfers were reached. The quota for 2018 was increased to 7 000, with permanent workers increasing to 4 000 and intra-company transfers to 1 200. In January 2018, the minimum monthly salary for foreign workers was raised by 33% to RON 4 162 (about EUR 900), and the minimum monthly salary for highly skilled workers to RON 16 648 (about EUR 3 600).
In 2016, temporary emigration flows increased (+7.5% compared to 2014) for the third year in a row, to 209 500 persons. This flow is primarily economic migration of short and medium duration and in 2016 reached a level not seen since 2010.
The number of new asylum requests in Romania, together with those under review, remains low compared to other European countries including neighbouring ones: in 2016, about 1 900 asylum applications were submitted. However, the acceptance rate was 73% which is high compared to other EU member states.
Law no. 86/2016 regarding the establishment of Romanian community centres abroad obliges the Romanian government to ensure the establishment of centres in each state where at least 5 000 Romanian citizens are registered at the diplomatic mission of Romania.
In 2016, a Social Security Agreement between Romania and the Republic of Serbia was signed. The main purpose of the regulation is the recognition and aggregation of social insurance periods completed in the territory of both states, the determination of the applicable legislation for migrant workers, equal treatment and the export of benefits.
Government Ordinance no. 25/2016 transposes into national law the provisions of the Directive on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals in the framework of an intra-corporate transfer, and of the Directive on the conditions of entry and stay of third-country nationals for the purpose of employment as seasonal workers.
The Government Decision 14/2016 was adopted fully, transposing into Romanian law both recast asylum directives (the Directive laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection and the Directive on common procedures for granting and withdrawing international protection).
