Can International Students Work Part-Time in Romania?
- Yes. Non-EU students who hold a residence permit for studies can take part-time jobs without applying for a separate work permit.
- The legal limit is a part-time individual employment contract of up to 6 hours per day.
- EU, EEA and Swiss students are not held to that daily cap, as long as work does not clash with their studies.
- At the legal minimum, a job pays 25.949 lei gross per hour, about €5, since 1 July 2026.
- This guide explains part-time jobs for international students in Romania: the rules, realistic pay, the best jobs, where to look and which offers to refuse. If you are still choosing where to study in Romania, start there.
Part-Time Jobs for International Students in Romania: The Legal Rules
What the law allows in 2026
- Non-EU students: you can be hired with a written part-time contract and without an employment authorisation (aviz de angajare), provided you hold the right of temporary residence for studies.
- The daily cap: 6 hours per day. Law 28/2024 raised the limit from 4 hours in March 2024, and the immigration inspectorate (IGI) now publishes the 6-hour figure on its student pages.
- Why blogs disagree: many older guides still repeat 4 hours per day or 20 hours per week. Trust the current IGI wording, and ask your international office before you sign anything.
- EU, EEA and Swiss students: no work permit and no daily cap, although your timetable still decides how much work you can realistically handle.
The legal route, step by step
- Check that your residence permit for studies is valid. Your right to work depends on it, so start renewal early and never let it lapse.
- Choose an employer who offers a written individual employment contract with part-time hours, never more than 6 per day.
- Your employer must send IGI a copy of the contract and of your permit within 10 days of your first working day.
- Any change or termination of the contract must also be reported to IGI, so tell your employer at once if your situation changes.
- Keep your own copy of the contract and every payslip in one folder, on paper and on your phone.
What can go wrong if the rules are ignored
- Employers face fines of 10,000 to 20,000 lei for each foreigner working without the correct documents.
- Students risk trouble with their residence permit extension.
- Unregistered work leaves you with no proof of income and no protection if wages stop arriving.
- Not in Romania yet? Read our Romania student visa guide first, because the study permit follows the visa and every work right above depends on it.
How Much Can Students Earn From Part-Time Work in Romania?
Your baseline: the legal minimum wage
- Minimum gross wage: 4,325 lei per month from 1 July 2026, set by Government Decision 146/2026.
- Hourly equivalent: 25.949 lei gross, roughly €5 at current exchange rates.
- Gross is not take-home pay. Tax and social contributions are deducted, so always read the net amount on your payslip before you accept.
Realistic monthly earnings by weekly workload
- Treat every figure as a floor, not a promise. Shifts, bonuses, meal vouchers and the city you live in change the final amount.
Best Part-Time Jobs for Students in Romania
Jobs where your language is the advantage
- Multilingual customer support. Outsourcing and shared-service centres in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Iași and Timișoara often recruit speakers of Arabic, French, Italian, Turkish and other languages.
- Tutoring and teaching help. English, maths or your mother tongue can be taught to schoolchildren or fellow students, usually with flexible hours.
- Junior IT and testing tasks. Software testing, support desks and data entry suit computer science and business students.
- Translation and content help. Small companies and agencies hire students for translation, proofreading and social media in their native language.
Jobs that need little Romanian
- Cafés, restaurants and hotels hire students for evening and weekend shifts, especially near universities and in tourist areas.
- Supermarkets and retail stores offer fixed part-time contracts, though daily customer contact is easier with basic Romanian.
- Warehouses and logistics hubs run short shifts, but the work is physical and tiring after a full day of lectures.
- University departments, libraries and event teams hire students for campus jobs and understand exam calendars.
Reality check for medical and pharmacy students
- Clinical rotations and practical labs change every semester, so ask for a flexible schedule before you accept.
- Choose weekend or evening work and keep exam periods completely free.
- Job supply differs by city. Compare the local job markets in the best student cities in Romania before you pick a university.
Where to Find Student Jobs in Romania
Search channels that work
- Job portals such as eJobs, BestJobs, Hipo and LinkedIn. Filter for “part-time”, “student” and “internship”.
- Your faculty career office and the international office, which usually hear about student-friendly employers first.
- Student associations and faculty groups on Facebook and WhatsApp, where classmates share open shifts.
- Walk-ins. Cafés and shops near campus often announce openings on the door.
- Romanian search terms. Type “angajăm studenți” or “job part-time” to see listings that English searches miss.
How to message an employer
- State your available days and hours in the first two lines.
- Mention your languages and that you hold a valid student residence permit.
- Ask directly for a written part-time contract of up to 6 hours per day. Serious employers answer this question easily.
Documents to prepare before the interview
- Passport and valid residence permit for studies.
- Student certificate from your faculty (adeverință de student).
- Romanian bank account (IBAN) for salary payments.
- One-page CV in English, plus a Romanian version if possible.
- A contract copy in a language you understand, or at least an English summary.
Red Flags: Offers That Can Put Your Residence Permit at Risk
- No written contract, or wages paid in cash only.
- Schedules above 6 hours per day, or a “part-time” contract that hides full-time hours.
- An employer who refuses to register you or to inform IGI.
- Gig or freelance work without an employment contract. The legal route described above is an employment contract, so ask IGI or your international office before you accept.
- Any fee requested to “secure” the job. Genuine employers do not charge candidates.
- Hourly pay below the legal minimum of 25.949 lei gross.
Practical Tips to Balance Work and Studies
- Start with two or three shifts a week in your first semester, then increase only if your grades stay stable.
- Negotiate exam-period leave before you sign, not after your first schedule clash.
- Learn basic Romanian early. Even conversational A2 level widens your options and your pay.
- Treat your first job as a CV builder and ask for a reference letter when you leave.
- Save payslips and contracts. They are your proof if a dispute appears.
- Use 6 hours as a ceiling, not a target. A lighter load of 3 to 4 hours is easier to sustain next to full-time lectures.
FAQ: Part-Time Jobs for International Students in Romania
How many hours can an international student work in Romania?
- Non-EU students with a residence permit for studies can work up to 6 hours per day on a part-time contract. EU, EEA and Swiss students have no such cap.
Do I need a work permit?
- No separate employment authorisation is needed when a non-EU student with a study permit signs a part-time contract within the 6-hour limit.
Can I work full-time during holidays?
- The student exception covers only part-time contracts up to 6 hours per day. Anything beyond that needs a different authorisation, so ask IGI first.
Can first-year students work?
- Yes, once your residence permit is issued. Waiting one semester to settle into lectures is sensible, though it is not a legal requirement.
Where can I confirm the latest rules?
- Check the IGI website or your university international office, because immigration rules change.
Your Next Steps
- Confirm your residence permit is valid and note its expiry date.
- Pick two or three job channels and apply with a one-page CV.
- Sign only a written part-time contract of up to 6 hours per day.
- Planning a career after your degree? Read about work after graduation in Romania for the next stage, including the extra months of stay allowed for job searching.
- Rules were checked against IGI guidance in October 2026. Confirm the current limits before you sign any contract.
