Authorities Claim Foreigners Are Using Romania’s Work Visas to Illegally Enter Other EU Countries
Key Takeaways
1. Romanian authorities have reported a significant number of foreign workers attempting to leave Romania irregularly after arriving on work visas.
2. In the first half of 2024, 400 migrants were detained by authorities.
3. Nearly 40% of migrant workers exited Romania following the country’s partial accession to the Schengen Area.
Romanian officials have noted that many foreign workers who entered Romania legally on work visas are now trying to cross into the Schengen Zone unlawfully.
In the first six months of 2024, 400 migrants were detained at the Accommodation Centre for Foreigners in Arad. The head of the Arad Center, Filimon Pitea, reported that those caught leaving Romania irregularly had their residence permits revoked and were placed in detention pending deportation.
The majority of those detained came from Bangladesh (89), Nepal (75), Sri Lanka (63), and Pakistan (55), with others from Afghanistan, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, or Morocco.
Currently, 33 detainees occupy only 21% of the Arad Center’s capacity, though this rate is typically higher during the summer months.
Following Romania’s partial entry into the Schengen Zone, recruitment agency representatives estimate that 35-40% of foreign workers have left Romania in search of better-paying jobs in other European countries. This trend is impacting Romanian businesses that rely on migrant labor to fill workforce gaps, as highlighted in the 2023 EURES Report on labor shortages and surpluses.