In a significant move for the Bangladeshi expatriate community, the Romanian government has issued an emergency ordinance providing a pathway to legal status for non-EU workers who have become "irregular" or undocumented.
The Bangladesh Embassy in Bucharest confirmed the news on Wednesday, April 29, following the publication of the "amnesty" details in the official gazette on Monday.
Provisions of Emergency Ordinance No. 32
Under Article 52 of the newly issued ordinance, foreign workers who entered Romania legally but became undocumented due to circumstances beyond their control are eligible for this special provision. The opportunity remains valid until December 31 of this year.
The Bangladesh Embassy highlighted several common scenarios where workers fall into legal limbo:
Contract Refusal: Workers arrive with valid visas, but employers subsequently refuse to hire them.
Administrative Failures: Employers may deduct taxes from wages without remitting them to the state or fail to apply for the worker's Temporary Residence Card (TRC) on time.
Job Loss: Workers who fail to find new employment within the mandated 90-day window after a contract ends.
Requirements and Eligibility
To benefit from this law, eligible workers must contact Romanian immigration authorities within 60 days of the law coming into effect.
Key Conditions:
Applicants must secure a new, valid employer.
They must obtain a new work permit under that employer before applying for a TRC card.
Strict Exclusions
The embassy clarified that this amnesty is not universal. The following groups are not eligible:
- Individuals who have already received a "Return Decision" (deportation order).
- Individuals who entered Romania illegally (e.g., through border infiltration).
The Romanian immigration authorities will hold the final decision-making power on all applications.
Embassy Support
Acknowledging that this is a new system, the Bangladesh Embassy advised expatriates to seek their assistance if they encounter complexities during the application process. This initiative is expected to provide a life-changing opportunity for thousands of Bangladeshis currently facing legal uncertainty in Romania.
