Romania (RO)
Romania is the largest country in Southeastern Europe — a full Schengen EU member state blessed with the dramatic Carpathian mountains, medieval Saxon towns like Sibiu and Brasov, the legendary Transylvania region, a booming technology sector, and one of the lowest costs of living in the European Union.
Social Security in Romania
Benefits, contributions, and how the system works for expats.
Romania's social security system is contribution-based and mandatory for employees, with a split administration across several agencies: CNPP (Casa Națională de Pensii Publice) for pensions, CNAS (Casa Națională de Asigurări de Sănătate) for health, ANOFM (Agenția Națională pentru Ocuparea Forței de Muncă) for unemployment and labour-market support, and ANPIS (Agenția Națională pentru Plăți și Inspecție Socială) for family and social benefits. Unlike in some Western European countries, most social-insurance contributions are paid entirely from the employee's gross salary, with the employer paying only a small work-insurance contribution on top. As a foreign resident, you are enrolled automatically when you sign a Romanian labour contract and obtain a CNP — and you are entitled to the same benefits as Romanian citizens once eligibility criteria are met.
Personal Numeric Code
CNP — Cod Numeric Personal
A CNP is issued to Romanian citizens at birth registration and to foreign residents when a residence permit (permis de ședere) is granted by IGI (Inspectoratul General pentru Imigrări). EU citizens receive their CNP when they register their stay and obtain a certificat de înregistrare. Short-stay foreigners who need to sign contracts but are not yet residents can obtain a NIF (Număr de Identificare Fiscală) from ANAF, which functions as a temporary identifier. Your CNP is 13 digits (S + YYMMDD + CC + NNN + C) and appears on your Romanian ID card (CI) or residence permit.
- Employment contracts and payslips
- Health insurance (CNAS) enrolment and CEAS electronic health card
- Pension contribution record at CNPP
- Tax filings and SPV account at ANAF
- Bank accounts, mortgages and all financial products
- Property transactions and land registry entries
- Vehicle registration and driving licence records
- Any medical, educational or official administrative document
Benefits & Support Payments
Unemployment Benefit
Indemnizația de șomaj
Contribution-based unemployment benefit paid to people who lose employment through no fault of their own. Calculated as 75% of a reference income and increased by small percentages based on contribution history over 3, 5 and 10+ years.
Contributed to the unemployment insurance fund for at least 12 of the last 24 months. Registered at ANOFM within the first 30 days after employment ended. Actively looking for work and accepting reasonable placement offers.
Register at your local AJOFM (Agenția Județeană pentru Ocuparea Forței de Muncă) in person or online via mySMIS / anofm.ro. Required documents: CI/permis de ședere, adeverință de la fostul angajator, decizia de încetare CIM, carnet de muncă if applicable. Processing: 2–4 weeks; benefit runs from registration date.
Minimum Guaranteed Income
Venitul minim de incluziune (VMI)
Means-tested social support that replaced the older venit minim garantat and alocația pentru susținerea familiei from 2024. Covers basic living costs and family support for low-income households.
Household income and assets below set thresholds. Household registered at the local primăria (DAS — Direcția de Asistență Socială) and actively participating in community support work if able-bodied.
Apply at the Direcția de Asistență Socială of your primăria. Required: CNP for each household member, income statements, property/asset declaration, CI and residence proof. Processing 30–60 days.
State Child Allowance
Alocația de stat pentru copii
Monthly universal cash benefit for each child under 18 (up to end of secondary education), paid regardless of parental income.
Parent or legal guardian is resident in Romania and the child lives in the household. EU citizens qualify immediately. Non-EU citizens qualify when they hold a residence permit allowing them to work.
Apply at the DGASPC (Direcția Generală de Asistență Socială și Protecția Copilului) of your județ or at the primăria, which forwards to ANPIS. You can also apply online through hub.mmuncii.ro. Backdated for up to 12 months.
Parental Allowance (Child-rearing Indemnity)
Indemnizația pentru creșterea copilului
Income-replacement benefit when a parent takes leave to care for a child up to age 2 (or 3 for a child with disabilities).
Parent contributed to CAS (pension) for at least 12 of the last 24 months before the birth. Both parents are eligible; at least 2 months must be taken by the other parent (luna tatălui / luna partenerului) or the benefit is reduced.
Apply at the AJPIS (Agenția Județeană pentru Plăți și Inspecție Socială) of your județ within 60 days of the start of leave. Required: CI, certificate of birth, adeverință de salariat, proof of contributions, bank details.
Return-to-Work Bonus
Stimulent de inserție
A monthly bonus to encourage parents receiving the child-rearing indemnity to return to work before the child turns 2.
Resumption of remunerated activity at least 60 days before the child's second birthday while previously eligible for indemnizația de creștere.
Apply at AJPIS using the same form as the parental allowance, adding the adeverință de la angajator confirming the resumption date.
Maternity Benefit
Indemnizația de maternitate (concediul de maternitate)
Income-replacement paid by CNAS during the statutory 126-day maternity leave (63 days prenatal + 63 days postnatal).
At least 6 months of CAS contributions in the 12 months before the leave starts. Submitted by the employer on behalf of the employee.
Obtain a concediu medical de maternitate certificate from your doctor (medic de familie or OB-GYN) and submit it to your employer. Self-employed submit directly to CNAS.
Sickness Benefit
Indemnizația pentru incapacitate temporară de muncă
Income-replacement for days off work due to illness or accident, paid partly by the employer and partly by CNAS.
At least 6 months of CAS contributions in the 12 months before the sickness. A concediu medical certificate from a medic de familie or specialist.
Submit the concediu medical to your employer within 5 days. The first 5 calendar days of incapacity are paid by the employer; from day 6 CNAS reimburses the employer.
Child-sick Leave
Concediu pentru îngrijirea copilului bolnav
Paid leave to care for a sick child under 7 (or under 18 if disabled or with a chronic illness).
Parent with at least 6 months of CAS contributions in the last 12 months. A pediatric concediu medical pentru îngrijire copil.
Obtain the certificate from the child's paediatrician and submit to your employer.
Disability Allowance
Indemnizația pentru persoane cu handicap
Monthly cash benefit for people certified as having a disability, plus ancillary benefits such as budget de complement, free local public transport and personal-assistant entitlement.
Certificat de încadrare în grad de handicap issued by the county DGASPC commission.
Apply at the local DGASPC (Direcția Generală de Asistență Socială și Protecția Copilului / adulți). Medical evaluation required.
Health Insurance
Asigurări sociale de sănătate (CNAS)
Universal, contribution-based access to the public healthcare system covering GP visits, specialist referrals, hospital care, emergency care and subsidised prescriptions. Exempt categories (children, students under 26, pensioners, pregnant women, chronic patients) are covered without paying contributions.
Any resident who contributes, is in an exempt category, or pays ad-hoc under the Art. 180 Codul Fiscal procedure.
Enrolment is automatic for employees. Self-employed enrol at CNAS / ANAF. A medic de familie (GP) is selected at any time using the card de sănătate / CEAS.
State Pension
Pensia pentru limită de vârstă
Contribution-based pension from CNPP. Romania has implemented a phased increase in the retirement age with alignment to 65 for both genders by 2035.
Standard retirement age in 2026: 65 for men, ~63 for women (rising to 65 by 2035). Minimum contribution period: 15 years. Full contribution period: 35 years.
Apply at your local Casa Teritorială de Pensii (CJP) or online via casadepensii.ro up to 30 days before the retirement date. Required: CI, carnet de muncă / adeverințe de vechime, decizia de încetare a activității, bank details.
Contribution Overview
Romania uses a front-loaded contribution model where most social-insurance contributions are deducted from the employee's gross salary. For 2026: CAS (pension) 25% employee, CASS (health) 10% employee, income tax 10% employee. The employer pays only CAM (contribuția asiguratorie pentru muncă) of 2.25% on top of the gross salary. A gross salary of 5,000 RON therefore translates to roughly 2,925 RON net (after 35% employee contributions and 10% income tax applied to the post-CAS/CASS base) and costs the employer about 5,113 RON. Contribution bases are capped for specific categories (e.g. IT specialists, construction workers, agricultural sector — each with its own regime).
International Social Security Agreements
Romania applies EU Regulation 883/2004 in full, so contribution periods across all EU/EEA countries plus Switzerland and the UK (via the post-Brexit Trade and Cooperation Agreement) can be combined for pension and unemployment eligibility. In addition, Romania has bilateral social security agreements with Moldova, Turkey, Israel, Serbia, Canada, South Korea and a number of other states. With the USA, a limited agreement primarily addresses double coverage for detached workers; full totalisation is still under negotiation — consult CNPP for the latest status when planning a transatlantic move.
All contributions appear on the monthly fluturaș de salariu (payslip). The employer files Declarația 112 with ANAF each month, which automatically updates your CAS/CASS records. Self-employed (PFA, II, IF) file Declarația Unică with ANAF annually and pay contributions in bands based on net income. Always keep copies of fluturași de salariu, CIM contracts and adeverințe de vechime — they are essential when applying for pensions, unemployment or parental benefits years later.
Social Security
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