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CLUJ NAPOCA, ROMANIA
Things to know
about Cluj Napoca
The Unofficial "Capital" of the Transylvania Region
Cluj-Napoca, a city in northwestern Romania, is the unofficial capital of the Transylvania region.
It's home to universities, vibrant nightlife and landmarks dating to Saxon and Hungarian rule.
Surrounding its central square, Piața Unirii, is the Gothic-style St. Michael's Church and the dramatic Matthias Corvinus Statue of the 15th-century king. The baroque-era Bánffy Palace is now a museum showcasing Romanian art.
In the Middle Ages, the name of the city was Culus, as attested in documents of 1173, but by the beginning of the 15th century, it was known as Cluj (probably from Castrum Clus, a small fortification dating from 1213).
The city has also been known by its German name, Klausenburg, and its Hungarian name, Kolozsvár.
It became a thriving commercial and cultural centre, and in 1405 it was declared a free town.
After the constitution of the autonomous principality of Transylvania in the 16th century, Cluj became its capital.
In 1920 the city, with the rest of Transylvania, was incorporated into Romania. Napoca was added to the city’s name in 1974.
Steeped in history and a buzzing student haven.
Cluj-Napoca has a special charm, given by the 2000 years of history, the geographical location and the people because here, time flows differently, and the people take the time to say hello to each other.
The metropolitan area has a population of 427.348 people. Another 80.000 students, as non-permanent residents, increase the population of Cluj-Napoca by coming here to study and work.
Cluj-Napoca brings together historical communities of Romanians, Hungarians, Germans, Armenians, Hebrew, and Roma, as well as recent communities of Italians, French, British, Dutch, Turkish, and Asians. There is an ethnic, cultural-economic and religious diversity of communities that live in peace and learn from each other.
Cluj dining is some of the best in Romania. Ranging from traditional Romanian, Hungarian and Transylvanian (a combination of the previous two) to Italian (very good Italian food), Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, Middle Eastern, American and International Cuisine, the city can offer great dining for all tastes. Fancy restaurants are available as well as local fast food shops and a few international chains (McDonald's, Pizza Hut).
Whether you want to live a fairytale, get electric, enjoy some of the best cinematography, listen to good music while wandering in the park or just want to try out some tasty food, don’t worry, we’ve got your back. Cluj-Napoca City Days, Untold Festival, Electric Castle, Jazz in the Park, Transylvania International Film Festival (TIFF), and Street Food Festival are just a drop in the ocean of events this city hosts. To help this statement, you should know that Cluj was honoured with the title of European Capital of Youth in 2015.
How does Cluj Napoca Compare?
When it comes to renting, the prices remain pretty much stable. You can still be able to find a decent 1 bedroom apartment in a good area in a larger city in Romania for around 350 Euros per month and you can expect to pay around 500 Euros for a 2 bedroom unit.
But these usually are taken as soon as they pop up and they’re definitely not as common as they were back in the days.
You will also find cheaper apartments in areas that are farther away from the city centre, or really luxurious ones for higher prices.
Bottom line: If you want to rent in Bucharest, Cluj Napoca, Brasov, Sibiu or other large cities, budget between 350 Euros to 500 Euros per month for a 1-bedroom apartment.
In a smaller city, you can pay as little as 250 Euros per month for a 1-bedroom apartment.
Some cities have seen price increases that are above the average: Cluj is, for example, one of those cities, pushed up by the number of higher-paying jobs in the city.
When renting, the prices for utilities are usually not included in the rent, so you will have to pay these as an extra.
Fortunately, these numbers are generally extremely low during the summer and still somewhat low during the winter (when heating costs hit).
They did go up A TON for 2022, but at the moment the state covers some of the expenses, so you won’t feel the total increase.
Cost of Living
in Cluj Napoca
The cost of living in Romania keeps growing at a fast pace, even though it slowed down in 2020 when everything stopped… but then exploded again in 2021 mainly because of inflation.
As a result, the cost of living in the country in 2022 is higher than ever and this year is expected to be one where it will go up by some 10% more (from January to December). Ouch!
The average cost of living in Cluj-Napoca is $788, which is in the top 34% of the least expensive cities in the world, ranked 6109th out of 9294 in a recent global list and 2nd out of 47 in Romania.
The median after-tax salary is $850, which is enough to cover living expenses for 1.1 months. Ranked 2954th (TOP 32%) in the list of best places to live in the world and 3rd best city to live in Romania. With an estimated population of 325K, Cluj-Napoca is the 2nd largest city in Romania
A person working in Cluj-Napoca typically earns around $660 per month (After tax) and it's not qualification specific. $660 is not a good salary according to the average cost of living which is $754.
Click below for more information on the cost of living in Cluj Napoca.
Eligibility to Work in Cluj Napoca
Working in Europe | Work permit | Romania
The professional activity of foreign citizens on Romanian national territory can only be carried out with a Work Notice or a Work Permit.
According to the European Union regulations, every EU/EEA citizen enjoys the same labour rights as the ones applied to Romanian citizens, and thus, they do not need a work permit. Foreign citizens who are third-country nationals, can work in Romania only after obtaining a work permit and subsequently a long-stay visa for work and a residence permit.
Types of work permits
There are several types of work permits that can be granted to foreign citizens: permanent workers, seasonal workers, trainees, athletes, cross-border workers, and nominal work permits.
Depending on the category of your activity, the right to extend your temporary stay for employment purposes can be extended up to 1 year, as a general rule. As far as highly skilled workers are concerned, their stay can be extended up to 2 years.
THE CONDITIONS TO GET EMPLOYED IN ROMANIA
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Obtain a medical certificate stating that they are fit to carry out the activity;
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Have no criminal record which could prevent them from conducting their activities on the national territory;
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Meet the employer’s requirements on experience and training, under the provisions of the law;
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Be within the annual quota approved by Government Decision;
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The position they opt for cannot be filled in by citizens of EU Member States / EEA or Romanian citizens.
CITIZENS WHO ARE EXEMPTED FROM HOLDING A WORK PERMIT
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They hold a permanent residence on national territory or were granted a form of protection;
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They hold a residence permit for studies;
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They are EU and EEA citizens or come from a country that has signed agreements with Romania on labour market access;
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They are family members of a Romanian citizen;
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They temporarily conduct scientific or other specific activities under bilateral agreements or a residence permit;
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They are deployed in Romania.
Steps to obtain a work permit
The steps necessary to obtain a work permit are initiated by the employer who will submit the necessary files and pay the applicable taxes at the offices of the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI). It takes up to 30 days for IGI to solve such requests. For additional information, please visit the official IGI page regarding work permits.
More details and prerequisites for foreigners can be found on the official website of the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Protection and Elderly, Work Section - Information guide for third-country nationals.
Work permit application
A work permit can only be obtained by the employer, natural person or legal entity, based on the documents submitted to the territorial units of the Inspectorate General for Immigration.
The employer must also keep the document in order to prove that the employment of the foreign citizen was lawful. The employee must always keep a certified copy of the work permit or of the residence permit granted for work purposes.
THE WORK PERMIT APPLICATION'S DOCUMENTS
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Curriculum Vitae and annexed hereto, an affidavit, stating that he/ she has no criminal record, is medically fit to be employed and has minimal Romanian language skills;
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Medical certificate stating that he/she is fit to work;
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Clear criminal record;
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Graduation record translated and certified, also all scientific degrees and certifications, accompanied by validation certificate issued by the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research;
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Passport or ID, with the long-stay visa (original and copy);
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Two ¾ photos;
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Updated medical and tax registration certificate etc.
Internal Procedures
After submitting your application for a work permit, the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) must answer the request within 30 days. The term may be extended by a maximum of 15 days for further verification. After obtaining the work permit, foreign citizens must apply for a long-term visa at the Romanian diplomatic missions and consular offices.
For foreign citizens who carry out work under a valid work permit, the IGI approval is no longer required, the only mandatory approval being that of the National Visa Centre for a long-stay visa for employment purposes.
Within 60 days from obtaining your work permit, an application must be filled in for a long-stay visa for employment purposes. Otherwise, the permit will expire.
For more details about long-term visas for third-country citizens access the 'Visas for Foreign Researchers' section of our website or the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 'Long Stay Visa' section.
The right of residence granted with the long-term visa may be extended by filing a request accompanied by a series of documents to the General Inspectorate for Immigration. The request must be made at least 30 days before the expiration of the previous residence permit. Along with it, the employment authorisation may also be extended, but only if the workplace was maintained.
More information regarding the internal procedures for long-term work visas and residence permits can be found on the official website of the General Inspectorate for Immigration, section Residence in Romania for work.
Source: https://www.euraxess.gov.ro/romania/information-assistance/work-permit
