Romania

Situated at the northern end of Southeast Europe, Romania is a country brimming with old-world charm, breathtaking landscapes, vibrant folk culture, and layer upon layer of rich, fascinating history. The country’s tourism slogan, “Explore the Carpathian Garden,” captures Romania’s enchanting array of unmatched cultural, historical, and natural offerings. Scattered throughout the country you’ll find everything from medieval castles and churches to peaceful monasteries, rugged mountains, and plenty of hearty, traditional food. Romania’s timeless setting has served as a muse to many a world-renowned composer, playwright, and author over the years, though those seeking a more modern adventure will find that too in Romania. Bucharest, often referred to as “The Little Paris of the East,” is home to no shortage of trendy restaurants, open-air beer gardens, elegant hotels, and jazz cafes to boot! History & Culture Romanian history traces back to what feels like time immemorial. Historians date the first inhabitants of the region to some 1.5 million years ago, and many Romanians today point to the ancient Romans and the Dacians as the forefathers of Romanian culture. After all, these two societies introduced the Latin language and Eastern Orthodox faith to the region’s inhabitants, which remain core elements of the Romanian cultural tapestry today. Beyond the Romans and the Dacians, a number of other foreign empires and societies established themselves in this southeastern country, im…

Each country has its own requirements and qualifications when it comes to teaching. Some require a bachelor’s degree in any field. In others, you’ll qualify with only a high school diploma and your TEFL certificate. Some countries have strict visa requirements that may disqualify you based on your citizenship or criminal background. Let’s take a look at the qualifications needed for teaching English in Romania. Education A bachelor’s degree is highly preferred by the vast majority of schools in Romania, but it is not always required. Citizenship There are no specific citizenship requirements to teach English in Romania, and you do not need to be a native English speaker in order to find a job there. English Fluency If English is not your first language you’ll still need to have a high fluency in English, and you might need to be more flexible about your school and location preferences to compete with native English-speaking candidates. Likewise, some Romanian schools might prefer to hire candidates specifically from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Background Check You must have a criminal record check (CRC) from your home country in order to qualify for the work permit, and it is typically required that you obtain this CRC at the federal level. Any sexual or violent crimes will disqualify you from teaching in Romania. Minor driving offenses may be accepted by your employer, but the government has the final say …

Romania presents a growing market for English teachers, and while it can be tough for non-EU educators to secure positions there, it is possible. Once you begin teaching in Romania, you might find that your school-aged pupils have higher than usual English skills — Romanian students are able to begin learning English as early as primary school, thanks to the country’s robust public education system. Most teachers will find themselves working between 20 and 30 hours per week and might even take on hours in more than one school and find students to tutor privately on the side to bring in more income. The need for qualified English teachers in Bucharest, Constanta, Cluj-Napoca, Lasi and many other cities throughout Romania is high. Teachers can expect to make enough money to live comfortably and travel throughout the country and the whole of Europe. Private Language Schools Many Romanian adults and business professionals actively seek out English language learning opportunities as a way to broaden their career prospects and globalize their marketability. As a result, you’ll find ample opportunities to teach adult learners in private language schools throughout the country. Private language schools are privately-run and typically for-profit language training centers that can cater to students of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Many school-aged students will attend private language schools to supplement their public or private school language education, and adults will often…

Now that you’ve explored the job types available to you, it’s time to begin the application process! There are several steps to take to find a job teaching English in Romania, and we have them all outlined below. Heads up! The timelines for your job application process and for gathering documents for your visa may overlap. You’ll want to be working on both processes at roughly the same time. Be sure to check out our Romania Timeline, as well as the Applying for the Visa section for more information and to make sure you are staying on top of your visa documents while applying for teaching positions. Step 1: Prepare Your Initial Application Materials Resume & Cover Letter Your resume and cover letter are the keys to connecting with schools and beginning the application process. International employers look for specific elements in a resume that may differ from what you’re used to seeing domestically. To take a deeper dive into international resumes and cover letters, visit the Resume and Cover Letter section! Once you’ve updated your resume and cover letter to meet the recommended international standards, submit your draft to your Student Affairs Advisor for review. Step 2: Determine Your Preferences A major part of the teaching abroad experience is enjoying where you’ll actually be living! Do you have a preference when it comes to your daily routines and surroundings? Do you want to live in the bustling capital city of Bucharest? Or do you crave a picturesque, small town ex…

Congratulations on your job offer(s)! If you’ve been offered a position from a school in Romania and you’ve followed our previous advice, you’re already off to a great start. But what’s next? Determining whether or not the offer is right for you. To help make this decision, follow the recommendations below by reviewing the basics. Whether you have one offer or several, the key elements you’ll want to take note of are: salary, working hours, vacation days, sick days, housing, airfare, insurance, and bonuses. Let’s take a closer look at what to expect with each of these elements. Review the Basics Salary The average starting salary for a first-year English teacher in Romania is 1,300 – 4,370 Romanian Lei (RON) per month. Anything significantly lower or higher should make you ask a few questions. If the reason for the pay difference is obvious, like you’ll be in a rural location with a low cost of living or working longer than average hours, you may find that you’re okay with it. But don’t accept a contract that is paying you less for doing the same amount of work the average English teacher does, or one that doesn’t fit into your work-life-travel balance. Working Hours

The word “visa” tends to provoke daunting images of endless red tape and paperwork, but we’re here to ease your anxiety and hopefully have you zipping through this visa process like a pro. Below, we’ll outline the most common visa routes for foreign English teachers in [country], and then dive into a deeper look at the required documents for a work permit there. As is always the case with any of the visa advice we provide, please be sure to cross-check this information with your local Romanian consulate or embassy to ensure you are getting the most up-to-date, accurate, and personalized instruction there is! Visa Types Introduction First, figure out which visa you are eligible for: Long-Stay Visa What is it? This visa will allow you to travel to Romania and apply for a residence permit at the Ministry of Internal Affairs – General Inspectorate for Immigration. With a residence permit, you will then be able to legally work and live in Romania for a period beyond 90 days. There are many different types of long-stay visas available to choose from — you can apply for a long-stay visa for the purpose of employment, academic studies, professional activities, and more . For the most part, however, teachers relocating to Romania will apply for the employment option, so we’ll focus specifically on that long-stay visa type from here on out. How do you get one? In order to apply for a long-term visa, you will need to first have accepted a job offer from a Romanian employer. Your employe…

Embassy of Romania to the United States of America: Romanian Long Stay Visa Visa Guide World: Romanian Long Stay D Visas Anywork Anywhere: Voluntary Work in Romania Ministry of Foreign Affairs: The Romanian Visa Romanian Consulate or Embassy Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: General Information About the Long Stay D Visa Timeline

You have finally made it to the end of the Romania section, no small feat! Here is all of that wonderful information from the previous section laid out step-by-step and month-by-month before your intended departure date for Romania. This timeline is not only for the planners and checklist lovers (although you will love this too!). It is strongly encouraged for anyone planning a move to Romania to help keep you on track and organized as you make your way through the process. Finding a Job In Advance Please keep in mind that finding a job in advance of arriving in Romania is certainly possible, though less common than it is to find a job on the ground in Romania. Use this timeline to nail down your plan of attack, and remember that the peak hiring months for English teaching jobs in Romania are September and January, whereas August is a traditionally slow hiring month. While it may be possible to move some parts of the process along quicker, follow this timeline as closely as possible. 6 months before departure: Begin your research ___ Decide which schools you might want to apply to using our Romania School Finder . ___ List out your preferences and priorities. ___ Chat with ITA alumni and read about alumni experiences and watch Instagram takeovers in Romania. ___ Ensure your passport will be valid six months past your anticipated return date or order a new passport. __   Read through ITA’s resources, and watch a Student Affairs webinar __   Read about Romania and Romanian cult…

Romania is a country that was under the communist regimen, so there are still a few traces of that in the culture. Romanians are very welcoming and warm with foreigners, they are usually very helpful and kind. The older generation doesn't really speak English, the younger generations are more open-minded and easy to get along with. Lucia Carro Iași, Romania