Working in Germany with a Romanian Passport – a Guide for Moldovans with Two Passports

Many people from the Republic of Moldova have two passports: the Moldovan one and a Romanian one, less often a Bulgarian one. For work in Germany, the second one is what matters – the passport of an EU country. On this page we answer the questions that Moldovans with dual citizenship ask us most often.

As of: October 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice.

The short answer

With a valid Romanian or Bulgarian passport or ID card, you may work in Germany without a visa and without a work permit – on the same terms as Germans. The legal basis is the EU Freedom of Movement Act (FreizügG/EU). The biometric Moldovan passport alone does not give you the right to work.

General information about our jobs for applicants from Moldova can be found on the page Applicants from Moldova. This page is specifically about documents and dual citizenship.

Which passport for what?

Rule of thumb: In Germany, do everything with the same EU document. Then your details will match everywhere.

Why no visa and no work permit?

Romania and Bulgaria have been members of the EU since 2007. Their citizens have full freedom of movement for workers. Under § 2 FreizügG/EU, EU citizens who stay in Germany as employees have the right to free movement. They do not need permission from the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) for this.

Since 1 January 2025, both countries have also been full members of the Schengen area. You must still always carry your ID document with you.

The document must be valid

Under § 8 FreizügG/EU, EU citizens must have a valid passport or passport substitute during their stay. In practice, this means:

• Passport or ID card (buletin / carte de identitate) – both are fine, as long as they have not expired.
• Certificate of citizenship – does not replace a passport.
• Expired document – is not enough for the employment contract.

Check the expiry date before you travel. If it expires in the next few months, it is better to renew it in good time.

What the Moldovan passport allows – and what it does not

The biometric passport of the Republic of Moldova allows visa-free travel to the Schengen area, up to 90 days within 180 days. This is a right to travel, not to work. Anyone who also has a Romanian passport lives and works in Germany as an EU citizen – the 90/180 rule then does not matter.

Without a Romanian or Bulgarian passport, working in Germany with only the Moldovan passport is not allowed. More on this: Who can work in Germany?

After arrival: these steps

Address registration

Within two weeks of moving in, you register at the citizens’ office (Bürgeramt). You need your EU document and the landlord’s confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung). We help with moving and registration – details under Moving and registration.

Tax ID

After registration, the Federal Central Tax Office (Bundeszentralamt für Steuern) automatically sends your tax identification number (Steuer-ID) by post. Until you have it, income tax may temporarily be calculated using tax class VI; this is corrected later.

Social security number

If you have never worked in Germany before, the German Pension Insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung) issues the number as soon as your employer registers you. You receive it by post.

Health insurance

As an employee, you are required to have statutory health insurance. You choose the health insurance fund yourself and tell your employer. The European Health Insurance Card from Romania is meant for temporary stays and does not replace German insurance when you are employed here.

Bank account

Your wages are transferred to a bank account. You open the account with your EU document and your registered address.

Family: spouse with only a Moldovan passport

Often one spouse has a Romanian passport and the other only a Moldovan one. The spouse and children under 21 of an EU citizen who works in Germany may also live and work here. For this, the family member applies for a residence card (Aufenthaltskarte) at the immigration office.

A German test is not required for this. We explain all steps and documents in the article Family reunification for EU citizens.

Common questions about documents

Different spelling of your name

In Moldovan documents, the name is sometimes written in Russian transliteration or without Romanian special characters (ș, ț, ă), while the Romanian passport uses the Romanian spelling. This is what you should do:

• In Germany, use only the spelling from the EU document.
• Enter your name exactly like this in your application and contract.
• If you submit marriage or birth certificates with a different spelling, the authority may ask for a translation or explanation. If in doubt, ask the responsible office in advance.

Expired passport

You apply for a new Romanian passport or ID card at a Romanian consulate – in Moldova or in Germany. The processing time depends on how busy they are, so plan for some time. Until the new document arrives, we cannot sign an employment contract.

Driving licence

• Romanian or Bulgarian driving licence: this is an EU driving licence and is valid in Germany without being exchanged, within its period of validity.
• Moldovan driving licence: After you take up residence in Germany, you may drive with it for another six months (§ 29 FeV). After that, you need a German driving licence. You can find out the conditions for exchanging it at the local driving licence office (Führerscheinstelle).

A driving licence is not required for our jobs. For forklift drivers, a forklift licence is a big advantage.

Working with a Romanian passport at GermaniaJob

We are a German staffing service provider (temporary work) under the brand GermaniaJob. We are looking for:

• Warehouse worker (m/f/d) – from €15.33 per hour gross
• Forklift driver (m/f/d) – from €16.08 per hour gross
• Production helper (m/f/d) – from €15.33 per hour gross

Work locations are Göttingen, Hanover and Paderborn. We help with moving and registration, and accommodation can be provided on request. You do not pay a placement fee, and we speak English and Russian.

Do you have a valid Romanian or Bulgarian passport or ID card? Then fill out our application form – we will get back to you.