Romania has opened a limited window for undocumented non-EU workers to regularise their status under an emergency ordinance, the Bangladesh Embassy in Bucharest confirmed Tuesday, offering potential relief to thousands of Bangladeshi migrants caught in legal limbo.

Emergency Ordinance No. 32, issued April 23 and published in Official Gazette No. 335 on April 27, includes an amnesty provision under Article 52 that applies to workers who entered the country legally but subsequently fell out of status through no fault of their own.

The embassy said many Bangladeshi workers arrived on valid work visas only to be refused employment by their contracted employers, or failed to secure alternative employment within the mandatory 90-day window. Others were rendered undocumented when employers withheld taxes from wages without remitting them to the state, or failed to complete residence card (TRC) applications on time.

Under the new provisions, affected workers have 60 days from the law's entry into force to approach Romanian immigration authorities. To qualify, applicants must present a contract with a new legitimate employer, obtain a work permit under that employer, and subsequently apply for a TRC residence card.

The measure does not extend to individuals who have already received a formal return decision or who entered Romania illegally, the embassy stressed, adding that final authority over all cases rests with Romanian immigration authorities.

The amnesty window is set to remain open until December 31, 2026. The embassy advised affected workers to seek its assistance should complications arise during the application process.