I am being asked to pay cash and will not get a receipt.

That removes one of the most important pieces of evidence about who received the money and why. Before paying, ask for the full legal identity of the recipient, a written breakdown and a receipt/invoice. The absence of a receipt does not by itself prove illegality, but it materially worsens your ability to reconstruct what happened.

Boundary: This statement is about an authorised Romanian placement agency. It does not by itself determine the legality of every payment to an overseas intermediary.

What to do next

Ask for written payment instructions.
Preserve messages naming the amount and purpose.
Do not describe a private payment as an “official Romanian fee” unless an official source supports that.

What the source says

RO-FEE-001 · Money · verified 11 August 2026

An authorised placement agency in Romania may not charge the worker a commission, fee, charge, guarantee or deposit for placement on the Romanian labour market.

Date and context: 8 August 2026

Sources

WorkinRomania — information for foreign workersRomanian Government / WorkinRomania · Government guidance

What this answer does not decide This page cannot decide whether your employer, recruiter or legal status is safe or lawful. Check the linked authority for your situation.