At a glance
Client: a citizen of the Russian Federation, Romanian citizenship acquired by descent
Area: citizenship and civil status
The problem: citizenship granted, but no Romanian civil status records
Result: transcription completed in 30 days, Romanian birth certificate issued, no travel to Romania
The facts
The client acquired Romanian citizenship by descent under article 11 of Law no. 21/1991, having proved descent from former Romanian citizens, and took the oath of allegiance.
Many people stop here, believing the process is finished. In fact, civil status records drawn up by foreign authorities take effect in Romania only after transcription, under Law no. 119/1996. Without a Romanian birth certificate, the client could obtain neither an identity card nor a passport.
What we did
Preparing the documents
We obtained a duplicate birth certificate from the competent foreign authority and had it apostilled under the 1961 Hague Convention. We arranged the authorised and legalised translation of both the certificate and the apostille.
Acting under a power of attorney
The client was abroad, so we drafted and notarised a special power of attorney for her representation before the civil status authority, together with the notarised declarations needed to reconcile her civil status data.
Identifying the competent authority
The file is lodged with the population records service for the last declared domicile in Romania. Where the person has never had a domicile in the country, competence lies with the local population records service of Sector 1, Bucharest. Filing with the wrong office simply costs time.
The outcome
Under Methodology no. 1/1997, transcription applications are normally decided within 30 days of registration. The client's file stayed within that deadline because the documentation was complete when it was lodged.
We obtained the transcription into the Romanian civil status registers and the issuing of the Romanian birth certificate, the document on which the client then applied for her identity card and passport.
What the file shows
The 30 days run from a complete file. Every missing piece, an apostille not obtained, a translation not legalised, a declaration that fails to reconcile the data, effectively resets the procedure.
The rest is a matter of preparation, not of pressing the counter clerk.
Frequently asked questions
I have taken the citizenship oath. Is anything else required?
Yes. Your foreign birth certificate must be transcribed into the Romanian civil status registers. Without the Romanian certificate you cannot obtain an identity card or a passport.
Where is the transcription application filed?
With the population records service for your last domicile in Romania. If you have never had a domicile in the country, competence lies with Sector 1, Bucharest.
How long does transcription of a birth certificate take?
The statutory deadline is 30 days from registration of a complete file. Preparing the documents, apostille and translations, happens beforehand and adds to the overall timeline.
What documents are needed?
The original or duplicate birth certificate, apostilled, an authorised and legalised translation, your identity document and, where a lawyer files for you, a notarised special power of attorney.
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