At a glance
Client: a Romanian citizen living abroad for several decades
Area: citizenship and civil status
The problem: a forename change and a marriage abroad, unrecorded in Romania
Result: both applications decided within 30 days, Romanian passport obtained
The facts
The client is a Romanian citizen by birth and has lived for decades in another state, whose nationality she also acquired. In her country of residence she changed her forename administratively, and later married.
Neither event appeared in the Romanian civil status registers. The result was a mismatch between her foreign and Romanian documents that blocked the issuing of a passport. Under Law no. 119/1996, both an annotation of the forename change on the birth certificate and a transcription of the marriage certificate were required.
What we did
Obtaining and preparing the foreign documents
Through the authorities of her country of residence we obtained the official extract from the population register evidencing the forename change, together with the marriage certificate. Both were apostilled and translated into Romanian by an authorised translator.
Acting for the client
We drafted the special power of attorney and the notarised declarations on identity, the name used and the absence of any earlier transcription application, which allowed us to act before the Civil Status Office, the Population Records Directorate and the Passport Directorate.
The order of the applications
We first filed for the forename change to be annotated on the Romanian birth certificate, then for the marriage certificate to be transcribed. The order matters, because the marriage record has to match the name already updated in the birth register.
The competent authority
The client no longer had a domicile in Romania, so competence lay with the civil status office of the locality where her birth record is held. That office handled both the annotation and the transcription.
Where there is neither a previous domicile in the country nor any link to a local authority, competence lies with the local population records service of Sector 1, Bucharest.
The outcome
Both applications were decided within the 30-day statutory deadline under Methodology no. 1/1997, with no request for further documents, because the file was complete when lodged.
On the strength of the updated certificates, the client obtained her Romanian passport. The whole procedure ran without her travelling to Romania.
What the file shows
A file combining documents from different jurisdictions, apostilles, translations and three related procedures is usually lost on a formal error or on the wrong choice of competent authority. Either costs weeks.
Checking that the names match across the birth record, the marriage record and the identity document is the step that prevents most refusals.
Frequently asked questions
I changed my name abroad. What happens to my Romanian records?
The change is entered as an annotation on your Romanian birth certificate, based on the official document issued by the foreign authority, apostilled and translated. Without it, your documents do not match.
I married in another country. Does the marriage have to be transcribed in Romania?
Yes, if you want it to take effect in Romania, including for a passport or for a change of surname.
Where do I apply if I no longer have a domicile in Romania?
With the civil status office of the locality holding your birth record. Absent any link to a locality in the country, competence lies with Sector 1, Bucharest.
How long does it take?
The statutory deadline is 30 days per application, running from a complete file. Obtaining the foreign documents, the apostille and the translations happens beforehand.
Can this all be done without travelling to Romania?
Yes. With a special power of attorney notarised locally or at a Romanian diplomatic mission, we file the applications, follow them through and collect the certificates on your behalf.
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