2026 guide: translating the birth certificate for the Romanian citizenship file

For most applicants, translating the birth certificate is the very first document to prepare in a Romanian citizenship file. A single wrong detail — a missing diacritic, a name transliterated differently than in the passport, or the apostille stamp placed on the old certificate instead of on a duplicate — can send the entire file back from the National Authority for Citizenship (ANC). In this guide we explain, for 2026, exactly which translation you need, how it ties into the apostille and the notarization, and what pitfalls arise depending on the country that issued the certificate.

The guide is written for citizens of the Republic of Moldova and for those born in Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan or other former-Soviet states who file an application under Law no. 21/1991 on Romanian citizenship. For the general steps of the procedure, see the [2026 citizenship guide](/en/cetatenie-romana-2026); here we focus strictly on the birth certificate.

Why the birth certificate is the cornerstone of the file

The birth certificate proves filiation — i.e. the link to a Romanian ancestor up to the third degree (parent, grandparent, great-grandparent). Without a correctly translated and legalized certificate, ANC cannot confirm that the applicant falls under art. 11 of Law 21/1991 (reacquisition of citizenship). In practice, the counter officer compares three elements: the parents' names on the applicant's certificate, the name on the Romanian ancestor's birth certificate, and the name in the passport. If the three do not match letter for letter, the file is returned for completion.

That is why the translation is not a mere conversion of text: it is a legal act that must correctly carry, with Romanian diacritics and in the form required by civil-status registries, the name, date and place of birth.

What translation formats ANC accepts in 2026

ANC and Romanian notaries accept only translations made by a translator authorized by the Romanian Ministry of Justice, subsequently notarized. Translations made in the Republic of Moldova by a translator authorized by the Moldovan Ministry of Justice are accepted if they carry a Moldovan notary's legalization endorsement and, where applicable, an apostille on the translation.

1. Authorized translator — name, authorization number and signature specimen filed with the competent institution.
2. Notarization — the notary attests the authenticity of the translator's signature; they do not check linguistic accuracy.
3. Apostille (if applicable) — international super-legalization under the 1961 Hague Convention.
4. Stapling and numbering — the translation, the copy of the original document and the notarial endorsement stapled together, stamped on every page.

Apostille or super-legalization? It depends on the issuing country

The general rule: an act issued in a state party to the 1961 Hague Convention travels with an apostille. An act issued in a non-party state travels via consular super-legalization (double: the issuing state's foreign ministry + the Romanian embassy). However, since 16 February 2019, Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 applies, which removes the apostille requirement for a list of civil-status documents (including birth) circulating between EU member states.

Table: mandatory steps depending on the issuing country

Order matters: the apostille is applied BEFORE translation on the original act, and the second apostille (or the final notarial endorsement) is applied AFTER translation. Invert the steps and the translation will not reflect the apostille stamp and the file is incomplete. See also our dedicated [Hague apostille guide](/en/apostila-haga) for procedural details.

Duplicate or old original? What ANC accepts

A birth certificate issued before 1991 in the Moldovan SSR or in another Soviet republic is, in principle, acceptable, but in practice ANC and notaries ask for a recent duplicate, issued by the Public Services Agency (ASP) in Moldova or by DVRPC in Ukraine. The reason: only the modern duplicate can be apostilled directly. On old certificates, if they are damaged or have no digital counterpart, the apostille may be refused, which blocks the notarized translation.

• Request the duplicate from ASP (Moldova) — standard turnaround 15 business days, rush 24–72 h, fee from 100 MDL.
• Make sure the parents' names are written with full Romanian diacritics: a-breve, a-circumflex, i-circumflex, s-comma, t-comma.
• If there are discrepancies between the old certificate and the duplicate (name, date), request a correction from ASP before translation.
• Keep the old original — it may be requested by the commission as a supporting document.

Who does the translation: RO vs MD authorized translator

Translators authorized by the Romanian Ministry of Justice are listed in a public register (just.ro). ANC accepts translations signed by them, legalized at any Romanian notary, without issue. Translators authorized by the Moldovan Ministry of Justice are also accepted — but the legalization must be done at a Moldovan notary, and the translation must be apostilled.

In 2026, the fastest route for Moldovan citizens is: (1) apostille on the ASP-issued duplicate; (2) authorized translation and notarization in Moldova; (3) apostille on the translation at the Moldovan Ministry of Justice. Total: 5–10 business days in the standard regime and 48–72 h under rush. Costs are shown on the [pricing page](/en/preturi).

Frequent errors that delay the file by 3–6 months

1. Translation without an apostille on the original — the act circulates, but ANC does not treat it as a 'recognized foreign act'.
2. Inconsistent transliteration across certificate, passport and marriage certificate (for women after marriage).
3. The apostille is not mentioned in the translation — the translator must include the full text of the apostille, including number and date.
4. Incorrect stapling: the translation is separate from the original; ANC rejects acts that are not stapled with the notarial endorsement on every page.
5. Using an old damaged certificate instead of a modern duplicate.
6. Translating the place name in a Romanianized form (e.g. 'Chisinau' instead of 'Кишинэу/Chisinau' as it appears in the act) — always keep the official form from the document.
7. Exceeding validity — some notaries and ANC require a certificate issued in the last 6 months; check before starting the translation.

Estimated 2026 costs (Moldova)

Fees are indicative and may vary. For a personalized estimate, see instant pricing on our [pricing page](/en/preturi). The apostille is free for children and certain social cases expressly provided by law; check at the counter.

How tradu.online handles this type of file

We work in four clear steps: (1) you upload the certificate scan — automatic OCR extracts the text and we pre-fill the name transliteration from the passport; (2) the authorized translator checks every name, date and locality; (3) a partner notary applies the legalization the same day; (4) on request, we obtain the apostille in 24–72 h and ship the file to Chisinau, Bucharest or a consulate. Every stage is visible in the online file, with an audit log and email notifications.

Official sources and legal framework

• Law no. 21/1991 on Romanian citizenship, republished — just.ro
• National Authority for Citizenship (ANC) — cetatenie.just.ro
• Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs — mae.ro (apostilles and super-legalizations)
• Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration — mfa.gov.md
• Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 — eur-lex.europa.eu
• Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 on the apostille