Public Notary in Romania: Complete Guide for Foreigners in 2026

Introduction: Why the Notary Matters More Than You Expect

Foreign entrepreneurs, investors, and individuals entering Romania for business or personal transactions almost always encounter the public notary — and many are surprised by how central this figure is to Romanian legal life. In common-law countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, or Australia, a notary public is a relatively minor functionary who witnesses signatures and administers oaths. In Romania — as in most civil-law jurisdictions across continental Europe — the public notary is something fundamentally different: an independent public official vested with the authority of the state, whose role is to verify the legality, identity, and informed consent of the parties before authenticating documents that carry full legal force.

This distinction matters enormously in practice. A Romanian public notary does not simply watch you sign a piece of paper. The notary verifies your identity, confirms your legal capacity, ensures that the document complies with Romanian law, explains the legal consequences to all parties, and — once satisfied — affixes an authentication that transforms the document into a notarial deed (act notarial) with the evidentiary force of a public act. Notarial deeds are presumed valid and authentic unless challenged through specific judicial proceedings. For real estate transactions, the involvement of the notary is not optional — Romanian law requires notarisation for the transfer of ownership of immovable property, and a sale agreement that is not notarised is legally void.

For foreigners, the practical implications are immediate. Buying an apartment in Bucharest? The transfer deed must be signed before a Romanian notary. Incorporating a company with articles of association that need authentication? A notary is involved. Granting a power of attorney so that a lawyer or representative can act on your behalf while you remain abroad? The notary authenticates it — and if the power of attorney is executed outside Romania, it will likely need an Apostille and a certified translation before a Romanian authority will accept it. Settling an inheritance that includes Romanian property? The probate procedure runs through a notary’s office.

This guide explains the role of the Romanian public notary in detail, covers the most common notarial services that foreign individuals and businesses need, describes the real estate transaction process step by step, addresses apostille and legalisation requirements, provides guidance on costs, identifies the most common mistakes foreigners make, and offers a practical checklist for anyone preparing to visit a Romanian notary or arrange notarial services from abroad.

What Does a Public Notary Do in Romania?

A Romanian public notary (notar public) is an independent public official whose activity is governed primarily by Law No. 36/1995 on Public Notaries and Notarial Activity and supervised by the National Union of Public Notaries of Romania (Uniunea Națională a Notarilor Publici din România — UNNPR). The notary is not an employee of the state, but exercises a public function delegated by the state — a status that gives notarial acts a legal weight that privately drafted documents do not possess.

• Authentication of legal documents. The notary authenticates contracts, deeds, declarations, and other legal instruments by verifying the identity and capacity of the parties, confirming that the content complies with Romanian law, explaining the legal effects, and affixing the notary’s seal and signature. An authenticated document becomes a notarial deed — a public act with special evidentiary force under the Romanian Civil Code.
• Certification of signatures. The notary certifies that a specific person signed a document in the notary’s presence, without necessarily verifying the content of the document itself. Signature certification is used for commercial contracts, corporate resolutions, shareholder documents, declarations, and affidavits.
• Certification of copies. The notary certifies that a copy of a document is a true and accurate reproduction of the original. This is commonly required for passports, identity documents, diplomas, company registration certificates, and other official documents.
• Certification of facts. The notary can certify that certain facts exist at a given time — for example, that a person was present at a specific location, that a document was presented, or that certain conditions were observed.
• Drafting notarial deeds. The notary drafts or reviews the legal documents that will be authenticated, ensuring that they contain all mandatory legal elements and comply with applicable legislation. For real estate transactions, the notary typically drafts the transfer deed.
• Probate and succession proceedings. The notary conducts non-contentious succession procedures (probate), issues succession certificates, verifies wills, identifies heirs, and distributes estate assets. If a dispute arises between heirs, the matter is transferred to the courts, but the majority of Romanian successions are completed before a notary without litigation.
• Powers of attorney. The notary authenticates powers of attorney — both general and special — which authorise a designated person to act on behalf of the grantor. For foreign clients who cannot be physically present in Romania, the power of attorney is one of the most frequently used notarial instruments.
• Corporate documents. The notary authenticates articles of association, share transfer agreements, corporate resolutions, director appointments, and other corporate acts that require notarisation under Romanian law or the company’s articles.
• Notarial legal advice. The notary is obliged to explain the legal consequences of the acts being authenticated to all parties. This advisory function is impartial — the notary does not represent any party’s interests, but ensures that all parties understand what they are signing and what legal effects the act produces.

When Do Foreigners Need a Public Notary in Romania?

Foreign individuals and businesses encounter Romanian notarial services in a wide range of situations. The most common include the following.

• Buying or selling real estate. Romanian law mandates notarisation for the transfer of ownership of immovable property (land and buildings). The sale-purchase agreement must be signed before a Romanian notary in the form of an authenticated notarial deed. A real estate transaction without notarisation is legally void — there is no alternative.
• Company incorporation. Certain company formation documents — particularly articles of association that involve contributions of real property, or corporate structures that require notarial authentication under the articles — must be notarised. Even where notarisation is not strictly mandatory, many foreign clients choose to have incorporation documents authenticated for additional legal certainty.
• Share transfers. Share transfer agreements for Romanian SRLs (limited liability companies) require specific formalities, and notarial authentication of signatures or the transfer agreement itself is standard practice.
• Granting powers of attorney. This is the single most common notarial act for foreign clients. A power of attorney allows a designated representative — typically a lawyer or a trusted person — to act on the foreigner’s behalf in Romania: signing contracts, appearing before the Trade Registry, completing real estate transactions, or representing the grantor before Romanian authorities.
• Inheritance and probate. When a foreign national inherits assets in Romania — or when a Romanian decedent’s estate includes assets that foreign heirs must claim — the succession procedure is handled by a Romanian notary. The notary identifies heirs, verifies the will (if any), inventories the estate, and issues a succession certificate (certificat de moștenitor) that establishes the heirs’ rights.
• Marriage and family matters. Prenuptial agreements, divorce by mutual consent (where the couple has no minor children and meets the legal conditions), consent declarations for minors travelling abroad, and other family-law documents may require notarisation.
• Certified declarations and affidavits. Romanian authorities, banks, and counterparties frequently require notarised declarations from foreign nationals — declarations of beneficial ownership, declarations regarding tax residency, affidavits confirming specific facts, and similar instruments.
• Apostille procedures. The Apostille for notarial acts issued in Romania is generally provided by the relevant Chamber of Notaries (Camera Notarilor Publici). The notary’s office can coordinate this process.
• Cross-border transactions. Any transaction where documents must move between Romania and another country — requiring authentication, apostille, legalisation, or certified translation — involves notarial services at one or both ends.

Public Notary vs Lawyer in Romania: Understanding the Difference

Foreign clients — particularly those from common-law jurisdictions — frequently confuse the roles of the notary and the lawyer in Romania. The confusion is understandable: in many countries, a single professional handles both document preparation and legal representation. In Romania, these are distinct functions performed by different professionals, and understanding the distinction is essential for navigating legal transactions effectively.

Most Common Notarial Services for Foreign Individuals

Real Estate Transactions

Real estate is the area where foreign clients most frequently interact with Romanian notaries. Romanian law requires that the transfer of ownership of immovable property — land, apartments, houses, commercial buildings — be completed through an authenticated notarial deed. The notary’s role in a real estate transaction extends far beyond witnessing a signature: the notary verifies the seller’s ownership through Land Registry (Cartea Funciară) extracts, confirms that the property is free of encumbrances or discloses any existing burdens, verifies the identity and legal capacity of both parties, drafts or reviews the transfer deed, calculates and collects applicable taxes, and submits the deed for registration with the Land Registry. Without the notary’s authentication, the transfer of ownership does not occur — the contract is legally void regardless of what the parties agreed privately.

Powers of Attorney

The power of attorney (procură) is the single most important notarial instrument for foreign clients who are not physically present in Romania. A power of attorney authorises a designated representative to act on the grantor’s behalf — signing contracts, appearing before the Trade Registry, completing real estate transactions, collecting documents, or representing the grantor before Romanian authorities.

Romanian law distinguishes between a general power of attorney (procură generală), which grants broad authority to act on the grantor’s behalf across a range of matters, and a special power of attorney (procură specială), which authorises the representative to perform specific, defined acts — such as selling a particular property or signing a specific contract. For most real estate and corporate transactions, Romanian law and practice require a special power of attorney that identifies the specific act, the specific property or company, and the specific authority granted.

A power of attorney executed in Romania is authenticated by a Romanian notary. A power of attorney executed abroad — before a foreign notary or at a Romanian consulate — must typically bear an Apostille (if the issuing country is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention) or be legalised through the diplomatic chain (if the country is not a Hague member). In both cases, a certified Romanian translation by a sworn translator (traducător autorizat) is required before the document can be used in Romania.

Certified Copies

Romanian authorities, banks, and business counterparties frequently require certified copies of official documents — passports, identity cards, diplomas, company registration certificates, contracts, and other instruments. A certified copy (copie legalizată) is produced by a notary who compares the copy to the original, confirms that it is a true and accurate reproduction, and affixes the notary’s certification. Certified copies are used in company registration, bank account opening, residency applications, property transactions, and numerous administrative procedures.

Signature Authentication

Signature authentication (autentificarea semnăturii) is the process by which the notary certifies that a specific individual signed a document in the notary’s presence. Unlike full document authentication — where the notary verifies the content and legality of the entire document — signature authentication confirms only the identity of the signatory and the fact that the signature was applied voluntarily. This form of certification is commonly used for commercial contracts, corporate resolutions, shareholder documents, declarations, and affidavits where full authentication is not legally required but certified proof of signature is needed.

Inheritance Procedures

When a foreign national is an heir to assets located in Romania, or when a Romanian decedent’s estate includes assets that must be distributed to foreign heirs, the succession procedure is conducted before a Romanian notary. The notary opens the succession file, identifies and notifies the heirs, verifies the existence of a will (testament), inventories the estate assets, determines the applicable legal regime (Romanian law, EU Succession Regulation, or a foreign law designated by the deceased), and — once all heirs agree — issues a succession certificate (certificat de moștenitor) that formally establishes each heir’s rights and share of the estate. The succession certificate is the document that enables heirs to register property in their name, access bank accounts, and dispose of inherited assets. If the heirs disagree on the distribution, the notary refers the matter to the courts.

Marriage and Family Matters

Notaries in Romania can authenticate prenuptial agreements (convenții matrimoniale), which allow spouses to choose a matrimonial property regime different from the default legal community of property. Divorce by mutual consent before a notary is available under Romanian law where the couple has no minor children (or, in certain conditions, where they agree on all matters regarding the children) and both spouses consent. The notary can also authenticate consent declarations for minor children travelling abroad with one parent, family declarations required by Romanian authorities, and other family-law instruments.

Notarial Services for Foreign Businesses

Foreign-owned businesses operating in Romania require notarial services at several points in their corporate lifecycle.

• Company incorporation. The articles of association (actul constitutiv) of a Romanian SRL can be drafted as a privately signed document (înscris sub semnătură privată) or as a notarially authenticated deed. Notarisation is mandatory when the articles involve contributions of real property to the company’s share capital. Even when not mandatory, many foreign founders choose notarial authentication for additional legal certainty — particularly when the articles contain complex governance provisions or the shareholders are based in multiple jurisdictions.
• Share transfers. The transfer of shares (părți sociale) in a Romanian SRL requires a share transfer agreement (contract de cesiune) and a shareholders’ resolution approving the transfer. Notarial authentication of signatures on the transfer agreement is standard practice, and the Trade Registry typically requires authenticated documents for registration of the new ownership structure.
• Director appointments and removals. Shareholders’ resolutions appointing or removing directors, and the related specimen-signature declarations (specimene de semnătură), are routinely notarised.
• Corporate resolutions. Extraordinary shareholders’ resolutions — amending the articles of association, increasing or reducing share capital, changing the registered office, adding or removing business activities — often require notarial authentication for registration with the Trade Registry.
• Powers of attorney for corporate representation. Foreign shareholders and directors who cannot appear in person before Romanian authorities routinely grant notarised powers of attorney to Romanian lawyers or representatives to handle Trade Registry filings, tax registrations, bank account openings, and other corporate formalities.
• Certified extracts and copies. Notaries issue certified copies of corporate documents — articles of association, shareholders’ resolutions, registration certificates — that are required by banks, counterparties, and foreign authorities.

Buying Property in Romania: The Role of the Notary

Real estate purchases are the most complex and consequential notarial procedure that foreign clients encounter in Romania. The notary’s role is not ceremonial — it is substantive, and the notary bears legal responsibility for the acts authenticated. The following is the step-by-step process.

• 1. Legal review of property documents. Before the signing appointment, the notary reviews the property’s legal documentation: the Land Registry extract (extras de carte funciară), the seller’s title deed, the cadastral documentation, any existing encumbrances (mortgages, liens, easements, litigation notes), and the property’s tax and utility status. The notary confirms that the seller is the legitimate owner and that the property can be legally transferred.
• 2. Identity verification. The notary verifies the identity of all parties — buyer and seller — using valid identification documents (passport for foreigners, Romanian ID for nationals). If a party is represented by an attorney-in-fact, the notary verifies the power of attorney, its Apostille or legalisation (if foreign), and the certified translation.
• 3. Verification of legal capacity. The notary confirms that all parties have the legal capacity to enter the transaction — that they are of legal age, of sound mind, and not subject to any legal restrictions on transacting.
• 4. Drafting the transfer deed. The notary drafts the sale-purchase agreement (contract de vânzare) in the legally required form, including all mandatory elements: identification of the parties, description of the property, the agreed price, payment terms, delivery conditions, representations and warranties, and any special clauses agreed by the parties.
• 5. Explanation of legal consequences. The notary reads the deed to the parties (or provides it for reading) and explains the legal consequences of the transaction — the transfer of ownership, the obligations assumed, the tax implications, and any risks. This is a mandatory step, not a formality.
• 6. Signing and authentication. The parties sign the deed in the notary’s presence. The notary affixes the authentication clause, the notary’s seal, and the notary’s signature, creating a notarial deed with full legal force.
• 7. Tax collection. The notary calculates and collects the applicable transfer tax (impozit pe transferul proprietăților imobiliare) from the seller at the time of signing. The tax rate depends on the property value and the duration of the seller’s ownership. The notary remits the tax to the state.
• 8. Land Registry registration. The notary submits the authenticated deed to the Land Registry (OCPI — Oficiul de Cadastru și Publicitate Imobiliară) for registration of the ownership transfer. The buyer’s ownership right becomes enforceable against third parties once registered in the Land Registry — known as the intabulare.

Documents Foreigners Usually Need When Visiting a Romanian Notary

The specific documents required depend on the type of transaction, but the following are commonly needed by foreign clients.

• Passport. A valid passport is the primary identification document for foreign nationals. The notary will verify the passport and retain a copy for the file. Ensure the passport is not expired and has sufficient validity.
• Residence documents. If the foreign client has a Romanian residence permit or a registration certificate for EU citizens, the notary may request it as additional identification.
• Tax Identification Number (NIF). For real estate transactions and certain corporate acts, a Romanian tax identification number (Număr de Identificare Fiscală) is required. Foreign individuals who do not have a Romanian personal numeric code (CNP) can obtain a NIF from the Romanian tax authority (ANAF).
• Company documents. For corporate transactions, the notary requires the company’s certificate of incorporation, articles of association, current Trade Registry extract, shareholders’ resolution authorising the transaction, and identification of the legal representative.
• Powers of attorney. If the foreign client is acting through a representative, the original power of attorney — with Apostille or legalisation and certified Romanian translation — must be presented to the notary.
• Marriage and birth certificates. For inheritance proceedings, prenuptial agreements, and certain family declarations, marriage certificates and birth certificates are required. Foreign-issued certificates must bear an Apostille or legalisation and a certified Romanian translation.
• Certified translations. All foreign-language documents presented to a Romanian notary must be accompanied by a certified translation into Romanian, prepared by a sworn translator (traducător autorizat) authorised by the Romanian Ministry of Justice.

Apostille, Legalisation, and Certified Translations

Cross-border document recognition is one of the most practically important — and most frequently misunderstood — aspects of notarial services for foreign clients.

The Hague Apostille Convention

Romania is a party to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (the Apostille Convention). Under this convention, public documents issued in one member state are recognised in another member state when they bear an Apostille — a standardised certificate issued by a designated competent authority in the country of origin. The Apostille replaces the cumbersome chain of diplomatic legalisations that was previously required.

For notarial acts issued in Romania, the competent authority for issuing the Apostille is generally the relevant Chamber of Notaries (Camera Notarilor Publici) in the jurisdiction where the notary’s office is located. For foreign documents that need to be used in Romania, the Apostille must be obtained from the designated competent authority in the country where the document was issued — this varies by country (courts, foreign ministries, secretary of state offices, or other bodies).

Legalisation for Non-Hague Countries

If the document originates from a country that is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, the document must be legalised through the diplomatic chain: the issuing authority, the foreign ministry of the country of origin, the Romanian embassy or consulate in that country, and the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This process is significantly more time-consuming than the Apostille procedure and should be started well in advance of the planned transaction.

Certified Translations

Romanian law requires that all documents submitted to public authorities, courts, and notaries be in Romanian or accompanied by a certified translation. Certified translations must be prepared by a sworn translator (traducător autorizat) who is authorised by the Romanian Ministry of Justice. Translations prepared by non-authorised translators, or by foreign translation services without Romanian Ministry of Justice authorisation, are not accepted. The sworn translator’s certification is affixed to the translation and may itself require notarisation or apostille depending on the circumstances and the requirements of the receiving authority.

Can You Sign Documents While Abroad?

Foreign clients frequently ask whether they must travel to Romania for every notarial act. The answer is no — Romanian law provides several mechanisms for completing notarial procedures without the client’s physical presence in Romania.

• Power of attorney. The most common solution. The foreign client executes a power of attorney — before a Romanian consulate abroad, before a foreign notary with Apostille, or (if already in Romania) before a Romanian notary — authorising a representative to act on their behalf. The representative then appears before the Romanian notary and completes the transaction using the power of attorney.
• Romanian consulates. Romanian consulates abroad can perform certain notarial acts for Romanian citizens and, in some cases, for foreign nationals in connection with Romanian legal matters. The consular notarial act is recognised in Romania without the need for a separate Apostille, since it is issued by a Romanian authority. However, consular notarial services may be limited in scope and subject to appointment availability.
• Foreign notaries with Apostille. A document notarised by a foreign notary in a Hague Convention member state can be used in Romania if it bears the Apostille issued by the competent authority of that country and is accompanied by a certified Romanian translation. This is the standard procedure for powers of attorney, declarations, and corporate documents executed outside Romania.
• Remote preparation. While the physical signing must occur before a notary (Romanian or foreign), the preparation of documents can be handled entirely remotely. A Romanian lawyer prepares the documents, sends drafts for review, incorporates the client’s comments, and finalises the text. The client then signs the final version before the nearest available notary or consulate, obtains the Apostille and certified translation, and transmits the documents to Romania. The entire process can be coordinated without the client ever entering Romanian territory.

How Much Do Notarial Services Cost in Romania?

Notarial fees in Romania are partially regulated by law and partially dependent on the value and complexity of the transaction. The fee structure includes several components.

• Authentication fees. For real estate transactions, the notary’s authentication fee is calculated as a percentage of the transaction value (the sale price or the assessed fiscal value, whichever is higher), on a degressive scale — higher-value transactions pay a lower percentage rate but a higher absolute fee. The specific fee schedule is established by ministerial order and updated periodically.
• Fixed fees. Certain notarial acts — certified copies, signature certifications, simple declarations — carry fixed fees that are relatively modest, typically ranging from RON 10 to RON 200 (approximately €2 to €40) depending on the act.
• Drafting fees. When the notary drafts the document (rather than authenticating a document prepared by the parties or their lawyer), a drafting fee may apply in addition to the authentication fee.
• Translation costs. If a certified translation is needed at the notary’s office — for example, if an interpreter is required during the signing because a party does not speak Romanian — the cost of the sworn translator or interpreter is borne by the party requiring the service. Translation fees vary but typically range from €15 to €30 per page for written translations and €30 to €80 per hour for interpretation.
• Registration fees. For real estate transactions, the notary submits the deed to the Land Registry on behalf of the parties. The Land Registry registration fee (tarif de înscriere) is a separate cost, calculated based on the property value.
• Government taxes. The transfer tax on real estate (impozit pe transferul proprietăților imobiliare) is collected by the notary and remitted to the state. The rate and calculation method depend on the property value and the seller’s period of ownership. This is not a notarial fee but is collected at the notary’s office as part of the transaction.

How to Choose the Right Public Notary

Not all notarial offices offer the same level of experience with foreign clients. When selecting a Romanian notary — particularly for real estate transactions and corporate matters involving international elements — the following factors are relevant.

• Experience with foreign clients. A notary accustomed to working with foreign nationals will be familiar with Apostille verification, foreign-document recognition, cross-border powers of attorney, and the specific documentation requirements for non-residents. This experience reduces delays and procedural errors.
• Language capability. While the notarial act must be in Romanian, a notary or notarial staff who speak English (or the client’s language) can communicate more effectively during the preparation phase and during the explanation of legal consequences at the signing. If no one in the notary’s office speaks the client’s language, a sworn interpreter must be present at the signing — which the notary will arrange.
• Property expertise. For real estate transactions, choose a notary with extensive experience in property transfers, Land Registry procedures, and the specific legal issues that arise with different property types (apartments, houses, agricultural land, commercial properties). Some notaries specialise in real estate.
• Corporate experience. For company incorporations, share transfers, and corporate restructurings, a notary experienced in commercial and corporate law will handle the documentation more efficiently and identify potential issues earlier.
• Transparent pricing. A reputable notary provides a clear fee estimate before the appointment, broken down by authentication fee, registration fee, taxes, and any additional costs. Request the estimate in writing.
• Coordination with lawyers. The best outcomes occur when the notary and the client’s lawyer work together. Choose a notary who is willing and accustomed to coordinating with external legal counsel — reviewing draft documents, accommodating specific contractual provisions, and aligning on timing.

Common Mistakes Foreigners Make with Romanian Notarial Services

• Signing documents without independent legal review. The notary verifies legality and explains consequences, but the notary does not represent your interests. Signing a real estate purchase deed or a share transfer agreement without having it reviewed by your own lawyer — who represents you — is one of the most common and most consequential mistakes foreign clients make.
• Using invalid or insufficient powers of attorney. A power of attorney that does not specify the exact transaction, property, or authority required will be rejected by the notary. A power of attorney without the required Apostille or without a certified Romanian translation will not be accepted. These deficiencies cause delays of days to weeks while the document is corrected and re-processed.
• Missing Apostille requirements. Foreign documents presented to a Romanian notary without the required Apostille (or legalisation for non-Hague countries) cannot be used. The Apostille must be obtained in the country where the document was issued — it cannot be obtained in Romania. Discovering this requirement at the notary’s office, on the day of the planned signing, is a preventable disaster.
• Failing to obtain certified translations. All foreign-language documents must be accompanied by a certified translation prepared by a Romanian-authorised sworn translator. Translations by non-authorised translators, machine translations, or translations certified only by a foreign authority are not accepted.
• Presenting expired or incorrect identification. An expired passport or an identification document that does not match the name on the transaction documents will prevent the notary from proceeding. Verify passport validity and name consistency well before the appointment.
• Delaying notarisation. Some foreign clients postpone notarisation of critical documents — powers of attorney, share transfers, corporate resolutions — until the last moment, creating unnecessary time pressure and the risk that missing documents or procedural deficiencies cannot be corrected in time.
• Ignoring tax implications. Real estate transactions trigger transfer taxes collected at the notary’s office. Share transfers may have capital-gains tax implications. Inheritance may trigger succession duties. Understanding the tax consequences before the notarial appointment — not after — is essential.
• Assuming foreign notarisation is automatically recognised. A document notarised by a foreign notary is not automatically valid in Romania. It must bear the appropriate Apostille or legalisation and be accompanied by a certified Romanian translation. The foreign notarisation alone is not sufficient.
• Using unofficial or uncertified translations. Only translations prepared by sworn translators authorised by the Romanian Ministry of Justice are accepted by Romanian notaries and authorities. Using an unofficial translation — regardless of its quality — will result in the document being rejected.

Step-by-Step Checklist Before Visiting a Romanian Notary

• 1. Verify the required documents. Contact the notary’s office (or your lawyer) in advance to confirm exactly which documents are needed for the specific transaction. Every notarial act has different requirements.
• 2. Check passport validity. Ensure your passport is valid and will remain valid through the date of the appointment. Verify that the name on the passport matches the name on all transaction documents.
• 3. Obtain Apostille or legalisation. For every foreign document that will be presented to the notary, confirm whether an Apostille or legalisation is required and obtain it in the country of origin before travelling to Romania.
• 4. Prepare certified translations. Arrange certified Romanian translations by a sworn translator for all foreign-language documents. This can be done in Romania upon arrival, but it is more efficient to have translations prepared in advance if a Romanian-authorised sworn translator is available in your home country.
• 5. Confirm tax documentation. For real estate transactions, obtain a Romanian Tax Identification Number (NIF) if required. For corporate transactions, confirm that all tax registrations are current.
• 6. Arrange an interpreter. If you do not speak Romanian, confirm with the notary’s office that a sworn interpreter will be present at the signing. The notary will arrange this, but advance notice is required.
• 7. Prepare company documents. For corporate transactions, bring the company’s certificate of incorporation, current articles of association, Trade Registry extract, and the shareholders’ resolution authorising the transaction — with Apostille and certified translation where applicable.
• 8. Review draft documents in advance. Request draft copies of the documents that will be signed at the notary’s office and review them — ideally with your own lawyer — before the appointment. Do not see the contract for the first time at the signing table.
• 9. Verify payment methods. Confirm how notarial fees, taxes, and any transaction payments (such as the purchase price for real estate) will be made. Romanian notaries typically accept bank transfers. For real estate transactions, the purchase price is usually transferred directly between the parties’ bank accounts, with proof of payment presented at the signing.
• 10. Schedule sufficient time. Notarial appointments for complex transactions — particularly real estate purchases — can take one to two hours or more. Do not schedule a signing appointment when you have a flight to catch in three hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The public notary occupies a central position in Romanian legal life — a position that is often unfamiliar, and sometimes surprising, to foreign individuals and businesses entering the Romanian market. Unlike the common-law notary who merely witnesses signatures, the Romanian notary is a public official whose authentication transforms documents into public acts with special legal force. For real estate transactions, this involvement is not optional — it is a legal requirement without which the transfer of ownership does not occur.

For foreign entrepreneurs, investors, and individuals, the practical consequences are clear. Every real estate purchase requires a notary. Every power of attorney used in Romania must be properly executed, apostilled, and translated. Every corporate act that requires authentication must pass through a notary’s office. The Apostille, legalisation, and certified-translation requirements are not bureaucratic niceties — they are mandatory conditions without which foreign documents cannot be used.

The foreigners who navigate Romanian notarial procedures successfully are those who prepare in advance: verifying document requirements, obtaining Apostilles in their home country before travelling, arranging certified translations, engaging a Romanian lawyer to review and protect their interests, and coordinating with the notary’s office well before the signing date. The cost of this preparation is modest. The cost of discovering a missing Apostille or an invalid power of attorney at the notary’s desk — when the counterparty, the interpreter, and the transaction deadline are all waiting — is significantly higher.

ROMANIA FOR BUSINESS SRL provides end-to-end support for foreign clients working with Romanian notaries — from document preparation and legal due diligence to notarial coordination, certified translations, and ongoing corporate services. For a consultation, contact us at office@romania-for-business.com or visit romania-for-business.com.

Methodology and data note

Notarial procedures, fees, and legal requirements described in this guide reflect Romanian legislation as of mid-2026, including Law No. 36/1995 on Public Notaries and Notarial Activity and related regulations. Romania revises procedural and fiscal rules regularly. Verify anything decision-critical against current legislation or with a specialist adviser before acting. Exchange-rate conversions use the approximate rate of 1 euro ≈ 5 Romanian lei. This material is for information only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice.