A lost birth certificate, a marriage certificate needed to update official documents or the death registration of a family member are all situations that require dealing with Romania's civil registration authorities. In Bucharest, these procedures are handled by local authorities, but not every application has to be submitted in the sector where the event originally took place.

In 2026, certain applications can be submitted to any local population records office, while Romania's electronic civil registration system has changed some administrative procedures. However, there are important differences between registering an event for the first time and requesting a new copy of an existing certificate.

Here is where to apply, which documents you need and what deadlines apply to birth, marriage and death certificates in Bucharest.

How to obtain a birth certificate in Bucharest

A birth certificate is issued after a child's birth has been officially registered. For a child born alive and still living, the legal deadline for declaring and registering the birth is 30 days from the date of birth.

According to information updated in March 2026 by Romania's General Directorate for Population Records, a birth declaration can be submitted to any local population records office or town hall. However, the birth record itself is drawn up by the authority responsible for the municipality or Bucharest sector where the birth occurred.

For example, if a child is born at a maternity hospital in Sector 1 but the parents live in Sector 4, the place of birth determines which authority prepares the official record, rather than the parents' home address.

What documents are required for a birth certificate?

For a standard birth registration, the required documents generally include:

• The medical birth certificate issued by the hospital or medical facility.

• The parents' identity documents, as applicable.

• The parents' marriage certificate, if they are married.

• Any declarations required to establish the child's surname or registered address, where applicable under Romanian law.

If the parents have different surnames, a written declaration signed by both parents regarding the child's surname may be required. Additional documents and declarations may also be necessary for unmarried parents, depending on how legal parentage is established.

Once the birth is registered, a Romanian citizen child is assigned a personal numerical code (CNP), which appears on the birth certificate.

What happens if the 30-day deadline has passed?

If the birth is declared after the legal deadline but before the child turns one, registration requires approval from the mayor of the authority responsible for the place of birth.

After the child's first birthday, the procedure also requires approval from the competent population records authority. In Bucharest, this involves the General Directorate for Population Records of the Municipality of Bucharest.

Missing the initial deadline does not mean that the birth can no longer be registered, but the administrative procedure becomes more complex.

How to obtain a marriage certificate in Bucharest

A marriage certificate is issued after the civil marriage ceremony has taken place and the marriage has been officially registered.

Normally, the future spouses must submit their marriage declaration in person to the civil registration office in the municipality or Bucharest sector where at least one of them has their registered domicile or residence.

If both partners live elsewhere, the marriage may take place in another municipality or sector only with the approval of the mayor responsible for the location where the ceremony will be held.

What documents are required for a civil marriage?

For two Romanian citizens marrying for the first time, the standard application includes:

• Valid identity documents for both future spouses.

• Birth certificates.

• Premarital medical certificates, as required by law.

• The marriage declaration, completed and signed in person.

People who have previously been married must also provide documents proving that their previous marriage has ended, as applicable.

If one of the future spouses is a foreign national, additional documents may be required to establish identity, marital status and compliance with the legal conditions for marriage. These may include certified translations and legalization formalities, where necessary.

How far in advance should the documents be submitted?

According to the rules published by Romania's Ministry of Internal Affairs, the marriage ceremony can take place starting on the 11th day after the marriage declaration is submitted, but no later than the 30th day.

In duly justified circumstances, the mayor may authorize the marriage to take place before the usual waiting period has expired.

Couples planning to marry in Bucharest should check the booking procedure used by the civil registration office in their chosen sector. Arrangements for reserving a ceremony date and submitting documents may differ between sectors.

How to obtain a death certificate in Bucharest

As a general rule, a death must be registered with the civil registration office responsible for the place where the death occurred, rather than the deceased person's registered home address.

For example, if someone who lived in Sector 3 dies in a hospital located in Sector 5, the authority responsible for preparing the death record is the one covering the location where the death occurred.

The first document required is the medical certificate confirming the death, issued by a doctor. This should not be confused with the official death certificate subsequently issued by the civil registration office.

What documents are required for a death certificate?

Under the standard procedure, the person reporting the death must generally present:

• The medical certificate confirming the death.

• The deceased person's identity document.

• The identity document of the person reporting the death.

• The deceased person's civil status documents, as applicable.

• Military registration documents, where applicable.

If certain documents belonging to the deceased cannot be provided, the person reporting the death must explain the circumstances in accordance with the applicable procedures.

A death may be reported by family members or, in their absence, by other people authorized under the law, including medical personnel or individuals who have knowledge of the death.

How quickly must a death be registered?

The general deadline is three days from the date of death.

For deaths resulting from accidents, suicide or other violent causes, as well as cases involving the discovery of a body, additional documentation from the police or prosecutor's office is required. In these situations, the three-day period is calculated from the date on which the medical certificate confirming the death is issued.

If the legal deadline is exceeded, registration requires approval from the prosecutor's office.

After the death record has been prepared, the civil registrar issues the documents required by law, including the authorization needed for burial or cremation.

Lost your birth, marriage or death certificate? How to obtain a replacement

Losing, damaging or having a certificate stolen does not mean that the original event must be registered again. The civil status record already exists in the authorities' registers, and an eligible applicant can request a new certificate.

This is particularly useful for people who live in Bucharest but were born or married in another Romanian city.

According to official information published by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in 2026, an application for a civil status certificate can be submitted to any local population records office or, where applicable, to a town hall.

For example, someone born in Iași who now lives in Bucharest should not automatically assume that they must travel back to Iași to obtain a replacement birth certificate.

Who can request a replacement certificate?

Birth and marriage certificates may be requested by the people named on the certificates or by their legal representatives, under the conditions established by law.

Death certificates may be requested by family members and other legally entitled individuals. In certain circumstances, they may also be issued to people who can demonstrate a legitimate interest, subject to approval from the competent authority.

Applications may also be submitted through a person holding a special power of attorney or through a lawyer, in accordance with Romanian law.

Applicants must present identification and documents establishing their right to request the certificate. Where a representative submits the application, the relevant authorization documents must also be provided.

Can you obtain civil status certificates online in 2026?

Romania uses the Integrated Information System for the Issuance of Civil Status Documents, known by its Romanian acronym SIIEASC. The system enables electronic management of civil registration information and supports the modernization of administrative procedures.

However, the digitalization of civil registration records does not automatically mean that every citizen can request and receive every certificate entirely online, without visiting an office.

For birth declarations, information published by the Ministry of Internal Affairs mentions the possibility of initiating the procedure through the institution's platform, subject to authentication requirements. For the issuance of civil status certificates, the official service description does not establish a universally available, fully online procedure for every situation.

Before submitting an application, it is advisable to check the platform of the relevant civil registration office. Some authorities provide online appointment booking or downloadable forms, even when the entire procedure cannot be completed remotely.

How much does it cost, and how long does it take?

There is no single fee that can be applied to every procedure across all six sectors of Bucharest. Local charges, where applicable, are established through decisions adopted by the competent authorities.

For the issuance of civil status certificates, the Ministry of Internal Affairs' official service platform indicates an average processing time of three working days and a maximum period of 30 calendar days. These are general administrative timeframes, not a guarantee that every certificate will be issued within exactly three days.

The actual processing time may depend on the status of the original record, any checks required and the authority handling the application.

For a new marriage, the legal period between submitting the marriage declaration and holding the ceremony must be observed separately. Birth and death registrations are subject to their own specific reporting deadlines.

Where to check civil registration procedures in Bucharest, by sector

The office where you submit your application may depend on the type of procedure involved: initial registration, issuance of a replacement certificate, correction of an existing record or transcription of a civil status document issued abroad.

Before visiting, check the official website of the relevant sector's civil registration service or the Ministry of Internal Affairs' national platform. This is where you should confirm the exact office address, public opening hours, appointment requirements and any applicable fees.

The official websites of Bucharest's six sector administrations are:

• Sector 1: https://www.primariasector1.ro

• Sector 2: https://www.ps2.ro

• Sector 3: https://www.primarie3.ro

• Sector 4: https://www.ps4.ro

• Sector 5: https://www.sector5.ro

• Sector 6: https://www.primarie6.ro

For general rules and national information on civil status documents, you can also consult the Ministry of Internal Affairs' online services portal.

If you need a civil status certificate to apply for or renew a Romanian identity card, remember that birth and marriage certificates may form part of the required documentation.

The most important step before booking an appointment is to establish whether you need to register a new event or simply obtain another copy of an existing certificate. That distinction determines which authority is responsible, what documents are required and how long the procedure may take.