For many people temporarily living in Bucharest, temporary residence registration is one of those formalities that becomes important only when a specific need appears: enrolling a child in school or kindergarten, dealing with local institutions, accessing certain public services, proving that you live at an address in the capital or updating administrative documents. Officially, in Romania, this is not called “viza de flotant” in legal terms, but a note regarding the establishment of temporary residence.

The procedure is handled by the population records service and must be completed at the local public community service for population records responsible for the address where you temporarily live. In Bucharest, general information is managed by the General Directorate for Population Records of the Municipality of Bucharest, while each district has its own offices, schedules and appointment procedures.

What temporary residence registration is

Temporary residence registration is the common name used for the note regarding the establishment of residence. It shows that a person temporarily lives at an address other than their official domicile. The domicile is the main address written on the identity document, while the residence is the address where the person lives temporarily.

The main legal basis is Government Emergency Ordinance no. 97/2005 on population records, domicile, residence and identity documents of Romanian citizens. This legal act regulates how domicile, residence and identity documents are recorded. For practical implementation, DGEPMB also publishes the list of required documents, forms and the legal framework.

In practice, temporary residence registration is especially useful for people who have moved to Bucharest without changing their official domicile. This may include students, employees who have come from other localities, people living in rented apartments, families temporarily relocated or people who need to prove their connection to a specific address in the capital.

When you need residence proof in Bucharest

You may need residence proof in Bucharest if you live here for a longer period but your official domicile remains in another city or county. In many situations, institutions require proof that you actually live at a certain address, and temporary residence registration can simplify interactions with public authorities.

A common example is school or kindergarten enrolment, where the address may matter depending on the catchment area and the annual rules set by the authorities. Residence proof may also be useful when dealing with a family doctor, local institutions, tax departments or other administrative procedures.

It is important to say that temporary residence registration does not change your domicile. If your domicile is in Iași, Cluj, Constanța or another locality and you establish your residence in Bucharest, your domicile remains the same. Only the note showing that you temporarily live at the address in the capital is added.

Where to submit the application

The application is submitted to the population records service responsible for the address where you want to establish your temporary residence. If you live in Sector 3, you go to the population records service of Sector 3. If you live in Sector 6, you go to the service responsible for Sector 6. You do not choose the district based on your workplace or official domicile, but based on the address where you temporarily live.

On the DGEPMB website, you can find information about population records, the legal framework and public interest documents. The website also has a section with application form templates, where it is specified that applications for the issuance of an identity document and for the establishment of residence must be printed on A4 paper, with both pages on the same sheet, front and back.

Some districts allow online appointments or provide updated information on their own websites. For example, the Sector 6 Population Records Service has sections dedicated to online payments and appointments, as well as to the documents required for residence registration.

Documents required for temporary residence registration

The exact list may vary depending on the applicant’s situation, but in general the required documents include the application for recording the temporary residence, the applicant’s identity document and the document proving the right to use the dwelling. Information published by DGEPMB in the legal framework and required documents mentions the application, the identity document and the documents required for establishing residence.

If the home is your property, proof may be the ownership deed. If you live in a rented apartment, it may be the rental contract, under the conditions required by the population records service. If you live with another person, the owner’s presence or statement may be necessary, depending on the applicable procedure.

It is best to check the updated list on the district’s website before making an appointment. Sometimes institutions require original documents and copies, and a missing document can lead to rescheduling. For people living in homes with a more complicated legal situation, such as inherited properties, service housing or contracts in another person’s name, it is recommended to check directly with the population records office.

What tenants should know

For tenants, the most sensitive point is proving the right to live at that address. The rental contract may be the main document, but it is important that it be presented in the form accepted by the population records service. Some situations may require the owner’s consent or presence.

If the owner refuses to help with temporary residence registration, the tenant may have difficulty proving residence. That is why it is useful to discuss this aspect when signing the rental contract, especially if the person knows they will need residence proof for school, work or other procedures.

For owners, agreeing to temporary residence registration does not automatically transfer ownership and does not give the tenant rights over the home beyond those provided by the contract and the law. However, owners may want to know clearly for what period the residence is requested and who will actually live in the property.

How long it takes and how to prepare

The duration may depend on the district, appointments and the volume of requests. Some services have online appointments, others work according to the counter schedule, and busy periods may extend waiting times. It is useful to check the updated schedule before going to the office, because it may differ from one district to another.

Before submission, prepare the file with original documents and copies, fill in the application correctly and check whether you need an appointment. If you live at someone else’s address, ask in advance whether the owner must be present. If you have a rental contract, check that the details in the contract match the address for which you are requesting temporary residence registration.

Do not leave the procedure until the last moment. If you need temporary residence registration for school enrolment, an administrative file or another procedure with a deadline, start earlier. A missing document or unavailable appointment can delay the entire process.

Common mistakes

A common mistake is confusing domicile with residence. The domicile is the main address on the identity document, while the residence is the place where you live temporarily. Establishing residence in Bucharest does not automatically change your domicile and does not require a new identity card, unless the specific situation requires it.

Another mistake is submitting the application to the wrong district. The application is submitted in the district where the temporary residence address is located, not in the district where you work, study or carry out other activities. If your domicile is in another county and you temporarily live in Sector 4, the application is submitted to the population records service responsible for the address in Sector 4.

Many people also arrive at the counter without the document proving the right to use the home or without the owner’s consent, when this is required. A phone or online check before submission can save a lot of time.

What to remember

Temporary residence registration, commonly known as “viza de flotant”, is useful for people who temporarily live in Bucharest but have their official domicile elsewhere. It is obtained from the population records service responsible for the address where you actually live.

For a correct file, you need an application, identity document and proof of the right to use the dwelling. Depending on the situation, the owner’s consent or additional documents may be required. The safest approach is to check the list of documents on the DGEPMB website or on the website of the population records service in the district where you live.

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