A brief introduction
Getting married in Romania when one (or both) the spouses are foreign citizens is possible and relatively straightforward — but the paperwork can be complex. This guide explains what you need to prepare and how, depending on your country of origin.
Every municipality in Romania (and every Sector of the capital, Bucharest) has a Civil Status Office (Stare Civilă) that will guide you in preparing the required documents. I spent several months gathering the paperwork for myself, an Italian citizen, and my wife, a citizen of the Philippines, which at that time was not part of the Apostille Convention. Based on that experience, I would like to share some useful hints.
Before thinking to get married in this country, you should check the following:
- Check that you are not married elsewhere. It may sound obvious, but many people underestimate how serious the crime of bigamy is. Sooner or later, it will be discovered when you try to register your marriage in your country of origin. If you have left a spouse in your home country, cannot locate him or her, or only presume that he or she has died without an official death certificate, you must resolve these issues before starting the marriage process in Romania. Otherwise, you risk wasting time, effort, and money — only to end up with a marriage that cannot be legally recognized.
- Check that you can obtain the necessary documents in a reasonable time. If you are still living in your home country, it is very unlikely that you can simply prepare all the required documents, obtain a tourist visa, and fly to Romania to get married in one go. In most cases, you will be asked to provide additional or corrected documents, or you will discover that something is missing. For this reason, it is wise to have one or more trusted persons (friends, relatives, or even a lawyer) who can quickly gather and send the necessary paperwork on your behalf.
- Check your budget. My wife and I calculated that we spent at least 20,000 RON on documents, notaries, translations, courier services, and — inevitably — mistakes. One purpose of this guide is to help you save money by avoiding errors and unnecessary duplicates and repetitions.
Different Countries, Different Rules: Four Cases to Consider
Not all countries are the same. The documents you need — and the complexity of obtaining them — vary depending on your country’s adherence to international treaties. For this reason, we can distinguish three different cases, in order of increasing complexity:
- European Union Countries
EU member states can issue civil status documents (such as birth certificates or certificates of no impediment) in the multilingual standard form under EU Regulation 2016/1191. These forms are valid in Romania without translation or legalization. - Switzerland (the Helvetic Confederation)
Although Switzerland is not in the EU, it is a party to the Vienna Convention of 1976 on multilingual extracts from civil status records. Swiss authorities issue international (multilingual) civil status certificates (birth, marriage, death) that are accepted directly in Romania without translation or legalization. - Non-EU Countries That Are Hague Convention Members
Countries outside the EU that are members of the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents. Documents from these countries must be apostilled to be valid in Romania (see this Article). - Non-EU Countries That Are Not Hague Convention Members
Countries outside both the EU and the Hague Convention. Documents from these countries require full consular legalization (supralegalization) through diplomatic channels before they can be used in Romania (see this Article).
What the Romanian authorities want from you?
- Your personal data. Through valid document (ID) that demonstrates your identity and your right to be in the Romanian territory at the moment of the ceremony (residence or tourist visa).
- That you are not involved into a marriage elsewhere. For this, you need a document, from your country of origin, showing that you are not already married, even abroad.
- That you fully understand what you are doing and what does it involve, in the Romanian legal framework.
Your ID
The Civil Status Office (Stare Civilă, also known as the Marriage Registry Office) Office will ask you your ID in original and copy. If you are resident in Romania, or you just have a work permit you will have to provide your passport with the entry visa and your Residence Card/Work Permit. Otherwise, if you are visiting Romania, the passport with a valid tourist visa should be sufficient.
How to show you are not married
Depending on the country one or both the spouses come from, there are three ways to do it:
- Citizens of the European Union or of the Helvetic Confederation, usually have this information officially reported on their Birth Certificate that can be issued, generally free of charges, as an International Birth Certificate in original and Romanian language. They can obtain the certificate in an electronic form (e.g. in Italy you can obtain it here: anagrafenazionale.interno.it/).
- Citizens of countries that issue a Certificate of No Marriage (e.g. the CE.NO.MAR in the Philippines) can ask their governments to issue it, instruction vary depending on the original country.
- Citizens of countries that, for any reason, can’t issue the Certificate of No Marriage, they can make a notarial self-certification under their own responsibility.
Preparing for the Civil Ceremony in Romania
Before the marriage ceremony itself, the process begins with the civil status officer (Ofițerul de Stare Civilă), who plays a key role in validating the couple’s right to marry. This step ensures that everything is legally in order before the spouses officially say “yes.”
Document Verification
The spouses must first submit the required documents to the Civil Status Office. These typically include:
- Birth certificates
- Passports or identity cards
- Certificates of no impediment (for foreigners)
- Translations and legalizations if required
The officer carefully checks the authenticity and completeness of all documents. Only once everything is validated will the marriage request be registered.
⚠️ Important note: before the civil ceremony, the officer will ask if the wife wishes to take the husband’s surname. In Romania, it is customary for the wife to adopt the husband’s surname, but for foreigners this is optional, as each country has its own laws and traditions regarding family names. Additionally, foreign names and surnames containing special or non-standard characters will be adapted to the Romanian alphabet in the official documents.
Confirming the Ceremony Location
After the documents are accepted, the officer will show the couple the ceremony hall (usually inside City Hall). These rooms are often simple but decorated for the occasion, with the Romanian flag, the national coat of arms, and seating for witnesses and close family. In some larger towns, there may be more elaborate halls available.
Agreeing on the Date
The marriage does not usually take place immediately. Once the documents are in order, the officer and the spouses will agree on a date for the civil ceremony.
- By law, a short waiting period applies (commonly 10 days).
- The couple can request a specific day and time, depending on availability.
- Popular dates (such as weekends or symbolic calendar days) should be booked early.
What happens next
Once the date is set, the couple will return on the chosen day with their two witnesses. The officer will then conduct the ceremony, read the legal declarations, and invite the spouses to sign the marriage certificate — making the union official.
🌐 Language requirement: If one or both spouses do not speak Romanian fluently, a certified translator must be present at the civil ceremony to ensure the legal declarations are fully understood.
In Romania, the marriage ceremony is a meaningful blend of official requirements and cultural traditions. It typically involves two distinct parts: the civil marriage and, if the couple chooses, the religious ceremony.
Civil Ceremony (Căsătoria civilă)
The civil wedding is the only legally recognized marriage in Romania. It takes place at the local City Hall (Oficiul Stării Civile), in front of a registrar and two witnesses.
- The ceremony is short, usually 15–20 minutes.
- The registrar reads from the Civil Code, emphasizing the rights and responsibilities of the spouses.
- The couple answers with a clear “Da” (Yes).
- The marriage certificate is signed on the spot, and the spouses are officially recognized as husband and wife.
Family and friends often attend, even if the event is brief. Many Romanian couples bring flowers, music, and even professional photographers to make it more festive.
Religious Ceremony (Optional but Traditional if one of the spouses is Romanian)
After the civil wedding, many couples choose to have a religious service, which is deeply rooted in Romanian culture, especially in the Orthodox Church.
- The service is longer and highly symbolic, usually held in a church.
- Key rituals include:
- The Crowning (Cununia religioasă) – crowns are placed on the bride and groom as a symbol of unity and spiritual victory.
- The Common Cup – the couple drinks wine from the same cup, symbolizing shared life.
- The Dance of Isaiah – the priest leads the couple around the altar three times, accompanied by chanting.
The religious ceremony is rich in meaning, but it has no legal validity without the civil act.
The Celebration (Nunta)
Romanians love to celebrate weddings with big receptions that can last all night and sometimes into the next day.
- Guests are welcomed with traditional drinks and appetizers.
- A multi-course meal is served, often accompanied by live music (folk bands or modern DJs).
- Traditional customs may include the “bride kidnapping” game, the “money dance,” or symbolic moments like breaking bread.
- Around midnight, the bride changes into a second dress, called the rochia de noapte, signaling the transition from bride to wife.
APPENDIX – LEGAL NOTES ABOUT FOREIGNERS THAT HAVE TO SIGN DOCUMENTS IN A ROMANIAN PUBLIC OFFICE
In Romania, when a foreign citizen who doesn’t understand Romanian signs an official request (such as the marriage registration at the Civil Status Office / Stare Civilă in Sector 6), there are two common ways the law allows it:
- With a sworn translator (traducător autorizat)
- The municipality requires that a certified translator be present.
- The translator reads and explains the content of the documents in a language your wife understands (English, Tagalog, etc.).
- The translator then signs as well, confirming that the applicant understood what they were signing.
- By submitting documents already translated and legalized
- Some forms or declarations may be filled in Romanian but accompanied by legalized translations.
- Still, for signing in front of the civil officer, usually a translator must be present.
👉 In practice, for marriages between Romanians and foreigners in Bucharest, the Civil Status Office will not accept a signature from someone who doesn’t understand Romanian unless a certified translator is present during the declaration.
📜 Legal Basis in Romania
- Law no. 119/1996 on Civil Status Documents (Legea nr. 119/1996 cu privire la actele de stare civilă)
- Art. 18 states that civil status acts (birth, marriage, death) are drawn up in Romanian.
- Civil Status Methodological Norms (Normele metodologice de aplicare a Legii nr. 119/1996, approved by Government Decision no. 64/2011)
- Art. 6(2): If one of the parties does not know Romanian, the declarations shall be made through an authorized translator, who signs together with the declarant.
- Law no. 178/1997 regarding authorized translators and interpreters
- Only certified translators registered with the Ministry of Justice may act in official procedures.
Legal Disclaimer
This article is not intended as legal advice. I am simply sharing my personal experience, supported by the best information available at the time — including explanations generated with the help of AI tools like ChatGPT.
Please be aware that immigration laws and procedures may change over time, and mistakes can happen. I strongly recommend verifying any legal or administrative detail directly with the Romanian authorities or a qualified immigration lawyer.
I am committed to keeping my articles up to date and accurate. If you spot an error or have constructive feedback, your comments are not only welcome — they are appreciated.