UNNPR, National Union of Public Notaries of Romania
Notarial services

Apostille

Under art. 139 para. (1) of Law no. 36/1995 on public notaries and notarial activity, republished, and art. 279 and art. 281 of the Regulation implementing it, approved by Order of the Minister of Justice no. 2.333/C/2013, the apostille and the legalisation of notarial documents are carried out by the Chamber of Public Notaries in whose district the public notary who drew up the document practises, through the apostille and legalisation offices set up at the Chamber's main office and at its secondary offices.

The apostille of notarial documents

If a notarial document drawn up in Romania is to be used in a State party to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961, an apostille may be required.

The apostille certifies the genuineness of the public notary's signature, the capacity in which they drew up the document and the identity of the seal or stamp affixed to it. The apostille does not, however, certify the content of the notarial document.

For notarial documents the apostille is affixed by the Chamber of Public Notaries in whose district the public notary who drew up the document practises. The application may be filed by the holder of the document or by any other person who has it in their keeping.

Documents drawn up by public notaries may be apostilled under the conditions laid down by law: authenticated instruments, documents with a certified date, instruments with a certified signature, certified copies and certified translations.

Before applying for an apostille you are advised to check the requirements of the authority or institution in the State where the document will be produced. An apostille is not required where a convention between Romania and that State removes this formality. Likewise, for certain public documents circulating between the Member States of the European Union, the exemptions laid down by Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 apply.

Where to apply: to the Chamber of Public Notaries to which the public notary who drew up the document belongs. The list of the Chambers and their contact details can be consulted here.

The list of States for which the apostille applies: to check which States are parties to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 on the apostille, you can consult the official list published by the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH).

The list of States parties (hcch.net)