Certification of a translator's signature

A translation acquires official value through two successive certifications. First, the authorised translator certifies, under their signature, the accuracy of the translation. Then the public notary checks and attests that the translated instrument was produced in the form required by law, that the translator is authorised and that it is they who signed the translation, and then certifies that signature through a ruling.

Who may carry out the translation

In notarial documents and procedures, translations are carried out only by interpreters and translators authorised by the Ministry of Justice. Citizens of Member States of the European Union, of the European Economic Area or of the Swiss Confederation may carry out authorised translations if the Ministry of Justice has recognised the certificates attesting their status as an authorised interpreter and translator in the field of legal science. The translation may also be carried out by the public notary themselves, if they are authorised as an interpreter and translator.

Which instruments may be translated

The Regulation requires the instrument to be translated to be produced to the public notary in the original (either an authenticated instrument, or a private instrument that has been given, as the case may be, a certified date, certification of signature or attestation) or in a certified copy or a copy certified by the competent authority holding the original of the instrument in its archive.

The translator's certification

An authorised interpreter and translator is required to translate the text produced in full, without omissions, and not to distort its content and meaning. Only a specified part of an instrument (an extract) may also be translated, in which case the certification will say so.

At the end of the translation, the translator enters the certification formula laid down by the Regulation, certifying the accuracy of the translation, the fact that the text was translated in full, without omissions and without distorting the content and meaning, and stating the number of pages of the instrument and of the translation, the title and issuer of the instrument, and the written request on the basis of which they worked.

What the public notary checks

Before certifying the signature, the public notary classifies the translated instrument: for translations from Romanian into a foreign language, on the basis of the Romanian-language instrument produced to them; for translations from a foreign language into Romanian, on the basis of the certified translation. The certification ruling is drawn up only once both the instrument being translated and the certified translation have been produced to the notary.

The translator signs the translation before the public notary. If, however, they have deposited their specimen signature at the notarial office, their presence is no longer necessary: the notary certifies the signature against the specimen kept in the office register.

What it costs

The minimum fee for certifying the signature of an authorised interpreter and translator is 50 lei. If the translation is carried out by the public notary or by staff of the notarial office authorised as a translator, the minimum fee for the translation is 30 lei per page for natural persons and 35 lei per page for legal persons, with 15 lei for each additional copy; for urgent work, the charges are increased by 50% for translations carried out within 48 hours or on non-working days, and by 100% for those carried out within 3 to 8 hours.

The minimum fees are set by order of the Minister of Justice. The notary may set a higher fee, depending on the complexity of the work, but never below the statutory minimum.