Romanian passport for a child born abroad: the full route
In short
To obtain a Romanian passport for a child born abroad you first need their Romanian birth certificate, obtained by transcribing the foreign certificate — without a Romanian personal code (CNP), the passport application cannot be filed. The application is submitted in person at the consulate, with both parents' consent; if one is absent, a notarised consent declaration or the court decision on parental authority is required.
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Your child was born abroad and you want a Romanian passport for them — for holidays in Romania, for the grandparents, for dual citizenship. The procedure is clear, but it has a hidden first step that surprises almost every parent and can delay everything by months.
The hidden step: no Romanian certificate, no passport
The passport application is filed on the basis of the Romanian birth certificate, which contains the child’s CNP (personal numeric code). The certificate issued by the hospital or town hall abroad, however official, does not replace it.
To obtain the Romanian certificate, you need transcription of the foreign document — apostille, legalised translation, a file submitted at the consulate or a town hall. It realistically takes between one and six months.
The practical conclusion: if you have a trip planned, start with the transcription, not with the passport appointment.
Both parents’ consent — and the exceptions
The rule: both parents attend, with the child. If that is not possible:
- one parent is absent → consent declaration authenticated by a notary (in Romania) or at a Romanian diplomatic mission;
- sole parental authority → the final court decision;
- neither parent can attend, for objective reasons → a special power of attorney given to an authorised person.
The CRDS trap few people anticipate
If you request a CRDS passport — for a child officially domiciled abroad — additional requirements appear:
- both parents’ consent is mandatory, with no convenience exceptions;
- if one parent still has a Romanian domicile, they must give an express consent declaration regarding the establishment of the child’s domicile outside Romania.
This is the requirement that most often blocks files at the counter, because parents do not know it must be prepared in advance. If you have no clear reason to move the child’s domicile, ask the consulate whether keeping a Romanian domicile is simpler.
For everything else you can handle without travelling to Romania, see the guide on Romanian documents from abroad.
Steps to follow
- Transcribe the foreign birth certificate. The first and longest step. The certificate issued abroad is apostilled, translated with legalisation and transcribed into the Romanian registers, at a consulate or at the town hall of your last domicile. The result is the Romanian birth certificate, with a CNP — the document everything else starts from.
- Decide between a passport with Romanian domicile or CRDS. The CRDS passport (Romanian citizen domiciled abroad) is issued to children who officially establish their domicile outside Romania. The choice has consequences: for CRDS both parents' consent is mandatory, and if one parent still has a Romanian domicile, they must give an express consent declaration.
- Book an appointment at the consulate. The application is filed at the Romanian diplomatic mission or consulate in the country where you live. Appointments are made on econsulat.ro. At busy missions slots fill quickly — book well in advance.
- Both parents attend, with the child. The rule is the presence of both parents and the child (for biometric data, where the age requires it). If one parent cannot attend, they need a consent declaration authenticated by a notary or by a Romanian diplomatic mission.
- File the application and pay the fee. The file includes the Romanian birth certificate, the parents' identity documents, proof of payment and, if any, the child's previous passport. Fees are paid according to the mission's instructions.
- Collect the passport. The passport is issued within the timelines communicated by the mission. Check the collection method in advance — some consulates offer courier delivery, others require attendance at the counter.
Required documents
- The child's ROMANIAN birth certificate, in original (obtained through transcription, with CNP)
- Both parents' identity documents, in original
- The child's previous passport, if any
- Proof of payment of the passport fee
- The absent parent's consent declaration, authenticated by a notary or a Romanian diplomatic mission — if both do not attend
- The final court decision on parental authority — in cases of sole exercise
- A special power of attorney — if neither parent can attend, for objective reasons
Costs
| What you pay | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Passport fee | Per the mission's tariff | Differs by age group; tariffs are published on the consulate's website |
| Transcribing the birth certificate | Small fee or free | Plus the costs of apostille and legalised translation |
| Notarised consent declaration | Consular fee or notary fee | Only if one parent cannot attend |
Fees change over time. Always check the current amounts on the official websites listed under “Official sources”.
How long it takes
The step that dictates the whole calendar is transcribing the birth certificate: realistically between 1 and 6 months. Only once you hold the Romanian certificate can you file the passport application, which follows the mission's usual timelines. Plan well ahead, especially if you have a trip booked.
Frequently asked questions
Can I skip transcription and go straight for the passport?
No. The passport application is filed on the basis of the Romanian birth certificate, which contains the child's CNP. The foreign certificate, however official, does not replace it. Transcription is mandatory and is the longest step — start with it.
What is a CRDS passport and do I need one?
CRDS means Romanian citizen domiciled abroad — the passport issued to those who officially establish their domicile outside Romania. It is not mandatory; you can keep a Romanian domicile. Establishing domicile abroad has administrative consequences, so discuss the option with the consulate before deciding.
One parent cannot come to the consulate. What do we do?
The absent parent gives an authenticated consent declaration — before a public notary (in Romania) or at a Romanian diplomatic mission (abroad). With that declaration, the other parent can file alone. If neither can attend for objective reasons, a special power of attorney can be used.
We are divorced. Who gives consent?
With joint parental authority (the rule), both must consent. A parent exercising sole parental authority can file alone, presenting the final court decision. For establishing domicile abroad, both parents' consent is mandatory.
What if one parent is domiciled in Romania and the other abroad?
For the child's CRDS passport, the parent domiciled in Romania must give an express consent declaration regarding the establishment of the child's domicile abroad. It is a frequently overlooked requirement that blocks files at the counter.
Does the child have to be present?
Yes, as a rule, for biometric data where the age requires it. For very young children there are specifics — including the temporary passport option, which can be issued on the basis of photographs. Confirm with the mission where you book.