Moving to Cluj-Napoca: The 2026 Expat Document Checklist (and When You Need Certified Translations)
So you're making the move to Cluj-Napoca. Smart choice. Romania's unofficial tech capital offers affordable living, a thriving expat community, and enough coffee shops to fuel your remote work dreams for years.
But before you start hunting for that perfect Mărăști apartment or planning weekend trips to Turda salt mind and natural beauty, let's talk paperwork. Because here's what no one tells you until you're standing in line at IGI (the immigration office): almost every official document you brought from home needs a certified translation into Romanian.
This guide walks you through exactly which Cluj expat documents you'll need, when certified translations are required, and how to avoid the bureaucratic headaches that trip up most newcomers.
Your Identity Documents: The Foundation of Everything
What you need:
- Valid passport (with at least 6 months validity)
- Birth certificate (original or certified copy)
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Divorce decree or death certificate of spouse (if applicable)
Translation requirements: Here's where it gets real. For residency applications, the Immigration Office requires certified translations of all personal documents. That means your birth certificate, marriage certificate, and any other civil status documents must be translated by a sworn translator registered with the Romanian Ministry of Justice.
A regular translation won't cut it—even if your Romanian friend offers to help. Immigration authorities only accept translations bearing the official stamp and signature of a traducător autorizat.
Pro tip: Get these translated as soon as you arrive in Cluj. You'll need them for multiple applications, and rush translations cost significantly more than standard turnaround.
Finding a Place to Live: Rental Documentation
What you need:
- Rental contract (contract de închiriere)
- Proof of address (dovadă de domiciliu)
- Landlord's property documents (for registration)
Translation requirements: Plot twist—you typically don't need your rental contract translated if your landlord provides it in Romanian (which they will). However, if you're bringing employment contracts or bank statements from abroad to prove income to landlords, you might need these translated.
More importantly, when you register your residence address at the Evidența Persoanelor (Population Records Office) in Cluj-Napoca, any foreign documents proving your right to occupy the property need certified translation Romania services.
Employment: Making It Official
What you need:
- Employment contract
- Educational diplomas and transcripts
- Professional certifications or licenses
- Criminal record certificate (apostilled)
Translation requirements: This is where certified translations become non-negotiable. Romanian labor law requires all employment contracts to be in Romanian. Your employer will usually handle this, but if you're self-employed, freelancing, or starting a business, you'll need:
- Educational diplomas translated by a sworn translator Cluj
- Professional certifications validated and translated
- Criminal record certificate (cazier judiciar) translated and apostilled
For regulated professions (medicine, law, engineering, teaching), you'll also need diploma recognition through CNRED, which requires—you guessed it—more certified translations.
Reality check: The criminal record certificate process takes time. Request yours before leaving your home country, get it apostilled, then have it translated in Cluj. This single document is required for residency, employment, and even opening certain business accounts.
Residency Permits: The Main Event
What you need:
- Completed application forms (D.S.—Declarație pe propria răspundere)
- Passport and photocopies
- Birth certificate (translated)
- Proof of accommodation
- Proof of financial means
- Health insurance certificate
- Proof of purpose (employment contract, university enrollment, etc.)
Translation requirements: Everything. And we mean everything that's not originally in Romanian needs certified translation. The Immigration Office at Calea Dorobanților, nr. 162 in Cluj-Napoca doesn't mess around.
The most commonly required certified translations for residency:
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate
- Criminal record certificate
- Health insurance policy (if issued abroad)
- Bank statements (if used as proof of financial means)
- Employment contract or company registration (for entrepreneurs)
Processing time: Residency applications take 30 days minimum, but incomplete translations can add months to your timeline. Don't learn this the hard way.
Healthcare: Getting Covered
What you need:
- European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for EU citizens, or
- Private health insurance certificate
- Registration with a family doctor (medic de familie)
Translation requirements: Private health insurance policies from non-EU countries need certified translation for residency applications. Once you're registered with the Romanian healthcare system (CNAS), you'll receive a card național de asigurări de sănătate, and the translation headaches stop.
EU citizens can use their EHIC card initially, but long-term residents should register with CNAS through their employer or as self-employed.
Banking: Opening Your Romanian Account
What you need:
- Passport or Romanian residence permit
- Proof of address (rental contract or utility bill)
- Fiscal registration number (CNP for residents, NIF for non-residents)
- Proof of income (employment contract or bank statements)
Translation requirements: Most major banks in Cluj-Napoca (BCR, BRD, Raiffeisen, ING) have English-speaking staff and don't require translated documents for basic accounts. However, for business accounts, mortgages, or investment accounts, you'll likely need:
- Employment contracts translated
- Foreign bank statements translated
- Company registration documents translated (if self-employed)
Driving: Licenses and Vehicle Registration
What you need:
- Valid foreign driving license
- International Driving Permit (recommended but not mandatory for most licenses)
Translation requirements: EU/EEA driving licenses are valid in Romania—no translation needed. You can drive on them indefinitely.
Non-EU licenses can be used for the first 90 days (or for 12 months if you have a work/residency permit). After that, you need to exchange it for a Romanian license, which requires:
- Certified translation of your driving license
- Medical certificate from a Romanian doctor
- Practical and theoretical driving test (requirements vary by country of origin)
If you're bringing a vehicle, the registration documents need certified translation before you can register it in Romania.
Where to Get Certified Translations in Cluj-Napoca
Not all translation services are created equal. For official documents, you need a traducător autorizat (sworn translator) recognized by the Romanian Ministry of Justice. Their translations include:
- Official stamp and signature
- Translator's registration number
- Date and place of translation
- Legal validity for all Romanian authorities
What makes a translation "certified" in Romania: The translator must be sworn (autorizat) by the Ministry of Justice and registered in the official database. They take legal responsibility for the accuracy of the translation. That's why certified translations cost more than regular ones—you're paying for legal accountability, not just language skills.
The Real Cost of Delays
Here's what happens when translations aren't ready:
- Residency applications rejected: You resubmit and lose another 30 days
- Employment start dates pushed back: Contracts can't be signed without proper documentation
- Bank accounts delayed: Salary payments get complicated without local banking
- Healthcare gaps: You're stuck with expensive private insurance
- Housing complications: Some landlords won't sign contracts without proof of legal status
The cost of rush translations (or having to retranslate rejected documents) quickly exceeds the cost of getting it right the first time.
Your Action Plan: Week-by-Week
Before you arrive:
- Request apostilled criminal record certificate
- Gather all birth/marriage certificates
- Scan everything (you'll email these to translators)
Week 1 in Cluj:
- Get certified translations of personal documents
- Sign rental contract and register address
- Open bank account
Week 2-3:
- Submit residency application with translated documents
- Register with family doctor
- Get Romanian phone number
Week 4+:
- Follow up on residency permit
- Exchange driving license (if needed)
- Settle into Cluj life
The Bottom Line
Cluj-Napoca is genuinely one of Europe's best-kept secrets for expats. The document process seems overwhelming at first, but here's the truth: most of the hassle comes from translation delays, not the actual applications.
Get your certified translations sorted in the first week, and everything else falls into place. Skip this step or try to save money with uncertified translations, and you'll spend months in bureaucratic limbo.
The city is waiting for you—with its vibrant cultural scene, Transylvanian charm, and some of the fastest internet in Europe. Just make sure your paperwork is ready to enjoy it.
Need Certified Translations in Cluj?
Stop stressing about sworn translator requirements. Send us a photo or scan of your documents and get a same-day quote for certified translation Romania services.
Professional sworn translations for:
- Birth certificates, marriage certificates, diplomas
- Employment contracts and criminal records
- Health insurance policies and bank statements
- Driving licenses and vehicle documents
- All Cluj expat documents required by Romanian authorities
Contact us:📍 Piața Mihai Viteazu, nr. 31, ap. 3, Cluj-Napoca📞 (+4) 0751 169 260
Same-day service available for urgent applications. All translations include official sworn translator stamp and Ministry of Justice registration number—accepted by Immigration Office, banks, employers, and all Romanian institutions.
Welcome to Cluj. Let's get your paperwork sorted so you can start enjoying the city.
(+4) 0751 169 260
birou@lexitrad.ro
Piata Mihai Viteazu, 31, Cluj Napoca
We provide professional translation and interpreting services for businesses and individuals. Guaranteed quality, fast delivery, and competitive pricing.
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