How do you translate a Romanian divorce certificate for USCIS?
When you or your spouse were married before, USCIS and NVC ask for proof that each earlier marriage ended, and a Romanian document needs a full English translation with the translator’s signed certification. We translate the certificat de divorț from a mayor’s office or a notary, a court’s divorce decision (sentință civilă) and Moldovan divorce certificates, every stamp included. A certificate is usually one page: $25, ready within 24 hours after payment.
Three ways a divorce is documented in Romania
The document you hold depends on who ended the marriage. The Department of State lists three routes (U.S. Department of State (opens in a new tab)):
- A court: the divorce decision (sentință civilă), on A4 paper with the name and round stamp of the court, signed by the presiding judge and the clerk. Certified copies come from the court that granted the divorce.
- A civil status officer: when both spouses agree on the divorce and its terms, the mayor’s office where they married or last lived together issues a divorce certificate (certificat de divorț) on its letterhead.
- A public notary: on the same condition, a notary issues the certificate, on A4 paper with the stamp of the notary’s office.
A certificate from a mayor’s office or a notary is registered with the civil status office where the marriage took place.
The annotation NVC won’t take
The same page warns that a marriage certificate with a note on the dissolution of earlier marriages is not acceptable for immigrant visa purposes. For every prior marriage, NVC asks for an original or certified copy of a final divorce decree, a death certificate or annulment papers, the petitioning spouse’s included (NVC civil documents (opens in a new tab)).
Divorce in Moldova
Moldova’s divorce certificate (certificat de divorț) is available through the Public Services Agency. It has a light background with a green-brown border, measures 8.27 by 5.83 inches and carries an ink stamp and the registrar’s signature (U.S. Department of State (opens in a new tab)). Papers issued by the de facto authorities in Transnistria aren’t recognized by the United States. Since November 1, 2025, Moldovan civil status documents have been issued digitally, with a paper extract printed on request (Government of Moldova (opens in a new tab)).
What the translation includes
The whole text: names, dates, the record number, a court’s reasoning and ruling, any note that the decision became final, every stamp and signature. Names keep ș, ț and ă unless a passport spells them another way. Tell us the spelling when you order, and it will be the same in every document of your order.
Where the translation goes
- USCIS: for Form I-130, documents showing that each earlier marriage of either spouse legally ended (Form I-130 instructions (opens in a new tab)). What USCIS accepts
- NVC and US consulates: the Department of State doesn’t ask for a translation of a certificate in Romanian if you are applying for your visa in a country where Romanian is an official language. What NVC accepts
- Immigration court: a typed certification with the translator’s address and phone. What the court accepts
Our Romanian documents are translated and certified by a native Romanian speaker. What to file in your case is for you or your attorney to decide.
Sample translations
2 samplesEach sample has the original, the translation and the signed certificate. Personal details are blurred.
Questions
My new marriage certificate has a note about the divorce. Is that enough?
Not for an immigrant visa: the Department of State says a Romanian marriage certificate annotated with the dissolution of an earlier marriage isn’t acceptable for that purpose. We translate whichever divorce document you file.
How much does it cost?
A divorce certificate is usually one page: $25. A court decision runs longer and is priced by the page: each additional page in the same order is $20, so a three-page decision is $65.
Do I need a notary or an apostille?
Not for USCIS or NVC: they ask for the translator’s signed certification, and it’s included. If a Romanian notary granted your divorce, the certificate the notary issued is your divorce document, and we translate it like any other.
How long does it take?
1–4 documents: within 24 hours after payment; faster, within 12 hours (+$15 a page) or 3 hours (+$30 a page, paid between 8 am and 6 pm Pacific time). For 5 or more, we give you the date with the quote.
How we do it
- Full translation
every stamp, signature and handwritten line
- Signed certificate
with the translator’s name, address and phone
- A PDF, ready to file
original, translation and certificate, translation pages numbered
- Price
$25 for the first page up to 250 words, $20 for each additional page, in the same document or another one.
- Turnaround
1–4 documents: within 24 hours after payment; faster, within 12 hours (+$15 a page) or 3 hours (+$30 a page, paid between 8 am and 6 pm Pacific time). For 5 or more, we give you the date with the quote.
This is a summary of what the agency publishes, not legal advice.