How do you translate a Romanian police certificate for a US immigrant visa?
For an immigrant visa, NVC asks applicants aged 16 and older for police certificates from the countries they have lived in. A certificate in Romanian needs a certified English translation unless you apply for your visa in a country where Romanian is an official language. We translate the Romanian cazier judiciar and the statement a Romanian consulate issues instead in full, with every stamp and signature. A certificate is usually one page: $25, ready within 24 hours after payment.
Romania: cazier judiciar
The Department of State lists the Romanian police certificate as the cazier judiciar, issued free of charge by the Ministry of Interior through the police (U.S. Department of State (opens in a new tab)). It is an A4 sheet with a falcon crest watermark, signed by an officer with the title Comisar Șef de Poliție (Police Chief Commissioner). A certificate requested online is digitally signed. The same page describes three ways to get one:
- In Romania: in person at a local police station or the General Inspectorate of Romanian Police in Bucharest, usually on the spot, or online on the Ministry’s portal.
- From abroad: Romanian citizens abroad and foreigners who lived in Romania for over a year apply at the Romanian mission where they live, or give someone a power of attorney to apply. If that person applies in Romania, a public notary notarizes the power of attorney; if the application is filed abroad, the power of attorney is authenticated by a consular officer at a Romanian mission or by a notary in a Hague Convention country, with an apostille.
- A consulate statement: a Romanian embassy or consulate checks the database and issues a statement (adeverință). It has the same legal value as a police certificate and can be used only outside Romania.
A Moldovan certificate
For Moldova the Department of State asks for a different document, the detailed certificate (certificat de cazier detaliat); see our Moldovan police certificate guide.
Who needs one
NVC asks visa applicants aged 16 and older for a police certificate from each country they have lived in, under its criteria (NVC civil documents (opens in a new tab)). The general rules are in our police certificate guide.
What the translation includes
The issuing authority, the certificate number and date, your details, the result, the signature and stamp, and the digital signature text of an online certificate. Names keep ș, ț and ă unless your passport spells them another way.
Where the translation goes
- 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
- USCIS: a full translation and the translator’s signed certification. What USCIS 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
I live in the US. Can I get a Romanian police certificate from here?
The Department of State says Romanian citizens abroad and former residents can apply through a Romanian embassy or consulate, or through someone holding their power of attorney. We translate whichever document you receive.
How long is a police certificate valid for NVC?
NVC says police certificates expire after two years, unless the certificate comes from a country of previous residence you haven’t returned to since it was issued.
How much does it cost?
A certificate is usually one page: $25. Each additional page in the same order is $20, so a certificate with an apostille on a separate sheet is $45.
Do I need a notary or an apostille?
Not for NVC or USCIS: they ask for the translator’s signed certification, and it’s included. If your certificate has an apostille, we translate it in the same order.
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.