Original or copy? The complete table
A frequent source of confusion: some institutions accept a simple photocopy, others require a certified copy or the original. The table below sets out the standard requirement for each document.
| Document | Original or copy | Used by |
|---|---|---|
| Deceased's national ID (buletin/CI) | Original (retained at Civil Registry) | Civil Registry — registers the death; ID is not returned |
| Deceased's birth certificate | Original or certified copy | Civil Registry (registration); notary (succession) |
| Deceased's marriage certificate | Original or certified copy | Civil Registry; notary; CNPP (funeral aid) |
| Medical death certificate | Original | Civil Registry — mandatory to register the death |
| Official death certificate | Original + 3–5 certified copies | CNPP (aid), notary (succession), banks, insurers, utilities |
| Pension stub / insurance proof | Original | CNPP — proves entitlement to the 9,192 RON aid |
| Requester's own ID | Original (shown) + photocopy (filed) | Every authority and the funeral home |
| Proof of relationship (birth/marriage cert.) | Original or certified copy | CNPP, notary, Civil Registry in some cases |
Complete document list
- Medical death certificate — first document, issued by doctor
- Official death certificate — issued by Civil Status office
- Sanitary transport clearance — issued by DSP
- Embalming certificate — for transfers exceeding 24h
- Mortuary passport — for international transport
- Funeral aid certificate — if state aid is requested from CNPP
- Cemetery certificate — for plot concession
- Death certificate duplicates — for inheritance, contract cancellations
1. Medical death certificate
First official document. Issued by the doctor confirming death — family doctor (at home), on-duty hospital doctor, or forensic doctor (violent death).
Contains: date, time, location of death, cause of death, deceased's identification data. All other documents are obtained based on this.
Term: immediate. Cost: free (part of medical service).
2. Official death certificate
Complete legal document, issued by the Civil Status office in the locality where death occurred (or sometimes where the deceased lived).
Required for: burial/cremation, CNPP funeral aid, opening inheritance, ID cancellation, record updates (bank, insurance, contracts).
Term: 1-2 business days from request. Cost: free for original; duplicates ~20-50 RON.
3. Sanitary transport clearance
Document required for transporting the deceased on public roads, issued by Public Health Directorate (DSP). Certifies the transport poses no sanitary risk.
For local transfers (under 24h), procedures are simplified. For international repatriation, embalming certificate is also needed alongside this clearance.
Term: 1 business day. Cost: 50-150 RON (depending on county DSP). Usually obtained by the funeral company via power of attorney.
4. Mortuary passport (only for international transport)
Special mandatory document for international transport (intra-EU or extra-EU). Full requirements are detailed in our mortuary passport guide. Issued by DSP after zinc embalming per international norms.
Contains information about cause of death, embalming procedures, authorization for transport in sealed conditions.
Term: 2-3 business days. Cost: 200-500 RON. Coordinated with destination country consulate for foreign citizens.
Steps to obtain all documents
The family doesn't need to handle this alone. Standard procedure through funeral company:
- Day 1: after doctor's death confirmation, funeral company picks up the deceased. Family signs simple power of attorney (standard forms).
- Day 1-2: funeral company submits request to Civil Status, picks up official death certificate.
- Day 1-2: company submits request to DSP, picks up sanitary transport clearance.
- Day 2-3 (if applicable): for international transport, company coordinates zinc embalming + mortuary passport.
- Day 3-7: ceremony. Family receives copies of all documents.
- Post-ceremony: family may request additional duplicates for inheritance, contract cancellations, etc.
Special cases
Most funerals follow the standard document path above. A handful of situations require extra paperwork.
- Violent or suspicious death — the prosecutor's office and police must clear the case before the medical certificate is issued. The body goes to the forensic institute (Medicina Legala) for autopsy. Add 2–5 days. No additional action needed from the family — we wait for the clearance.
- Deceased was a minor — Child Protection (DGASPC) may need to be notified in some circumstances. The Civil Registry requires both parents' (or guardians') documents.
- Foreign citizen who died in Romania — the Romanian death certificate must be validated by the consulate of the deceased's country. Add 2–4 days. The family's embassy or consulate is the right first call.
- Deceased without valid ID — Civil Status can register the death using other identification means (witnesses, fingerprints via police, medical records). Add 1–3 days.
Anexa 24 — the succession document
Before a Romanian notary can open a succession file, they need a document called Anexa 24 (succession-opening notice). It is issued by the town hall of the deceased's last registered domicile — specifically the civil status office or SPCLEP. The notary uses it to confirm the deceased's civil status and verify that no other succession file has been opened.
For diaspora families: Anexa 24 does not need to be collected by the heir in person. A relative in any city or a proxy holding a special power of attorney can request it on your behalf. We coordinate this as part of our post-ceremony paperwork service — it is included in our funeral packages.
If a death certificate is lost — getting a duplicate
Death certificates can and do get lost — especially when a succession file spans several years. A duplicate can be requested from the same Civil Registry that issued the original. Since HG 255/2024, the request can also be filed at any town hall in Romania, not only the one in the original locality. For a full step-by-step guide, see our dedicated page on obtaining a duplicate death certificate.
Full guide: obtaining a duplicate or multilingual extract of the death certificate