Romanian to English Birth Certificate Translation for Passport Application

What a Moldovan Birth Certificate Contains

A Moldovan birth certificate, officially known as a certificat de naștere, is issued by the country’s Public Services Agency through its Civil Status Service offices. The document is printed in Romanian using the Latin alphabet and typically includes several standardised fields. You will find the child’s surname and given name, date and place of birth, sex, and a unique identity number (often labelled număr de identificare or cod numeric personal). It also carries the names of both parents, the registration number and date, the issuing authority’s name and stamp, and a serial number. For anyone preparing an English translation for a passport application abroad, knowing exactly which fields appear on the original helps you check completeness before use.

Common Romanian Terms on a Birth Certificate

Even though Romanian uses a familiar Latin script, the administrative vocabulary can trip up a casual reader. The table below lists the Romanian terms you are most likely to encounter on a Moldovan birth certificate alongside their straightforward English equivalents.

Romanian	English
certificat de naștere	birth certificate
număr de identificare	identity number
cod numeric personal	personal numerical code
numele	surname
prenumele	first name / given name
data nașterii	date of birth
locul nașterii	place of birth
sexul	sex
autoritatea emitentă	issuing authority
data eliberării	date of issue

Why You Might Need an English Translation

Passport applications are the most common reason we see Romanian‑to‑English birth certificate translations. A foreign passport office, whether in the UK, the US, Canada, or Australia, expects supporting civil‑status documents to be in the country’s official language, and a Romanian‑language original alone will not be accepted. The same requirement often extends to visa processes, Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) documentation, and university admissions where an applicant needs to prove identity and parentage. In all these scenarios, having an accurate English version ready speeds up preparation and avoids administrative delays.

AI Translation vs Human‑Certified Work: Which Path Fits Your Timeline and Needs

For most people preparing a passport application, an instant AI translation offers a fast, practical first step. Lekhak’s AI produces a formatted English copy of the birth certificate in minutes, preserving the original field layout in a DOCX file. This working draft is perfectly adequate when you are gathering documents, reviewing details with your family, or filling out online application forms that ask for English‑language placeholders.

However, if the passport authority or visa centre specifically asks for a certified translation, a translation accompanied by a statement of accuracy, then a self‑serve AI output alone won’t carry that formal declaration. In those cases, Lekhak also offers certified translation on‑demand for Moldovan birth certificates. The instant DIY draft still saves time; you can review it and then request the certified version when you’re ready for final submission. Notarisation, apostille, and subsequent embassy attestation are separate processes that you arrange with the relevant government offices afterwards.

What Lekhak’s AI Translation Produces

When you upload a scanned Moldovan birth certificate, Lekhak’s AI pipeline, built on OCR and machine translation, extracts the Romanian text, translates it into English, and delivers a formatted DOCX file that mirrors the original’s structure. The output includes all the vital fields: name, identity number, date and place of birth, parent names, registration details, and issuing authority information, laid out in a clear table or paragraph format depending on the original design. There is no embedded notarisation, apostille, or translator’s certificate attached; the output is a clean, ready‑to‑review translation that you can open instantly. The whole process takes only a few minutes, which means you can verify the English content and catch any OCR quirks well before you need to present the document officially.

Notarisation, Apostille, and Embassy Attestation for Translated Documents

Once you have an English version of the birth certificate, whether an AI‑generated draft or a certified on‑demand translation, the path to full acceptance by a foreign authority often involves separate authentication steps. For countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention, an apostille from the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms the authenticity of the original document and any attached certified translation. For non‑Hague countries, embassy attestation at the destination country’s consulate may be required. These are government‑to‑government acts that Lekhak does not perform; you will need to contact the relevant Moldovan authority and the foreign embassy directly. Lekhak can provide the certified translation on demand, but you remain responsible for the notarisation, apostille, and attestation chain.

Romanian Language Variations: Moldova vs Romania

Moldovan birth certificates are written in standard Romanian, but institutional phrasing differs from what you might see on a document issued in Romania. On a Moldovan extract you’ll encounter agency names like Public Services Agency (Agenția Servicii Publice) and Civil Status Service (Serviciul Stare Civilă), which do not appear on Romanian‑issued certificates. The identity number is often labelled număr de identificare instead of the longer cod numeric personal common in Romania, though both may appear. These small lexical choices make a difference if you rely on a generic Romanian‑to‑English glossary: a translator unfamiliar with Moldovan administrative vocabulary might mislabel the issuing body. From our experience translating Moldovan birth certificates, paying attention to these subtle variants ensures the English output matches the exact nomenclature the foreign passport office will later compare against the original.

FAQ: Romanian‑to‑English Birth Certificate Translation

1. Do I need a certified translation of my Moldovan birth certificate for a passport application?

Many passport offices accept a plain translation for initial processing, but final submission often requires a certified translation. Check the specific requirements of the country where you’re applying. Lekhak’s instant AI draft helps you prepare ahead; certified translation is available on‑demand for final use.

2. Will the identity number (număr de identificare) remain unchanged in the translation?

Yes. The AI translation reproduces the number exactly as it appears on the original. It does not interpret, convert, or alter digits, maintaining a one‑to‑one record for verification purposes.

3. How does Lekhak handle handwritten or low‑quality scans of Moldovan birth certificates?

The built‑in OCR reads typed and neat handwritten text. Very poor scans or unusual handwriting may result in minor recognition errors; you can spot‑check the output before use. Lekhak’s instant DOCX lets you correct any OCR mistakes quickly.

4. Is the AI translation accepted by the US Department of State for a passport?

US passport instructions say that foreign documents must be accompanied by a certified English translation if not in English. An AI translation alone, without a signed certificate of accuracy, generally does not satisfy that rule. Lekhak’s on‑demand certified translation can meet the evidence of citizenship standard when a certification statement is needed.

5. What if my birth certificate was issued by the Public Services Agency of Moldova, will the translation recognise that?

Yes. The translation engine correctly identifies and renders the issuing agency’s name, Agenția Servicii Publice, into English as “Public Services Agency,” preserving the official descriptor that appears on the original.

6. Can I get an apostille for the translated document through Lekhak?

No. Apostille is a separate governmental act handled by Moldova’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Lekhak’s role is to provide the English translation; you will need to initiate the apostille process with the competent Moldovan authority yourself.

7. Does Lekhak notarise the translation?

Lekhak does not perform notarisation. If a notarised translation is required, you will need to present the translation to a notary public independently. Lekhak can supply the English document, which you then take forward.

8. How long does the AI translation take?

The instant self‑serve translation is ready in minutes. Once you upload the file, you receive a downloadable DOCX almost immediately, no waiting for a human translator or courier delivery.

9. Will the translated DOCX keep the original layout of my birth certificate?

Yes. Lekhak’s output is a formatted DOCX that reproduces the original’s field placement as closely as possible, so the English text mirrors the source structure for easy cross‑checking.

10. Can I use the AI translation for an OCI application?

For Overseas Citizenship of India applications, supporting documents must typically be in English or accompanied by a certified translation. An AI draft is useful for preparation, but you should confirm the final submission requirement with the Indian mission where you file.

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