Documents to open a company in Romania in 2026: the full list
The documents to open a company in Romania are fewer than they look: an application, a name reservation, the articles of association, proof of a registered office, identity documents, a few declarations and proof of capital. Here is the exact list, who produces each document, and what the trade registry checks before it issues your tax number.
The short list: what you actually need
The file for an SRL has nine pieces, and you genuinely produce only two of them: your identity document and proof that you have somewhere to put the registered office. The rest are forms and deeds we generate from your data.
- Registration application (cerere de înregistrare) — the ONRC form asking for registration and, as a rule, for publication in the Official Gazette (Monitorul Oficial).
- Proof of name reservation — issued by the ONRC after the name check.
- Articles of association — the company's contract and statutes in a single document.
- Proof of registered office — the title to the premises, plus the neighbours' consent if it is in a block of flats.
- Identity documents of shareholders and directors — ID card or passport.
- Declarations on own responsibility by the shareholders and the director.
- Ultimate beneficial owner (UBO) declaration.
- Specimen signature of the director, where the chosen filing route requires it.
- Proof of paid-in share capital, within the legal deadlines.
The ONRC fee for registration and publication in the Official Gazette is 152 lei. Start4 packages include it, from €399 with Start. The overall path is in our guide to opening a company in Romania; here we go through each document.
Reserving the company name
The first document in the file is proof that the name is free. The ONRC checks the proposed name against registered companies and existing reservations, then issues the proof of reservation you attach to the application.
The rules that most often get a name rejected: it must not be identical or too similar to an existing one, it cannot contain words reserved for institutions ("național", "român" or the names of authorities) without approval, and it must be written in Latin characters. The name goes into the articles of association and onto every company document, so arrive with three alternatives ready.
The reservation is valid for a limited period, so do not request it months before filing. On the Start4 platform you check the name during setup, and we request the reservation once the file is nearly complete, so it does not expire before registration.
The articles of association: what goes in
The articles of association are the document that says who the shareholders are, how much each contributes, what the company does and who runs it. For an SRL, the company contract and the statutes are one single deed.
The mandatory clauses: the shareholders' identification details; the name, legal form and registered office; the object of activity, with the main CAEN code and the secondary ones — you choose from the 651 classes of CAEN Rev. 3, one main and up to 8 secondary; the share capital, at least 500 lei from 1 January 2026, with the number and value of the shares and each shareholder's percentage; the director or directors, with their powers and term; the duration of the company, usually unlimited; the rules for transferring shares and for dissolution.
All shareholders sign the deed. In the ordinary form no notary is needed; the notarised form is required only when land is contributed to the capital. How to pick your activity codes is in the guide to CAEN codes and how to choose them. With Start4 the articles are generated from the data you enter: you read and sign.
Proof of registered office
The registered office is proved with a title showing the right to use the premises: a land registry extract or purchase deed if it is yours, a lease or a loan-for-use agreement (comodat) if it belongs to someone else. It is filed as a copy, together with proof that whoever grants it has the right to do so.
In a block of flats you also need the consent of the owners' association and of the directly adjoining neighbours, unless you declare that no activity takes place at the office. A loan-for-use from your parents or a friend is valid, but it must be signed by all co-owners.
If you have no premises, the office can be hosted: the registered office hosting contract is generated and filed with the rest. The Business package, at €699, includes the office for 12 months; after the first year it costs €130 a year. More in the guide to a registered office in Romania.
Shareholder and director declarations
Each shareholder and each director signs a declaration on their own responsibility that they meet the legal conditions for the role: no ban, no conviction that excludes them, no incompatibility.
The director also declares that they accept the mandate. Separately, the company declares that it meets the operating conditions for the activities in its object at the chosen office, or that no activity takes place there. This declaration stands in for permits at the start.
The declarations are standard forms and are signed like the articles. We prepare them filled in with each person's name, Romanian personal number or passport details and role; you check and sign.
The ultimate beneficial owner
The ultimate beneficial owner is the natural person who ultimately owns or controls the company: in practice, whoever holds more than 25% of the shares or voting rights, directly or through other companies. If nobody crosses the threshold, the person who actually runs the company is declared.
The UBO declaration is filed with the registration application and contains the identification details of each beneficial owner and how they exercise control. It is redone whenever the shareholding changes.
When a shareholder is another company, you climb the chain until you reach a natural person: you declare that person, not the company. It is one of the pieces the ONRC rejects most often, because it is missing or does not match the articles.
What foreigners need
Nationality and residence do not matter: an Italian, German or American citizen can be sole shareholder and director without living in Romania. You need a valid identity document, passport or ID card, and a home address, which goes into the articles.
A foreign ID card is filed with a translation; with Start4 the translation costs €90. With a passport nothing extra is required: it is included in the package. If the shareholder is a foreign company, the file also needs its certificate of incorporation, translated.
You do not need a Romanian tax number before formation and you never have to appear at the ONRC. The Foreign Investor package, from €1,490, includes translations, the registered office and correspondence in a language you understand. See also the frequently asked questions.
How the file is submitted: your e-signature or a power of attorney
The file reaches the ONRC electronically and the application is signed digitally. Two routes: a qualified electronic signature of your own, or a power of attorney to a lawyer, who signs the application and files on your behalf.
At Start4 we take the second route: you sign the power of attorney and our lawyer files the file. You need no digital certificate and no ONRC account. The articles and the declarations you sign yourself, by hand or electronically, and we attach them.
From filing, the ONRC takes 3 to 7 working days. At the end you receive the registration certificate with the tax number (CUI) and the registrar's resolution. Then you open the company's bank account, which is mandatory, and pay in 30% of the capital within 3 months and before starting activity; the rest within 12 months. All about the money in the guide to share capital of a Romanian SRL.
Summary table: who produces each document
So you do not have to hunt through the paragraphs, the whole file, document by document:
| Document | Who produces it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Registration application | Start4 | ONRC form, filled in from your data |
| Name reservation | ONRC | We request it, the ONRC issues the proof |
| Articles of association | Start4 | Generated automatically; you sign |
| Proof of registered office | You or Start4 | Ownership, lease or loan-for-use; hosting from us, €130 a year after the first |
| Identity documents | You | ID card or passport; foreign ID card with translation, €90 |
| Declarations on own responsibility | Start4 | Shareholders and director; you sign |
| UBO declaration | Start4 | From the shareholding structure |
| Specimen signature | You | Only where required |
| Proof of paid-in capital | You | Bank statement; 30% within 3 months, the rest within 12 |
| Power of attorney to the lawyer | Start4 | You sign it; the lawyer files |
Ready to start? Set up the company on the open an SRL in Romania page, sign the generated documents and receive your CUI in 3–7 working days.
Frequently asked
Which documents are required to register a company in Romania?
The registration application, proof of name reservation, articles of association, proof of registered office, identity documents of shareholders and directors, declarations on own responsibility, the UBO declaration, a specimen signature where required, and proof of paid-in capital. You bring your identity document and the title to the office; the rest is generated.
Do I need a notary for the articles of association?
Not in the ordinary form. The articles are signed by the shareholders as a private deed. The notarised form is required only when land is contributed to the share capital. The declarations on own responsibility are also signed without a notary.
Who is the ultimate beneficial owner of the company?
The natural person who owns or controls the company: as a rule, whoever holds more than 25% of the shares or votes, directly or through other companies. If nobody reaches the threshold, the person who actually runs it is declared. The declaration is filed with the registration application.
Do I need an electronic signature?
No. The file is submitted electronically, but you can give a power of attorney to a lawyer who signs the application and files on your behalf. With Start4 you sign the power of attorney and our lawyer files; the articles and declarations you sign yourself, by hand or electronically.
How much is the ONRC fee and what does it cover?
The fee for registration and publication in the Official Gazette is 152 lei. Start4 packages include it: Start at €399, Business at €699 with a registered office for 12 months, Premium at €999, Foreign Investor from €1,490.