The company Schmidt and Schmidt provides services for the reclamation of civil status documents, as well as obtaining duplicates, lost or damaged documents in Moldova with their subsequent legalization and translation.
It often happens that civil status documents are lost or damaged, or it is necessary to obtain current copies of documents. In this case, it is necessary to reclaim duplicates of documents. Often, those who have left Moldova face difficulties in this procedure. Our service allows you to reclaim documents in Moldova remotely, and we can carry out courier delivery of the document to anywhere in the world.
Validity of civil status documents in Moldova
Civil status documents issued in Moldova do not have an expiration date. The receiving party may make requirements regarding the expiration dates.
When to obtain duplicate documents in Moldova
A duplicate birth certificate, marriage certificate, name change certificate, divorce certificate, criminal record certificate or death certificate may be required to register a marriage abroad, a newborn child, citizenship, inheritance, data verification for pension applications, opening bank accounts, employment and other bureaucratic issues.
What documents can be requested in Moldova:
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate
- Certificate of change of surname
- Divorce certificate
- Death certificate
- Certificates of good conduct
- Educational documents
- Other civil status documents
The electronic civil status services allow requesting online duplicates of civil status certificates, civil status extracts and changes or rectifications to civil status documents.
Birth certificate
A birth certificate is an official document provided by the Registrar or acting Registrar of the relevant Civil or Consular Register. It verifies details of an individual's birth, including the date, sex, and, if applicable, the time of birth and family relationships.
The obligation to declare the birth of a child lies with the parents or one of them. If the parents cannot be present in person, the birth declaration may be made by the parents' relatives, a person authorized by the parents, the administration of the health facility where the birth occurred or the child is present, or the guardianship authority.
Moldova is transitioning to a digital system for issuing birth and death certificates. This new system, available exclusively to authorized users, will simplify data exchange between institutions and support the generation of statistical reports.
Required documents
- Valid ID of the parents or one of them
- Medical certificate attesting the birth
- Declaration on the establishment of paternity if the parents are not married
- Marriage certificate of the parents
Marriage certificate
The marriage certificate is the legal record of marriage, used to verify marital status. It is usually required for procedures such as changing the last name, applying for spousal benefits, immigration applications and for inheritance matters. Marriage registration is performed at local ZAGS offices. It establishes the legal marital status of the individuals.
In Moldova, married couples have the option to sign a marriage contract. Marriage certificates are prepared and issued by the Civil Registry Office upon completion of the marriage procedure. If a certificate is reissued, it is marked as a “Duplicate,” which holds the same legal validity as the original document.
Required documents
- Valid ID
- Birth certificates
- Document proving the termination of a previous marriage
- Certificate of No Impediment
Divorce certificate
A divorce certificate serves the purpose to verify the legal dissolution of a marriage. It is required for procedures such as remarrying, updating marital status on legal records, immigration applications, and legal matters involving custody, support, or property division.
In Moldova, obtaining a divorce certificate involves several steps, depending on how the divorce is processed. If both spouses agree to the divorce and have no disputes regarding property or children, they can file a joint application at the Civil Registry Office. The office issues a divorce certificate once the process is finalized, typically within a month.
If there are disagreements, issues related to child custody, or property disputes, the case must be resolved in court. After the court issues a divorce judgment, the parties must submit the court's final decision to the Civil Registry Office to obtain the official divorce certificate.
Required documents
- Valid ID of both spouses
- The original marriage certificate
- The court decision (if applicable)
Death certificates
A death certificate serves the purpose to provide official confirmation of a person’s death. It is often needed for legal and financial matters such as settling estates, claiming life insurance, finalizing wills, notifying government agencies and closing bank accounts.
The death must be reported to the Civil Registry Office within three days of its occurrence or discovery. This can be done by family members, the healthcare institution, or another person who was present at the time of death.
Required documents
- The deceased's ID
- A medical death certificate issued by a healthcare institution, confirming the cause and date of death
- Birth certificate or marriage certificate of the deceased (If applicable)
Police clearance certificate
A criminal record certificate, also known as a police certificate, is a document used to verify an individual's criminal record or confirm the absence of one. It is required for employment in sensitive fields, visa or immigration applications, volunteering and adoption proceedings.
A Police Clearance Certificate (Cazier Judiciar) is issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Moldova. Criminal record information is managed by the Department of Information and Operational Records within the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Juridical Record or PCC confirms that the applicant has no history of criminal activity involving the Moldovan Police Force and is often required when applying for immigration to other countries.
Moldovan citizens, both residing in the country and abroad as well as foreign nationals who have lived or worked in Moldova are eligible to apply.
Required documents
- Valid ID
- Completed application form
- Proof of residence for foreign nationals (if applicable)
For International Use
If you need a criminal record certificate for use abroad, it must be obtained from the General Prosecutor's Office or its regional branches. This version is issued on official letterhead and often requires an apostille for international validation.
Educational Documents
Foreign educational documents only carry the same legal value as Moldovan documents if they are exempt from legalization or have undergone the necessary legalization process. Documents from countries with bilateral agreements with Moldova are fully exempt from legalization. Documents from countries that are part of the Hague Convention of 1961 undergo a simplified procedure called apostille. If neither countries are part of the convention or have bilateral agreements they undergo consular legalization
Apostille of duplicate documents in Moldova
Moldova joined the Hague Convention on the Simplified Legalization of Documents in 2007.
Thus, documents issued in Moldova are subject to legalization under a simplified procedure - apostille, after notarized translation into any language, such documents acquire full legal force in the territory of the wished destination.
You can order an apostille for copies and duplicates of documents from Moldova from us.
