According to the French section of the Embassy of Romania in Canada Website, certificates of birth, marriage and death, military service, and police or criminal record can be obtained from Romania for current or former Romanian citizens or ethnic Romanians through a signed request by the holder (n.d.). In the case of birth and death certificates someone other than the holder may request and receive these documents (Embassy of Romania n.d.). The Website specifies that the delay involved to obtain the documents in question is approximately three months (ibid.).

A consular officer with the Embassy of Romania in Canada indicated in 20 November 2004 correspondence that, according to Law No. 119/1996 of Romania, civil status documents (birth, marriage and death certificates) can be delivered only to the holders or their legal representatives, which are defined in the law as the parents of a child under 14 years of age, or the spouse or descendants of a deceased person.

In 6 December 2004 correspondence, the consular officer indicated that the parent of an adult child can obtain such a document if they hold power of attorney for their adult child (6 Dec. 2004).

Further information on this topic was not found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Embassy of Romania in Canada. 20 November 2004. Correspondence from a consular officer.

_____. 6 December 2004. Correspondence from a Consular officer.

_____. n.d.. Website. "Affaires consulaires." http://www.cyberus.ca/~romania/french/Affairesconsulaires.html [Accessed 22 Nov. 2004]

Internet sites, including: Embassy of Romania in Canada, Embassy of Romania in the United States, Embassy of the United States in Romania, European Roma Rights Center, Evenimentul Zilei, Mediafax, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, Open Society Foundation - Romania, Romanianvoice.com.