Why Checking a Romanian Company Is Not Optional — It Is a Legal Necessity
Romania has over 680,000 active companies in the National Trade Register. Approximately 30% of companies that appear in commercial databases are, in fact, fiscally inactive, in insolvency, or dissolved. A clean website and a professional email address do not mean that the entity behind them is legally capable of entering into contracts, issuing valid invoices, or fulfilling its obligations.
If you are a foreign company onboarding a Romanian supplier, a law firm conducting KYC on a client's counterparty, an investor evaluating an acquisition target, or a procurement officer qualifying a tenderer, verifying the Romanian entity is not a courtesy — it is a prerequisite. Under EU Anti-Money Laundering regulations and Romanian fiscal law, transacting with a company that is fiscally inactive can result in the reversal of your VAT deductions, the voiding of contractual arrangements, and regulatory exposure for your own entity.
The good news is that Romanian public registers are among the most transparent in the European Union. The information exists. The challenge for foreign professionals is that these registers are in Romanian, scattered across multiple platforms, and require context to interpret correctly.
This guide solves that problem.
What You Need Before You Start: The CUI
Every Romanian registered entity has a CUI — Cod Unic de Identificare — a unique tax identification number consisting of 6 to 10 digits. This is the key that unlocks every public register.
You can find a company's CUI on any invoice issued by that company, on the company's website footer or legal notice page, by searching the company name at portal.onrc.ro (the National Trade Register portal, Romanian interface), or by using the free company verification tool provided by Mihai Attorneys, which accepts both CUI and company name searches.
Once you have the CUI, you can proceed with any or all of the six methods below.
| # | Method | What You Learn | Cost | Speed | Validity | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ANAF Fiscal Check | VAT status, activity, e‑Invoice, split VAT, address | Free | 5 sec | Informational | Check Now → |
| 2 | Trade Register Portal | Legal name, CUI, J number, status, BER‑C notices | Free | ~2 min | Informational | Open Portal → |
| 3 | Official Certificate | Shareholders, directors, capital, CAEN, financials, insolvency | €12 | Minutes | Full legal validity | Order — €12 → |
| 4 | Court Records | Pending & completed civil, commercial, criminal cases | Free | ~1 min | Informational | Search Courts → |
| 5 | AI Risk Screening | Fraud, litigation, insolvency & reputation score (0–100) | Free | < 60 sec | Informational | Screen Now → |
| 6 | Full Due Diligence | Corporate, fiscal, labor, IP, real estate — complete | Custom | 5–10 days | Attorney work product | Request Quote → |
Method 1 — ANAF Fiscal Verification (Free · Instant · Informational)
What it is. The Romanian National Agency for Fiscal Administration (ANAF) maintains a public API that returns the fiscal profile of any registered entity. Mihai Attorneys has built an English-language interface on top of this API at mihaiattorneys.com/company-verification, which queries ANAF's servers in real time and returns a structured, readable report in under five seconds.
What you learn. The legal name as registered with the fiscal authority. Whether the company is fiscally active or inactive. Whether it is registered for VAT (and, if it was deregistered, when and why). Whether it uses the cash-accounting VAT system (TVA la încasare). Whether it is enrolled in the split-VAT payment regime. Whether it is registered for Romania's mandatory e-Invoice system (RO e-Factura). The registered address on file with ANAF.
What you do not learn. Who owns the company. Who manages it. What its share capital is. What business activities it is authorised to perform. Whether it is involved in litigation or insolvency proceedings. These require Methods 3 through 6.
When to use it. As the first step in any verification process. If the ANAF check reveals that the company is fiscally inactive, you can stop here — no further due diligence is necessary because an inactive company cannot issue valid invoices and any transaction with it creates fiscal risk for you.
Cost: Free. No registration required. No data stored.
Check any Romanian company now — free, instant →
Method 2 — National Trade Register Portal (Free · Limited · Romanian Interface)
What it is. The National Trade Register Office (ONRC) operates a public search portal at portal.onrc.ro where you can look up basic registration data for any Romanian company.
What you learn. The company's legal name, CUI, and Trade Register number (the "J number," formatted as Jxx/xxxxx/yyyy, where xx is the county code, xxxxx is the sequential number, and yyyy is the year of registration). The registered office address. The company's declared status (active, suspended, in insolvency, dissolved, struck off). Published notices from the Official Gazette of the Trade Register (Buletinul Electronic al Registrului Comerțului, or BER-C), which include incorporations, amendments, and dissolution notices.
What you do not learn. The names and stakes of shareholders. The names of directors and the expiry dates of their mandates. The share capital amount and structure. The CAEN codes (business activities). Financial indicators. To access these details, you either need a ONRC account or an official Trade Register certificate (Method 3).
Limitations. The interface is entirely in Romanian. Search functionality is inconsistent — partial name matches often fail. There is no API, no English version, and no export function.
When to use it. To confirm the existence and basic status of a company when you only have a name and need to find the CUI, or to check recent BER-C publications for amendments or dissolution notices.
Cost: Free for basic searches.
Method 3 — Official Trade Register Certificate / Certificat Constatator (€12 · Minutes · Full Legal Validity)
What it is. The Certificat Constatator is the official extract from the Romanian Trade Register, issued by ONRC with a qualified electronic signature under the eIDAS Regulation. It is the single most important document in Romanian commercial due diligence. It is accepted by banks, courts, public authorities, notaries, and business partners throughout the European Union.
What you learn. Everything. Specifically: the issuing authority and certificate serial number. The company's legal name, CUI, J number, and legal form (SRL, SA, PFA, etc.). The registered office address. The company's duration and current status (active, in insolvency, in dissolution, struck off). The share capital — amount, currency, number of shares, and nominal value per share. The full list of shareholders with names, identification numbers, and ownership percentages. The full list of directors (administrators) with names, identification numbers, mandate start dates, and mandate expiry dates. All declared CAEN activity codes (primary and secondary), now required to be in CAEN Rev. 3 format since 1 January 2026 (reclassification deadline: 25 September 2026). Key financial indicators from the most recent annual financial statements: total assets, turnover, net result, and equity. Any mentions, annotations, insolvency filings, or dissolution proceedings recorded against the company.
How to order it. There are three ways. First, through the ONRC InfoCert portal at portal.onrc.ro, which costs RON 30 (approximately €6), but the interface is in Romanian, and delivery can take 1–3 business days. Second, in person at a Trade Register office in Romania, using form 11-10-188. Third, through Mihai Attorneys at a flat fee of €12 — you pay by international card via Stripe, no account or electronic signature required, and receive an e-signed PDF by email within minutes during business hours. Every certificate ordered through Mihai Attorneys includes a free Company Health Check: a licensed attorney reviews the certificate line by line and flags issues including expired director mandates, below-minimum share capital (RON 500 for all SRLs, RON 5,000 for SRLs with turnover above RON 400,000 under Law 239/2025), non-compliant CAEN codes, suspicious registered office patterns, negative equity, insolvency mentions, and missing beneficial ownership declarations.
What you do not learn. The certificate is a snapshot of the current state. It does not show the history of changes (past directors, former shareholders, prior addresses). For that, order a Full Company History Report at €70 through the same page. The certificate also does not show litigation, tax debts, or liens — those require Methods 4 through 6.
When to use it. Always. If you are doing business with a Romanian company and have not seen its Certificat Constatator, you do not know who you are dealing with. Specifically required for public tenders and EU-fund applications, bank account opening (Law 239/2025 requires every Romanian entity to maintain at least one bank account), share transfers (ANAF notification within 15 days), KYC and AML compliance by obligated entities, and any contract above a threshold where knowing your counterparty's ownership structure is commercially prudent.
For a detailed explanation of the document and its international equivalents, read: What Is a Certificat Constatator? Romania's Certificate of Status Explained.
For the seven most common problems hiding in a certificate, read: 7 Red Flags in a Romanian Trade Register Certificate.
Not sure which document you need?
Answer three questions — we recommend the right certificate and price.
1. What is the primary purpose?
2. Do you need the full history of changes since incorporation?
3. Will the document be used outside Romania?
Method 4 — Court Records Search (Free · Informational)
What it is. Romania's courts publish case information through the national judicial portal at portal.just.ro. Mihai Attorneys also provides an English-language court records search tool that makes the data accessible to non-Romanian speakers.
What you learn. Whether the company, its directors, or its shareholders are involved in pending or completed civil, commercial, or criminal proceedings before Romanian courts. Case numbers, courts, hearing dates, and procedural stages. This is critical information that does not appear on the Trade Register certificate.
What you do not learn. Case details, documents filed, and final judgments typically require access to the specific court file, which may involve in-person inspection or a formal request. The portal does not cover arbitration proceedings, administrative proceedings before ANAF or other regulatory bodies, or litigation in foreign jurisdictions.
When to use it. Before any significant commercial engagement. A company with a clean Trade Register certificate but five pending lawsuits for breach of contract, unpaid debts, or fraud is not a safe counterparty. Court records are the second layer of verification after the certificate.
Cost: Free.
Search Romanian court records →
Method 5 — AI-Powered Business Partner Screening (Free · Under 60 Seconds · Informational)
What it is. Mihai Attorneys has developed a free AI screening tool that scans publicly available sources — including news articles, media databases, and public records — to generate a risk profile for any company or individual.
What you learn. A risk score from 0 to 100 across four dimensions: fraud and financial crime (corruption, embezzlement, tax evasion, money laundering allegations), litigation and legal disputes (lawsuits, criminal proceedings, commercial disputes), insolvency and restructuring (bankruptcy filings, financial distress), and reputation and media sentiment (negative coverage, scandals, public complaints). Each finding is linked to its source so you can verify it independently.
Score interpretation. 0–25 is low risk with no significant negative coverage found. 26–50 is moderate, indicating some mentions worth reviewing. 51–75 is elevated, meaning multiple risk indicators were detected. 76–100 is high risk with significant signals across categories.
What you do not learn. The tool analyses publicly available media and news sources. It does not access ANAF databases, court records, sanctions lists, or Trade Register data directly. It is a complement to, not a replacement for, Methods 1 through 4 and Method 6.
When to use it. Before entering a new partnership. During M&A due diligence as a preliminary screen. When onboarding a major supplier. For periodic reviews of your existing partner portfolio. It takes less than 60 seconds and requires no registration.
Cost: Free. No sign-up. No data stored.
Screen a business partner now — free →
Method 6 — Full Legal Due Diligence (Paid · 5–10 Business Days · Attorney Work Product)
What it is. A comprehensive legal investigation conducted by licensed Romanian attorneys who review the company's corporate structure and ownership chain from incorporation to present, fiscal compliance history with ANAF, labor law compliance (employment contracts, social contributions), intellectual property portfolio (trademarks via OSIM, patents), real estate holdings and liens (via the National Cadastre Agency at epay.ancpi.ro), movable-property security interests (via the National Registry at mj.rnpm.ro), material contracts and contingent liabilities, and regulatory compliance specific to the company's sector.
What you receive. A written due diligence report identifying confirmed risks, potential risks, and recommended actions. The report is an attorney work product — privileged, confidential, and defensible in any legal proceeding.
When you need it. Before acquiring a Romanian company or a controlling stake (mandatory ANAF notification and tax clearance under Law 239/2025). Before entering a joint venture or long-term supply agreement. When applying for EU funds that require counterparty verification. When litigation or regulatory exposure is suspected.
Cost: Quoted per engagement based on the target company's complexity. Typical range for a standard SRL with a single shareholder and limited operational history is €2,000–€5,000.
Contact us for a due diligence proposal →
Which Method Should You Use? A Decision Framework
The right combination depends on what you are doing. Here is a practical framework based on common scenarios.
Scenario: You received an invoice from a Romanian company and need to confirm it is valid. Use Method 1 (ANAF fiscal check) to confirm the company is active and VAT-registered. Time: 5 seconds. Cost: free.
Scenario: You are onboarding a Romanian supplier or subcontractor. Use Method 1 (ANAF check), then Method 3 (official certificate with Health Check), then Method 4 (court records). This gives you fiscal status, ownership structure, director mandates, and litigation history. Time: under 15 minutes total. Cost: €12.
Scenario: You are bidding on a public tender or applying for EU funds and need official documentation about a Romanian partner. Use Method 3 — the Certificat Constatator is a mandatory attachment for tenders, APIA, AFIR, and IMM Invest applications. If the tender requires proof of no insolvency, order the Insolvency Certificate variant (also €12). Time: same day. Cost: €12 per certificate.
Scenario: You are considering acquiring a Romanian company. Use all six methods. Start with Methods 1 and 5 for a quick preliminary screen (free, under two minutes). Then order the certificate and the Full Company History Report (€12 + €70). Review court records (Method 4, free). If the preliminary findings are positive, engage Method 6 for full due diligence. Time: 1–2 weeks for the full process. Cost: €82 for documents, plus the due diligence engagement fee.
Scenario: You need to file a Romanian company document with a foreign authority, court, or bank. Order the certificate (Method 3) and request apostille and certified translation. Both are available through Mihai Attorneys. Time: 3–7 business days including apostille. Cost: €12 for the certificate, plus apostille and translation fees on request.
Or select your scenario for a step-by-step walkthrough:
Seven Red Flags to Look for in a Trade Register Certificate
When you receive a Certificat Constatator — whether you ordered it yourself or it was provided by a Romanian counterparty — review it for these seven warning signs. Each one is explained in detail in the dedicated guide: 7 Red Flags in a Romanian Trade Register Certificate (2026).
Red Flag 1: Expired administrator mandate. If the director's mandate end date has passed and no renewal is recorded, any contract that person signs carries elevated legal risk.
Red Flag 2: Share capital below the 2026 minimum. Since 1 January 2026, the minimum is RON 500 for all newly incorporated SRLs, and RON 5,000 for SRLs with annual net turnover above RON 400,000. A company showing RON 200 (the old minimum) is non-compliant.
Red Flag 3: Status showing insolvency or dissolution. The certificate states the company's status explicitly. Transactions with companies in insolvency are subject to special rules and payments may be clawed back.
Red Flag 4: CAEN codes that do not match the contracted activity. If you are contracting for software development and the company's CAEN codes show only wholesale trade, invoices issued for that activity can be challenged by ANAF — on your side, not theirs.
Red Flag 5: Suspicious registered office. A residential address combined with minimal capital, a sole director-shareholder, and 15 unrelated CAEN codes is the standard profile of a shell company. Under Law 239/2025, ANAF can declare such a company fiscally inactive if the registered office cannot be confirmed.
Red Flag 6: Frequent changes of shareholders or directors. Visible only on the Full Company History Report (€70), not on the standard certificate. Frequent changes may indicate nominee structures, fiscal reset strategies, or ownership disputes.
Red Flag 7: Zero revenue, zero employees, or negative equity. A company with these financial indicators for multiple years is dormant, shell-like, or insolvent in fact. Contractual claims against such an entity are practically unenforceable.
Every certificate ordered through Mihai Attorneys includes a free Company Health Check that screens for all seven of these flags.
Glossary of Key Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
Can anyone check a Romanian company, or is it restricted to Romanian residents? Anyone in the world can verify a Romanian company. The ANAF fiscal data is public and accessible globally through the free tool. The official Trade Register certificate can be ordered from any country through Mihai Attorneys — you pay by international card, and the PDF is delivered to your email.
How much does it cost to check a Romanian company? The ANAF fiscal check is free. Court records are free. The AI partner screening is free. An official Trade Register certificate costs €12 (including a free attorney Health Check) through Mihai Attorneys. A Full Company History Report costs €70. Full legal due diligence starts at approximately €2,000 depending on complexity.
How long does it take? The ANAF check returns results in under 5 seconds. The AI screening tool returns results in under 60 seconds. An official Trade Register certificate ordered through Mihai Attorneys is typically delivered within minutes during business hours (Monday–Friday, 09:00–18:00 EET), and within the same business day for orders placed outside these hours.
Is the Trade Register certificate available in English? The certificate itself is issued by ONRC in Romanian. However, it is an official document with a standardised structure that is readily understandable with the glossary provided in this guide. If you need a certified English translation — for example, for filing with a foreign court or authority — Mihai Attorneys offers translation and apostille services upon request.
What is the difference between the free ANAF check and the official certificate? The ANAF check shows fiscal data only: VAT registration, activity status, e-Invoice enrolment. The official certificate shows corporate data: shareholders, directors, share capital, CAEN codes, financial indicators, and insolvency status. For proper due diligence, you need both. The ANAF check is instant and free. The certificate is €12 and delivered within minutes.
When is an official certificate legally required? Romanian law requires a Certificat Constatator for public procurement bids, EU fund applications (APIA, AFIR, IMM Invest), bank account opening, certain notarial transactions, share transfer filings with the Trade Register, and as supporting documentation in court proceedings. Even when not legally required, it is the standard of practice for commercial due diligence in Romania.
Can I use the certificate outside Romania? Yes. The e-signed PDF has legal validity throughout the EU under the eIDAS Regulation. For use in non-EU countries, you may need an apostille (under the Hague Convention) and, potentially, a certified translation. Both services are available through Mihai Attorneys.
About the Authors
This guide is published by Mihai Attorneys, a Romanian law firm licensed by the Bucharest Bar Association. Our corporate team assists foreign founders, investors, and companies with company incorporation (from €500, fully remote, 1–2 weeks), corporate secretarial services (annual compliance, CAEN updates, beneficial ownership declarations, shareholder resolutions, Trade Register amendments), M&A and due diligence (share transfers under 2026 rules, acquisitions, company valuations, legal due diligence), and official Trade Register certificates (€12, delivered in minutes, with free Health Check).
For questions about this guide or any Romanian corporate matter, contact us.
Start Verifying Now
