Before enrolling in a Cluj nursery or kindergarten, your child needs a CNP (Cod Numeric Personal — a 13-digit personal code) and, for the proximity tiebreak, a registered residence. For a child born in Romania, the CNP is automatic — it’s printed on the birth certificate. For a child born abroad, the Romanian CNP comes via the IGI residence document (a residence permit for non-EU, or a registration certificate for EU citizens). This is immigration procedure — confirm your specific case with the authorities below. This is not legal advice.

Child born in Romania: CNP is automatic

The CNP is assigned when the birth is registered and is printed on the birth certificate — there’s no separate “apply for a CNP” step.

  • Deadline: register the birth within 30 days of birth.
  • Office (Cluj-Napoca): Serviciul Stare Civilă, Direcția de Evidență a Persoanelor, Str. Moților no. 5. The certificate is usually issued the same day.
  • Documents: the medical birth certificate from the maternity, the parents’ valid ID/passports, and the marriage certificate if married. For foreign parents, foreign documents may need to be apostilled/legalised and translated — confirm at the office.

Child born abroad: CNP via the IGI residence document

For a child born abroad and now living in Romania, the Romanian CNP arrives with the IGI residence document:

  • Non-EU citizens: the CNP is inscribed on the residence permit (permis de ședere).
  • EU/EEA/Swiss citizens: the first registration certificate (certificat de înregistrare) contains the CNP; non-EU family members receive a residence card (carte de rezidență).

Office (Cluj): Serviciul pentru Imigrări al Județului Cluj — Str. Alexandru Vaida Voevod no. 53–55 (Iulius Mall), tel. 0264-555656, email cj.igi@mai.gov.ro. Cases require a prior online appointment via the IGI portal (portaligi.mai.gov.ro).

Registering residency (for the proximity tiebreak)

Residency matters mainly for the enrollment proximity tiebreak — where the child’s residence or a parent’s workplace being near the unit counts (only when applications exceed places). Crucially, “domicile” includes residence (reședința), so a registered residence counts. See temporary residence at enrollment.

  • EU citizens staying over 3 months register at IGI and receive a certificat de înregistrare.
  • Non-EU citizens establish residence via the permis de ședere.

What the enrollment dossier actually needs

The dossier itself does not list “CNP” as a separate item. It requires:

  • A copy of the child’s birth certificate (which carries the CNP for a Romania-born child).
  • Copies of the parents’/legal representative’s ID documents.
  • The standard request (up to 3 unit options) and any documents for the criteria — see enrollment documents.

For a foreign child, the natural mapping is the translated/apostilled foreign birth certificate plus the child’s Romanian residence document (which carries the CNP and establishes residence). Confirm the exact list with the target unit.

Practical order of steps

  1. Register the birth (Romania-born) or obtain the IGI residence document (born abroad).
  2. Register residency (EU: certificat de înregistrare; non-EU: permis de ședere).
  3. Prepare the dossier (birth certificate + parents’ IDs) and enroll — see the expat guide and, if you arrive mid-year, mid-year relocation.

Frequently asked questions

Does my child need a CNP to enroll? The dossier needs the child’s birth certificate (which carries the CNP for a Romania-born child) and the parents’ IDs. For a foreign child, the CNP comes via the IGI residence document.

How does a Romania-born child get a CNP? Automatically, at birth registration — it’s printed on the birth certificate, issued (usually the same day) at Str. Moților no. 5. Register within 30 days.

How does a foreign child get a Romanian CNP? Via the IGI residence document — a residence permit (non-EU) or registration certificate (EU) — obtained at the Serviciul pentru Imigrări Cluj (by appointment via the IGI portal).

Where do I register residency? At IGI Cluj (Iulius Mall). EU citizens get a certificat de înregistrare; non-EU citizens a permis de ședere. Residence counts as domicile for the proximity tiebreak.

Is this legal advice? No. Immigration steps differ by citizenship and birthplace — confirm your case with IGI Cluj and the Direcția de Evidență a Persoanelor.

Sources

See all our official sources on the data sources page.

Conclusion

For enrollment, your child needs a CNP (automatic on a Romania-born child’s birth certificate; via the IGI residence document for a foreign child) and a registered residence (which counts for the proximity tiebreak). Confirm your case with IGI Cluj and the civil-status office, then see the expat guide and the interactive piticluj.ro map.