Yes, temporary residence (reședința, the “viză de flotant”) counts for nursery or kindergarten enrollment in Cluj: the national methodology explicitly says “domicile also means temporary residence”. So a residence registered on your ID counts the same as domicile for the proximity criterion — which is a tiebreak criterion (used when there are more applications than places), not an admission requirement. The proof is the parent’s ID card itself. Below you’ll find exactly how it works.

What the law says

The framework methodology (Order ME no. 4018/2024), at Art. 2, states: “domicile also means temporary residence”. In practice, wherever the methodology speaks of “domicile”, a temporary residence (viză de flotant) registered on the ID counts identically.

Proximity is a tiebreak criterion, not a requirement

The proximity to the unit of the child’s domicile/residence or a parent’s workplace is one of the general tiebreak criteria: at both nursery and kindergarten. Important:

  • It applies only when there are more applications than places.
  • The commission first sorts children by age (descending), then applies the criteria.
  • It’s not an eligibility “gate” — it doesn’t automatically exclude you if you live in another area.

How the tiebreak works in detail is in our guide to the tiebreak criteria.

Which document proves residence

The enrollment file requires a copy of the parents’ ID documents. The ID card carries the domicile, and the residence (viză de flotant) is the residence mention on/attached to the ID. There’s no separate “proof of address” in the file — the ID covers this. The full list is in our guide to the enrollment documents.

In Cluj

The state nurseries in Cluj apply exactly these national criteria: they select children by age and apply the criterion of proximity of domicile/workplace. For areas without a nursery, the 3 options are expressed based on the proximity of the workplace.

Confirm with the unit. The local regulation may have additional specifics. If you have residence (not domicile) in Cluj, confirm with the nursery/kindergarten and the town hall how it’s scored in your case. See also enrolling in a state nursery and in a state kindergarten.

Frequently asked questions

Does temporary residence count for kindergarten enrollment in Cluj? Yes. The methodology (Order 4018/2024, Art. 2) says “domicile also means temporary residence”, so residence counts as domicile for the proximity criterion.

Is it mandatory to have domicile in Cluj? Proximity of domicile/residence/workplace is a tiebreak criterion (when there are more applications than places), not an admission requirement. Confirm any local rules with the unit.

Which document proves residence at enrollment? A copy of the parent’s ID card, which carries the domicile and the residence mention. No separate proof of address is required.

Is residence worth as much as domicile in the scoring? Yes, the law treats them the same for the proximity criterion. The exact local scoring is confirmed with the unit.

What if I work in Cluj but live in the commune? The criterion also includes the proximity of a parent’s workplace — so a workplace near the unit can count. Confirm with the unit.

Sources

  • Order ME no. 4018/2024 — the framework methodology, Art. 2 (“domicile = including residence”) and the general tiebreak criteria (see the dedicated guide)
  • Emergency Ordinance no. 97/2005 — the records, domicile, residence and ID documents
  • Creșa pentru Educație Timpurie Cluj-Napoca and ISJ Cluj

See all our official sources on the data sources page.

Conclusion

Temporary residence counts at enrollment: the law treats residence as domicile for the proximity criterion, and the proof is the parent’s ID card. It’s not an admission requirement but a tiebreak criterion — confirm the local rules with the unit. You’ll find every nursery and kindergarten in Cluj-Napoca on the interactive piticluj.ro map.