Children under 2, and children with disabilities as set out in the law, receive 719 lei a month in 2026, frozen at the December 2025 level.
Children aged 2 to 18, and young people still in high school, receive 292 lei a month in 2026.
Children of foreign citizens and stateless persons who are legally resident in Romania and live with their parents are entitled (Law 61/1993).
Child allowance in Romania: the short answer
Romania pays a state child allowance (alocația de stat pentru copii) under Law 61/1993 to every child up to 18, and to young people over 18 who are still in high school or vocational school. It is not means-tested: the parents' income does not matter.
Children of foreign citizens qualify too. Article 2 of the law grants the allowance to the children of foreign citizens and stateless persons who are residents of Romania under the law and live with their parents.
In 2026 the amounts are frozen at the December 2025 level: 719 lei a month for a child under 2 (or under 3 for a child with a disability, and for children with disabilities up to 18), and 292 lei a month for children aged 2 to 18. The application is made at the town hall where the family lives.
In plain words: if you live in Romania legally with your children, they are usually entitled to the allowance. It is not a large amount, but it is paid every month until they finish school, and it starts only from the month after you apply.
The 2026 amounts
| Who | Monthly amount in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Child under 2 | 719 lei |
| Child with a disability, under 3 | 719 lei |
| Child with a disability, aged 3 to 18 | 719 lei |
| Child aged 2 to 18 | 292 lei |
| Young person over 18 still in high school or vocational school | 292 lei |
The law says the allowance is indexed every January by the average annual inflation rate. In practice, the increase was blocked for 2025 by Emergency Ordinance 156/2024 and for 2026 by Law 141/2025, which keeps the allowance at its December 2025 level throughout 2026. The last increase was in January 2024.
Who is eligible
| Situation | Eligible? | What matters |
|---|---|---|
| Romanian children living in Romania | Yes | Age, and school attendance after 18 |
| Children of EU citizens resident in Romania | Yes | Registered residence in Romania; EU rules decide which country pays first if a parent works in another EU state |
| Children of non-EU citizens (for example, Israelis) with a Romanian residence permit | Yes, under Article 2 | Legal residence in Romania and living with the parents |
| A family on a short visit or a visa-free stay | No | No residence in Romania |
| A young person over 18 who repeats a school year | No, unless for health reasons with a medical certificate | Art. 1(4) |
The child is the holder of the right. The money is paid to one of the parents by agreement, or to a guardian. From age 14, it can be paid directly to the child with the parent's consent.
For the residence side, see our guide to the residence permit in Romania.
How to apply, step by step
- Arrange legal residence first. For non-EU families, the residence permit; for EU citizens, the residence registration certificate.
- Go to the town hall (primărie) of the locality where you are domiciled or resident, to the social assistance office. In Bucharest, that means your sector's town hall.
- Bring the documents on the town hall's list. Typical lists include the parents' identity documents and residence permits, the child's birth certificate (for a child born abroad, usually with an apostille and a certified translation), proof of address and a bank account if you want payment by transfer. For children born abroad, some town halls also ask for a joint declaration by both parents, for example that the family lives together and does not receive a similar benefit in another country.
- The town hall sends the file to the county agency for payments and social inspection, which decides and pays.
- Payment is made monthly by the National Agency for Payments and Social Inspection (ANPIS), to a bank account or by postal order.
Requirements differ by town hall. Ask for the current list in writing before you go.
Payment starts only from the month after you apply.
Timing: apply early
- The right starts from the month after the child's birth, but payment starts from the month after you apply.
- Arrears are limited. If you apply late, the allowance can be paid for earlier periods, but for no more than 12 months.
- Report changes. A change of address or of the child's situation can end or change the right, and the right ends from the month after the conditions are no longer met.
- Postal orders: if the payment comes by postal order and is not collected for 3 months, it is suspended until you ask in writing for it to restart.
The parental leave allowance: a separate benefit
The state child allowance is for every child. The parental leave allowance (indemnizația pentru creșterea copilului) is different: it replaces income for a parent who takes leave to care for a young child, under Emergency Ordinance 111/2010.
| Point | The rule |
|---|---|
| Who | A parent who, in the 2 years before the birth, had at least 12 months of income subject to Romanian income tax (some periods, such as unemployment benefit, count too) |
| How long | Until the child turns 2, or 3 for a child with a disability; the parent lives in Romania with the child and cares for them |
| How much | 85% of the average net income of the last 12 months, with a minimum of 2.5 times the social reference indicator (1,650 lei in 2026) and a maximum of 8,500 lei a month |
| Health contribution | Since August 2025, a 10% health contribution (CASS) is withheld, according to published guides |
| Combined with the child allowance | Yes. The 719 lei allowance for a child under 2 is paid on top of it (Law 61/1993, Art. 3(8)) |
For a family that moves to Romania without Romanian taxable income, for example a parent who keeps working for an employer abroad, the parental leave allowance usually does not apply. The state child allowance still can. If you plan to work in Romania, ask the agency how your previous income will be counted before the birth.
Families moving from Israel
- Check what happens to your Israeli benefits. Moving your centre of life can affect your status with Israel's National Insurance. See our guide to national insurance when living in Romania.
- Do not count on two allowances by default. Some town halls ask you to declare that you do not receive a similar benefit abroad.
- Prepare the documents in Israel: birth certificates with an apostille. See the apostille for documents from Israel.
A checklist for families
- Residence permit or registration certificate for every family member.
- The child's birth certificate, apostilled and translated if issued abroad.
- A Romanian bank account for the payments, if you prefer transfer.
- The town hall's current document list, in writing.
- Apply in the first month after your residence is in place.
- A note in the calendar for the child's 18th birthday and for the school-attendance proof after it.
For the school side, see our guide to kindergartens and schools in north Bucharest.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the child allowance in Romania in 2026?
719 lei a month for a child under 2, and for children with disabilities as set out in the law, and 292 lei a month for children aged 2 to 18 and young people still in high school. The amounts are frozen at the December 2025 level for all of 2026.
Can foreigners get the child allowance in Romania?
Yes. Under Article 2 of Law 61/1993, the children of foreign citizens and stateless persons who are legally resident in Romania and live with their parents are entitled to it.
Where do you apply for the child allowance?
At the town hall of the locality where the child's legal representative is domiciled or resident. The town hall forwards the file to the county agency for payments and social inspection, which pays the allowance.
Can the allowance be paid retroactively?
The right starts from the month after the birth, but payment starts from the month after the application. A late application can cover earlier periods, but for no more than 12 months.
Does the child allowance depend on the parents' income?
No. The state child allowance is paid to all eligible children without discrimination and is not means-tested. The parental leave allowance is a different benefit and depends on the parent's previous Romanian taxable income.
The bottom line
The state child allowance is a modest, steady amount, and it is open to foreign residents' children on the same terms as Romanian children. The two things that matter are legal residence and applying on time, because payment starts only from the month after the application.
If you are planning a family move to north Bucharest and want to talk through the practical side, from residence to schools, book a half-hour call with me.
Moti Azulay, Compass Group Romania
Sources: Law 61/1993 on the state child allowance, republished, consolidated text (Iernut town hall copy), Art. 1–4 and 6 · Edupedu: allowance payments and amounts, April 2026 · Edupedu: the 2026 freeze under Law 141/2025 · Digi24: parental leave allowance in 2026 · National Agency for Payments and Social Inspection (ANPIS)
This article is for general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. The rules and amounts are current as of 22 October 2026. Ask your town hall and the county payments agency for the current conditions and documents.
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This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult local professionals before any transaction.
