The number ANAF gives foreigners without a CNP. It does not make you a tax resident and gives no right to live in Romania.
Form 030 is filed with ANAF in person, by post or through a representative, within 30 days of the income or event.
Since ANAF Order 247/2025, a notary can request a NIF electronically, and ANAF must answer within at most 5 working days.
The seller owes a 1% or 3% transfer tax, calculated and reported by the notary. Without a NIF the deal may stop.
Once the property is in your name, file the annual property tax declaration with the local authority within 90 days.
Romania NIF: the short answer
The NIF (Număr de Identificare Fiscală) is the tax identification number that Romania's tax authority, ANAF, assigns to foreigners who have no Romanian personal numeric code (CNP). It is mandatory once you have income or a tax liability in Romania, for example when you sell or rent out a property, and it is also required to open a bank account. You get it with Form 030, yourself, through a representative, or through a notary, who receives ANAF's answer within at most 5 working days.
The question that always arrives a week before signing
"Moti, the notary asked for a NIF. What is it, and why did nobody tell us?"
I hear this far too often, and always at the worst possible moment: a few days before the flight to Bucharest. The good news is that it is not a big deal. The less good news is that it takes time, so you deal with it at the start, not at the end.
What a NIF is, and how it differs from a CNP
Every Romanian citizen and permanent resident has a CNP, a personal identification number. A foreigner without a CNP who has a tax connection to Romania receives a NIF instead.
It is just as important to understand what the number does not do. A NIF is an identification number for the tax authorities, nothing more. It does not make you a Romanian tax resident, it gives no right to live or work in Romania, and it does not set up a company. It simply lets ANAF, and the bodies that report to it (notaries, banks, local authorities), identify you.
When you really need a NIF: buying, selling, renting and banking
There is a lot of confusion here, even on Romanian websites. The useful distinction is between what the law requires and what happens in practice.
| Situation | NIF needed? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Selling a property | Yes, mandatory | The seller owes tax on the transfer (1% or 3%), which the notary calculates and reports |
| Renting out a property | Yes, mandatory | Rental income in Romania must be registered and declared |
| Opening a bank account | Yes | The bank requests the number from the tax authority |
| Mortgage from a Romanian bank | Yes, in practice | You need a bank account, and so a NIF |
| Buying only | Depends on the notary | Some sources say the obligation applies only to sellers; in practice many notaries ask for it |
The practical line: if you are buying property in Romania, get a NIF in advance. Almost every investor needs one at some point: for a bank account, for renting out, or on the day they sell. We cover the tax on a sale in our guide to tax on selling property in Romania.
Three ways to get a NIF
1. Form 030, filed directly with ANAF
The basic route: you complete Form 030, the "fiscal registration declaration" for individuals without a CNP, and file it with the competent office of Romania's National Agency for Fiscal Administration (ANAF). You can file in person, by registered post, or through ANAF's online portal.
Under the Fiscal Procedure Code, the declaration is due within 30 days of your first income or of the event that creates the tax liability. Processing times on this route vary between offices, so do not leave it to the last minute.
2. Through a representative
You do not have to go in person. A lawyer or another representative can file Form 030 for you under a suitable power of attorney.
A NIF is not an obstacle, it is an item on a list. Those who deal with it at the start never hear about it again.
3. Through the notary: the fast route
Since 2025 there has been a dedicated route. Under ANAF Order no. 247/2025, a Romanian notary can request the tax registration of a non-resident electronically, and the tax office must answer within at most 5 working days. The route was built precisely for property transactions, and it saves you a visit to ANAF.
There is also an indirect fourth route: when you open an account with a Romanian bank, the Fiscal Procedure Code requires the bank to send the tax authority a request to assign you a NIF, and the number is sent back to the bank within 5 days. For the account itself, see our guide to opening a bank account in Romania as a non-resident.
Which documents to prepare
A list that covers most cases:
- A valid passport (a copy; sometimes a certified copy is required).
- Your full address abroad, and, if you have one, the tax identification number of your country of residence.
- A document explaining why you are registering: a preliminary contract, a draft sale contract, a lease.
- A power of attorney, if a representative files for you.
- A Romanian translation of foreign documents, with an apostille where required.
Rule of thumb: any document not in Romanian needs a certified translation. That is the item that delays the most files.
The NIF within the purchase process
This is how it fits into a typical deal:
- At the preliminary contract stage: ask the notary or your lawyer whether and when you will need a NIF. We cover the preliminary contract itself in our guide to the preliminary contract in Romania.
- Before the final contract: make sure the number has already been issued. Signing day is not the time to find out it is missing.
- After the property is registered in your name: register for the annual property tax with the local authority. Under the Fiscal Code, the declaration is due within 90 days of the purchase.
Remember that notarial signing in Romania cannot be done remotely. If you cannot attend, a power of attorney lets a representative sign on your behalf. In our project in Balotești we coordinate all of these steps with the notary in advance, so the NIF is ready long before signing day.
Frequently asked questions
Does a NIF cost anything?
We found no official fee for issuing a NIF on ANAF's websites. If a lawyer or representative files for you, you pay for their service, not for the number itself.
How long does it take to get a NIF?
On the notary route, ANAF must answer within at most 5 working days, and on the bank route the number is sent back to the bank within 5 days. For a standard Form 030 filing, timing depends on the office and on whether the file is complete, so start a few weeks ahead.
Does a NIF make me a Romanian tax resident?
No. A NIF is only an identification number. Tax residence is decided by other rules, and Israel and Romania have a double taxation treaty, which we cover in our article on tax in Romania and what is left to pay in Israel.
Can I get a NIF without travelling to Romania?
Yes. Through a representative, through the notary handling your transaction, or through a bank when you open an account. On the notary route you do not need to visit ANAF at all.
What happens if a foreign seller arrives at the signing without a NIF?
The transaction may stop on the day, because the notary has to calculate, collect and report the seller's transfer tax. So even as a buyer, ask in advance whether the seller has a NIF.
The bottom line
A NIF is not an obstacle, it is an item on a list. Those who deal with it at the start never hear about it again. Those who discover it a week before signing spend that week on the phone.
If you are starting a purchase in Romania and want to know which documents you will need and when, book a 30-minute call with me. We will go through the whole list together.
Moti Azulay, Compass Group Romania
Sources and data: Romania's National Agency for Fiscal Administration (ANAF) · Romanian legislation portal: Fiscal Procedure Code (Law 207/2015), ANAF Order 247/2025, Fiscal Code · National Union of Notaries Public of Romania.
This article is for general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Procedures and requirements may vary between tax offices and notaries. Before any transaction, consult a local lawyer.
Now you know more.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult local professionals before any transaction.
