Does a contract between two companies need a certified translation?

Not for use between the parties: the law does not require it. A certified translation becomes necessary when the contract goes to the tax authority ANAF, a court, a notary or a public tender whose documentation requires it.

Which version applies in a bilingual contract?

The one the parties set in a language clause. Without such a clause, differences between the versions can become a reason for dispute, so it is good to have one and to check the versions against each other.

Must a foreign employee's employment contract be translated?

Yes. Since 27 April 2026, the Romanian Labour Code requires employers to conclude a foreign employee's contract both in Romanian and in the language of their country of origin or in an international language they understand. Failure to do so is fined for each contract.

How is the confidentiality of contracts protected?

Contracts contain sensitive commercial data. We work under strict confidentiality procedures and, on request, sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before receiving the documents.

Guide · Companies

Translating commercial contracts in Romania: what companies should know

Updated: 25 September 2026 · Kalimera, translation agency in Bucharest since 2005 · all guides

In short: between two companies, a contract can be drafted in any language the parties agree on, and the law does not require a certified translation for their own use. A certified translation becomes mandatory when the contract reaches an authority: the tax authority ANAF, a court, a notary or a contracting authority in a public tender. There is also a new exception from 2026: a foreign employee's employment contract must also be concluded in a language they understand.

1. When a certified translation is mandatory

At ANAF. The Fiscal Procedure Code (art. 8) requires documents submitted in a foreign language to be accompanied by Romanian translations certified by translators authorized by the Ministry of Justice. In a tax audit, contracts with foreign partners are among the first documents requested, and those without a translation are not taken into account.
In court and with bailiffs, where documents in a foreign language are filed translated by an authorized translator.
At a notary, for example when the contract underlies a notarial deed or its translation must be notarized.
In public procurement, where the tender documentation usually requires documents in another language to be accompanied by a Romanian translation. Read the tender data sheet for the exact form required.

For negotiations, internal approvals or the company archive, a specialised translation without authorization is enough. What matters then is that the translator knows legal and commercial terminology.

2. Bilingual contracts

Many companies sign contracts in two columns, for example Romanian and English. To keep them from becoming a source of disputes:

set a language clause: which version prevails if the two differ;
check the versions against each other before signing, especially after the last negotiated changes, which are often made in one language only;
keep the same defined terms throughout the contract and its annexes: a term translated in two ways can be read as two different notions.

3. A foreign employee's employment contract: what changed in 2026

The Romanian Labour Code requires every individual employment contract to be concluded in writing, in Romanian. Since 27 April 2026, Government Emergency Ordinance no. 32/2026 added an obligation for employers: when the employee is a foreign citizen, the contract is concluded both in Romanian and in the language of their country of origin or in an international language they understand or can reasonably be assumed to understand. Failure to do so is fined for each contract concluded only in Romanian.

For companies with foreign employees, this usually means a bilingual contract template, translated once and reused, plus the translation of each amendment.

4. What matters when translating a contract

Legal terminology, not just language: Romanian legal concepts do not always have an exact equivalent in the partner's legal system.
Consistency between the contract, its annexes and later amendments, throughout the business relationship.
Figures, dates and deadlines, checked separately from the text.
Confidentiality: contracts contain prices, terms and partners' data.

How we work at Kalimera

Contracts are among our most frequent assignments. They are translated by translators who know legal and commercial terminology, and certified translations are signed by translators authorized by the Ministry of Justice. We keep the same terminology from the contract to its annexes and later amendments, work under strict confidentiality procedures and sign a non-disclosure agreement on request. When needed, we also handle notarization and the apostille. Details on the page legal translations and in the guide authorized translator.

Sources

Law no. 53/2003, the Labour Code, art. 16, as supplemented by Government Emergency Ordinance no. 32/2026;
Law no. 207/2015 on the Fiscal Procedure Code, art. 8;
Law no. 178/1997 on the authorization and payment of interpreters and translators (consulted in September 2026).