ANCPI (Agenția Națională de Cadastru și Publicitate Imobiliară) is the Romanian state agency responsible for maintaining the national cadastre and the land book (cartea funciară). Every property in Romania must be registered in the land book before it can be legally transferred. The land book records ownership, mortgages, easements, and all other rights affecting a property.
The land book system (sistemul cărților funciare) is the definitive public record of property ownership in Romania. An extract from the land book (extras de carte funciară) shows the current owner, the cadastral number, the area, any mortgages, pre-emption rights, or other encumbrances. This extract must be requested before any property transaction.
ANCPI operates through a network of Offices of Cadastre and Land Registration (OCPI) in each county (județ). Property transactions — purchase, mortgage, gift, inheritance — are registered by notaries directly with ANCPI following the signing of the notarial deed. Registration typically takes 20–30 business days, after which the updated land book extract confirming the new owner is available.
Romania has been conducting a national cadastre programme (cadastru sistematic) since 2015, registering properties free of charge in previously unregistered areas, particularly rural regions. Many rural properties have only recently been formally registered. Foreign buyers should confirm that any rural property is fully registered in the ANCPI system before purchase.
Accessing ANCPI records is possible through the eTerra online platform. An extras de carte funciară pentru informare (informational extract) is available to any member of the public for a small fee and shows the current registered state of a property. A certified extract (extras de carte funciară pentru autentificare) can only be ordered by a notary and is required for property transactions.
Key Facts
| Full name | Agenția Națională de Cadastru și Publicitate Imobiliară |
|---|---|
| Key document | Extras de carte funciară — shows owner, cadastral number, encumbrances |
| Registration time | 20–30 business days after notarial deed signing |
| Online platform | eTerra — informational extracts available publicly |
| County offices | OCPI operates in each județ — transactions registered locally |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the cadastre and the land book?
The cadastre (cadastrul) records physical facts: parcel boundaries, area, building plans, and coordinates. The land book (cartea funciară) records legal rights: ownership, mortgages, easements, and court orders. A complete property due diligence requires checking both. In Romania's system, both are administered by ANCPI.
Can I search ANCPI records online?
Yes. The eTerra platform (eterra.ancpi.ro) allows searches by cadastral number or land book number. Informational extracts are available for a small fee. Certified extracts for transactions must be ordered through a notary.
Is land registration compulsory for all properties?
Yes, since the 2015 National Cadastre Programme. All properties must be registered. However, many older rural properties are still in the process of registration. Buyers of rural or agricultural land should verify registration status early in the due diligence process.