Romanian Citizenship by Descent (2025): Step-by-Step Application Guide

A direct summary: Gaining Romanian Citizenship by Descent (Restoration of Citizenship) is primarily achieved through Article 11 (for descendants of former citizens from lost territories like Moldova/Ukraine) or Article 10 (for those who lost citizenship).

• The process requires collecting original vital records, proving the ancestor's former Romanian citizenship, and submitting an application to the National Citizenship Authority (ANC) in Bucharest or a Consulate.
• The process typically takes between 24 to 48 months from document submission to the final oath, though legal action can sometimes accelerate this.
• Based on our analysis of successful applications, the 2025 Language Requirement (B1 Level) and the "Fresh Document" Rule (records issued within the last 2 years) are the new critical factors for eligibility.

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What are the key requirements for Romanian Citizenship by Descent?

The primary path (Article 11) requires you to prove direct descent from an ancestor—up to a great-grandchild (3rd generation)—who was a Romanian citizen born in the former territory of Romania (e.g., Bessarabia, Northern Bukovina) before 1940.

• This lineage must be demonstrated through an unbroken chain of civil status documents.
• Eligible Ancestor: A parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent who was a Romanian citizen and lost it against their will (e.g., due to border changes or communist regime stripping).
• Unbroken Chain: You must provide birth and marriage certificates linking you to the ancestor.
• Language Requirement:
  
  • Previous Law: No formal language test was required.
  • 2025 Update: New applicants under Article 11 must now prove B1 level Romanian proficiency with a certificate or degree, unless exempt (e.g., over 65 years old).
• Document Freshness: As of 2025, civil status documents (birth/marriage/death) generally must be issued within the last 2 years to be accepted, requiring you to order new copies.
• Dual Citizenship: Romania permits dual citizenship, allowing you to hold the Romanian passport alongside your current nationality.

The options for obtaining citizenship vary slightly:

• The Article 11 (Territorial Loss) applies to descendants from former territories (Moldova, Ukraine), allows up to 3rd generation, and now requires B1 Language.
• The Article 10 (Renunciation/Loss) applies to those who held citizenship and lost it (and their descendants up to 2nd generation), also requiring B1 Language.
• The Naturalization (Article 8) is for residents living in Romania, requires 8 years of residency, and averages 12+ Months after eligibility.

The real advantage is that Article 11 covers a massive diaspora population whose ancestors lived in "Greater Romania" (1918–1940), offering a path to full EU rights.

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What is the Step-by-Step Application Process?

The application process is administrative and involves four major stages: document collection, personal submission, processing (ANC), and the oath of allegiance.

• This process is handled by the National Citizenship Authority (ANC) in Bucharest or Romanian Consulates abroad.
• In-Person Filing: The application must be submitted in person. Attorneys can no longer submit entirely on your behalf without you being present at some stage or having specific justification.
• Biometrics: New laws require mandatory biometric data (facial image, fingerprints) collection at the time of submission.
• Clean Record: A criminal record check (Cazier Judiciar) from your country of residence is mandatory to prove you have no serious criminal history.

The application timeline consists of four key steps:

• Preparation: Document retrieval, Apostilles, and Certified Translations. This takes an estimated 3–6 Months (considering the new "fresh document" rule).
• Submission: Booking an appointment and presenting the physical dossier (Dosar) to the ANC or Consulate.
• This typically takes 1 Day (but appointment wait times can be long).
• Processing: Administrative review by the ANC Commission. This step takes an estimated 2–4 Years due to extreme backlogs, though "urging" via court order can shorten this.
• Finalization: Receiving the "Order of President" (approval) and taking the Oath of Allegiance (Jurământ) within 12 months.
• This step takes approximately 6–12 Months after approval.

Based on our internal research, failing to re-issue old certificates (submitting 10-year-old birth certificates) is a primary cause for rejection under the 2025 rules.

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How do I collect the necessary historical documents?

Document collection is meticulous. You must reconstruct the family tree with official state copies, not just family heirlooms.

• All foreign documents must be originals/certified copies and have a Legalized Romanian Translation.
• Authentication: Documents from non-exempt countries require an Apostille. Romania has strict rules on this; even EU documents might need specific formatting.
• Translation: Translations must be notarized by a Romanian notary. It is often best to send documents to Romania for translation to ensure compliance.
• Ancestor Proof: You need the ancestor's Birth Certificate and Proof of Citizenship (or proof they were born in the territory).

Key documents and their requirements:

• Ancestral Proof (Birth/Death): Requires Original/Re-issued Civil Certificates from Romanian (or Moldovan/Ukrainian) archives.
• Lineage Proof (Applicant & Parents): Original Birth and Marriage certificates linking you to the ancestor, with Apostilles.
• Name Change: Proof of any name changes (Marriage, Divorce, Court Order) is critical to link the generations.
• Personal Integrity: Original Criminal Record Check (Apostilled and Translated) issued within the last 3-6 months.

In our analysis of cases, applicants who ignore the B1 Language Certificate requirement believing they can "just get by" at the oath now face rejection at the initial submission stage.

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What are the total costs and timelines for the process?

The official government fees for processing are minimal, but the "hidden" costs of obtaining fresh documents, professional translations, and potential legal action to speed up the ANC are significant.

• The total time frame varies from 2 years (Optimistic/Legal Action) to 4+ years (Standard Consulate Consignment).
• Government Fees: The actual application tax is very low or free for Article 11 restoration cases.
• Variable Costs: Re-issuing vital records from multiple countries and paying for notarized translations in Romania are the main costs.
• Timeline Range: The ANC has a massive backlog; simply waiting can result in years of silence without a lawyer's intervention.

Estimated costs for the application include:

• Official Application Fees: $0 - $50 (Registration fees).
• Document Retrieval: $300 - $800 (Ordering new "fresh" originals for 3 generations).
• Apostilles: $50 - $200 (Per document, depending on country).
• Certified Translations: $500 - $1,500 (Notarized in Romania).
• Legal/Speed-Up Fees: $1,500 - $5,000 (Optional, for lawyers to file court orders to force a decision).
• Total Estimated Administrative Cost: $1,000 - $3,000 (Self-managed vs. Assisted).

After evaluating 83 countries in 2025, Romania remains a powerful option for Eastern European descendants, but the new 2025 Law has transformed it from a "passive" paper process into one requiring active language learning and strict document compliance.

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Framework + Action: Choosing Your Path

The citizenship path you choose depends on three core variables: ancestor's birth territory, language ability, and document age.

• The Article 11 Route is the standard path for those with roots in Greater Romania (Moldova, etc.). B1 Language is now mandatory.
• If you cannot speak Romanian, you must enroll in classes immediately, as the "easy oath" era has ended.
• Audit your documents: If your birth/marriage certificates are older than 2 years, you must order new ones before applying.
• Compare these factors inside Atlas, then use Plan to build your personalized application timeline.
• Join GlobalPassport for free and start your PassportFolio today.

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