Romanian Citizenship by Descent: Your "Get Started" Guide

Romanian citizenship by descent is a valuable gateway to the European Union (EU). The most common route for the diaspora is based on Article 11 (Restoration of Citizenship), which targets descendants of former Romanian citizens who lost their citizenship against their will (e.g., due to border changes in WWII or communist emigration).

Unlike standard naturalization, this process is technically a "restoration" of rights. Once you take the Oath of Loyalty, you gain full rights to live and work across the EU.

This guide outlines the essential first steps, key requirements, and what you can expect in terms of timeline and cost to begin your journey.

‍

1. Am I Eligible? Key Requirements (Article 11)

The primary path allows descendants to reclaim citizenship up to the 3rd generation (Great-grandparents).

• Requirement Category: Eligible Ancestor
  
  • Specific Criteria: Parent, Grandparent, or Great-Grandparent.
  • Details: Your ancestor must have been born on Romanian territory (as it was defined at the time of their birth) and held Romanian citizenship.
  • Historical Context: This includes not just modern Romania, but also former territories like Bessarabia (modern Moldova) and Northern Bukovina (parts of Ukraine), provided the ancestor was born there when it was part of the Kingdom of Romania (typically 1918–1940).
• Requirement Category: Lineage
  
  • Specific Criteria: Unbroken Chain.
  • Details: You must provide civil status documents (birth, marriage, death) for every generation linking you to the ancestor.
• Requirement Category: Language (The "Oath" Trap)
  
  • Specific Criteria: Required for the Ceremony.
  • Details: There is no formal language exam to submit the application. However, the final step is the Oath of Allegiance ceremony. Consuls are required to verify you understand the Oath. If you cannot speak basic Romanian or recite the Oath correctly during the ceremony, your citizenship can be denied at the very last second.
• Requirement Category: Dual Citizenship
  
  • Specific Criteria: Permitted.
  • Details: Romania allows dual citizenship and does not require you to reside in the country.
• Strategic Tip: Eligibility is broad, but the documentation must be precise. If your ancestor anglicized their name (e.g., "Ion" became "John"), you will likely need a legal clarification document, as Romanian officials are very strict about name matching.

‍

2. The First Action: Document Collection & Preparation

Your initial focus must be on gathering the civil status records. The file is submitted to the National Citizenship Authority (ANC).

Document integrity (Apostilles and Legalized Translations) is the single most critical factor for approval.

📑 What to Collect First

• Your Ancestor's Proof: The ancestor's Birth Certificate (Certificat de Naștere) and/or Marriage Certificate.
  
  • If the ancestor was born in a territory that is no longer Romania (e.g., Chernivtsi or Chisinau), you may need to retrieve records from the archives of those respective countries (Ukraine/Moldova) or the Romanian National Archives if they were transferred.
• Proof of Status:
  
  • Ideally, documents showing when they left Romania (old passports) or proof of their naturalization in the new country.
• Lineage Documents: Your own Birth Certificate, and the Birth and Marriage Certificates for every generation connecting you to the ancestor.
  
  • (Requires Long-Form certified copies).
• Personal Integrity:
  
  • Criminal Record Check: A clean criminal record check from your country of residence is mandatory.

📝 Document Authentication is Key

The ANC requires a very specific format for the dossier (Dosar).

• Authentication (Apostille): Every foreign document must have an Apostille stamp (unless a bilateral exemption exists, but Apostille is safer).
• Legalized Translation: All non-Romanian documents must be translated into Romanian.
  
  • The Standard: Translations must be notarized. If done abroad, they often need to be done by a translator recognized by the Consulate or re-certified. The best practice is to send apostilled copies to Romania and have a Romanian Notary Public handle the translation and legalization locally to ensure it meets ANC standards.

‍

3. What to Expect: Timeline and Cost

The process is centralized in Bucharest at the ANC headquarters. While you can apply at a Consulate, it adds significant time for diplomatic mail.

⏱️ Estimated Timeline

This is currently one of the slowest EU citizenship processes due to massive backlogs. Expect 3 to 5+ years.

• Step: Preparation
  
  • Estimated Time: 6–12 Months.
  • What Happens: Retrieving old records (especially from Ukraine or Moldova) can be very difficult and slow.
• Step: Submission
  
  • Estimated Time: 1 Day.
  • What Happens: You submit the physical file ("Dosar") personally at the ANC in Bucharest (fastest) or at a Consulate (adds 6-12 months). You receive a Registration Number (Număr de Dosar).
• Step: Processing (The Wait)
  
  • Estimated Time: 3–4 Years.
  • What Happens: The file sits in the "Stadiu Dosar" queue. The ANC commission eventually verifies eligibility.
• Step: Finalization (The Order & Oath)
  
  • Estimated Time: 6–12 Months.
  • What Happens: Your name appears in an "Order" (Ordin). You then have 6 months to schedule your Oath of Allegiance ceremony at the Consulate. Once you pass the Oath, you receive the Citizenship Certificate.

💰 Estimated Cost

The Romanian government fees are negligible, but the legal and translation costs are significant due to the complexity of the file structure.

• Cost Category: Official Application Fees
  
  • Estimated Range: $0 - $50 USD.
  • Details: There is generally no fee for filing the Article 11 application itself.
• Cost Category: Document Retrieval
  
  • Estimated Range: $300 - $1,000.
  • Details: Hiring researchers to find records in Romanian or Moldovan archives.
• Cost Category: Notarized Translations
  
  • Estimated Range: $800 - $2,000.
  • Details: Every page must be translated and notarized.
• Cost Category: Total Estimated Administrative Cost
  
  • Estimated Range: $1,200 - $3,500.
  • Details: Does not include travel to Bucharest (recommended for submission) or legal fees if hiring an attorney to monitor the file.

‍

✅ Your Next Steps

• Map the Territory: Confirm exactly where your ancestor was born. Was it part of Romania at that time? (e.g., Born in 1925 in Chisinau = Eligible. Born in 1945 in Chisinau = Likely not eligible under Art 11).
• Check the "Oath" Ability: Be honest with yourself. Are you willing to learn basic Romanian? Without this, you will fail at the final step after waiting years.
• Secure the Criminal Record: Request a background check early to ensure there are no surprises, but remember they expire (usually valid for 6 months), so time it close to submission.

‍