Romania Citizenship by Descent

Romania allows descendants up to the third generation to reclaim citizenship through ancestry. The program covers people with ancestors from modern-day Romania, but it also extends to descendants of individuals born in former Romanian territories between 1918 and 1940. Those territories are now part of Moldova, Ukraine, Serbia, and Bulgaria. Since Romania joined the Schengen Area on January 1, 2025, the Romanian passport provides visa-free access to over 180 destinations and the right to live and work across all 27 EU member states.

As of March 15, 2025, Law 14/2025 introduced a new requirement: most citizenship by descent applicants now need to demonstrate B1-level Romanian language proficiency. This guide reflects all current requirements and procedures.

Who qualifies for Romanian citizenship by descent?

There are two legal pathways. Which one applies to you determines how far back your claim can reach and what paperwork you need.

Article 10: reacquisition of lost citizenship

This pathway applies if you or your parent or grandparent was a Romanian citizen who lost citizenship at some point, whether through emigration, naturalization in another country, or involuntary loss. You can claim as a direct biological descendant up to the second degree (parent or grandparent level).

If your parent was a Romanian citizen when you were born, is still alive, and never formally lost citizenship, you may already be a Romanian citizen without realizing it. In that case, you do not need to "apply" for citizenship. You just need to obtain a Certificate of Citizenship documenting your existing status, then apply for a passport. This is sometimes called "direct citizenship," and it does not require Romanian language proficiency regardless of the 2025 law changes.

Article 11: former territory citizenship

This pathway is for descendants of individuals born in territories that belonged to the Kingdom of Romania between 1918 and 1940. Those territories include Bessarabia (now the Republic of Moldova and parts of southwestern Ukraine), Northern Bukovina (now part of Ukraine's Chernivtsi Oblast), the Herta region (now part of Ukraine), the Cadrilater or Southern Dobrogea (now part of Bulgaria), and Northern Transylvania (part of Romania 1918-1940, ceded to Hungary 1940-1944, then returned to Romania).

Under Article 11, descendants up to the third degree are eligible, meaning children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Your ancestor does not necessarily need to have formally held Romanian citizenship if their birth in the territory during the 1918-1940 period can be proven. Article 11(2) also contains a clause allowing restoration even when documentation is incomplete, as long as territorial origin can be demonstrated.

Citizenship as reparations for Nazi alliance

There is a separate provision for direct descendants of Romanian Holocaust victims, up to the second degree (children and grandchildren, including those adopted as minors). This pathway has its own requirements and documentation.

Citizenship by Romanian descent (modern-day and former territory)

You can apply for Romanian citizenship if you have an ancestor who was born in either modern-day Romania or a former territory (now part of modern-day Hungary, Bulgaria, Ukraine, or Moldova). Descendants of an ancestor born in Romania or a former territory are eligible up to the third degree (children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, including those adopted as minors).

What does not qualify

Great-great-grandparents and beyond are not eligible under current law. You must be a direct biological descendant. Spouses, stepchildren who were not adopted, and other relatives do not qualify. Adopted children qualify only if adopted as minors and the adoption is recognized in Romania.

The application procedure, step by step

Step 1: Verify your eligibility and determine your pathway

Before spending money on documents, you need to figure out which article applies to your situation and which ancestor gives you the strongest claim.

If your parent was a Romanian citizen and never formally lost citizenship, you may already be a citizen. Check whether your birth was registered with Romanian consular authorities. If so, you are looking at the "direct citizenship" route, which is faster and does not require language proficiency.

If your parent or grandparent was a Romanian citizen who lost citizenship through emigration or naturalization elsewhere, you fall under Article 10. If your ancestor (up to great-grandparent) was born in a former Romanian territory between 1918 and 1940, you fall under Article 11.

This step also involves assessing what documentation you have and what gaps exist. If your ancestor emigrated from Transylvania before 1918, they were technically an Austro-Hungarian subject, not a Romanian citizen. But you may still qualify under Article 11 if they were born in territory that became part of Romania from 1918 to 1940.

Plan on spending two to three months on this phase.

Step 2: Gather your family documents

Start collecting documents for yourself and for every person in the chain between you and your Romanian ancestor.

For yourself, you need a valid passport, a long-form birth certificate showing both parents' names, a marriage certificate if applicable, a divorce decree or spouse's death certificate if applicable, two passport photos (3.5 x 4.5 cm, white background), and a proof of residence like a utility bill or lease.

For your ancestor, you need their Romanian birth certificate, proof of Romanian citizenship (an old Romanian passport, citizenship certificate, national ID card, military records, voter registration, or property records), and their marriage and death certificates as applicable.

For every generation in between, you need birth certificates, marriage certificates, and death certificates for each deceased person in the direct line. If anyone changed their name through marriage, transliteration, or deliberate Americanization, you need documentation for every name change.

If you cannot find critical documents through family members, you may need professional genealogical research. Romanian genealogists who specialize in citizenship cases can access the Romanian National Archives in Bucharest, regional archives in cities like Cluj-Napoca and Iasi and Timisoara, church archives from Romanian Orthodox, Greek Catholic, Roman Catholic, and Lutheran parishes, and civil status offices at municipal town halls. For former territory claims, you may also need researchers who can access archives in Moldova, Ukraine (Chernivtsi Oblast), or Bulgaria.

Professional genealogical research typically costs between 500 and 2,500 euros and takes two to six months.

Document gathering overall takes three to twelve months depending on how many countries and archives are involved.

Step 3: Obtain criminal record certificates

Timing matters here. Criminal records must be no older than six months when you submit your application, so request them roughly three to four months before your planned submission date.

You need a criminal record certificate from every country where you are or have been a citizen, and from every country where you lived for more than 180 consecutive days within the last 15 years.

For U.S. applicants, that means the FBI Identity History Summary Check ($18, four to eight weeks processing) plus state-level criminal records from any state where you lived more than 180 days ($10 to $50 each, two to six weeks). Canadian applicants need the RCMP Criminal Record Check ($25 to $50, two to four weeks). UK applicants need the ACRO Police Certificate. If you have lived in multiple countries, you need records from each one.

Missing criminal records from any required jurisdiction will result in automatic rejection. Plan carefully and request all records simultaneously so they are all still valid when you submit.

This step takes one to three months.

Step 4: Obtain your Romanian language B1 certificate (if required)

Since March 15, 2025, most applicants need to prove B1-level Romanian proficiency under the Common European Framework of Reference.

You are exempt if you are over 65, if you are a former Romanian citizen reacquiring citizenship, if you were born in Romania, or if you qualify as a "direct citizen" who already holds citizenship and just needs to register it. Minor children are also exempt.

If you are not exempt, you can satisfy the requirement with a B1 certificate from an institution accredited by the Romanian Ministry of Education, an educational transcript showing at least three years of Romanian language study, or a certificate from a Romanian cultural institution attesting B1 proficiency.

B1 level means you can understand the main points of clear standard Romanian on familiar topics, handle most situations that come up while traveling in Romania, produce simple connected text, and describe experiences and give reasons for opinions.

If you are starting from zero, expect four to six months of study at 10 to 15 hours per week. Online courses designed for citizenship applicants cost between 300 and 800 euros including the exam. If you already have some family exposure to Romanian, you may reach B1 in two to four months. Start language study early in the process since it is often the longest single step for applicants who do not already speak the language.

Step 5: Get your documents apostilled

Every document issued outside Romania needs authentication before Romanian authorities will accept it.

For documents from countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention (including the U.S., Canada, UK, and Australia), you need an apostille. In the U.S., apostilles come from the Secretary of State of the state that issued the document. A California birth certificate gets apostilled by the California Secretary of State. Federal documents like the FBI criminal record get apostilled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. Costs run $20 to $100 per document, and processing takes one to six weeks depending on the state.

In Canada, Global Affairs Canada handles authentication and apostille. Expect four to eight weeks. In the UK, FCDO handles apostilles.

For documents from countries not in the Hague Convention, you need super-legalization, which is a more complex multi-step process through multiple government agencies. It takes longer and costs more.

Keep a spreadsheet tracking every document, its authentication status, and its expiration date. Remember that your criminal records expire after three to six months, so the timing of this step relative to your submission matters.

This step takes one to three months.

Step 6: Get everything translated into Romanian

All non-Romanian documents must be translated by a certified sworn translator (traducator autorizat) registered with the Romanian Ministry of Justice. The translator must include their official stamp, signature, and registration number on every translation.

Typical applications run 15 to 25 pages. Complex cases with great-grandparent chains can run 30 to 50 pages. At 50 to 150 euros per page, translation costs between 750 and 3,750 euros for a typical case and more for complex ones.

Romanian authorities are strict about translation quality and certification. Translations by non-certified translators or translations with errors result in automatic rejection and months of delays. Review every translation carefully to make sure names are consistent across documents and dates are correct.

This step takes one to two months.

Step 7: Prepare your application forms

The main application form differs depending on whether you are applying under Article 10 or Article 11. It must be completed in Romanian. You will also typically need a supporting narrative letter of two to four pages, written in Romanian, explaining your family history, how your ancestor left Romania, what citizenship they held, and why they lost it.

If you do not speak Romanian, you will need a translator or attorney to prepare the forms and narrative.

Allow two to four weeks for this step.

Step 8: Submit your application in person

You have two options, and which one you choose has a real impact on how long the rest of the process takes.

Option A is submitting at a Romanian embassy or consulate in your country. The advantage is that you do not need to travel to Romania. The disadvantage is that processing is significantly slower, often adding six to twelve months to the total timeline. You need to book an appointment, which can involve long wait times at busy consulates. In the U.S., Romanian consulates are located in Washington D.C., New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

Option B is submitting at the National Authority for Citizenship (ANC) in Bucharest. This is the faster route. Applications submitted in Romania are generally processed six to twelve months faster than those submitted abroad. The downside is that you need to fly to Romania. Most applicants who can manage the trip prefer this option.

At submission, bring original documents (usually returned to you) and certified copies, all translations with translator certifications, and payment for the application fee. You will receive a file number (dosar number) for tracking.

Application fees as of 2025: Article 10 confirmation is 50 euros, Article 10 reacquisition is 200 euros, Article 11 (former territory) is 200 euros. The citizenship card costs 18 euros and is paid when approved.

New as of 2025: you must provide biometric data at the time of submission, including a facial photograph and digital fingerprints. Children under 14 are exempt. The biometric data is destroyed after the citizenship process is complete.

Step 9: Wait for government processing

The waiting. The National Authority for Citizenship (ANC) is supposed to review cases within a reasonable timeframe, and Article 11(2) mandates a five-month review period. Neither deadline is met in practice.

Realistic timelines: fast cases (rare, typically "direct citizenship" confirmations with perfect documentation submitted in Bucharest) take 6 to 12 months. Typical cases take 2 to 3 years. Slow cases, especially complex ones submitted at busy embassies abroad, can take 4 to 5 years or more.

During processing, ANC evaluates your documents, verifies your lineage through Romanian archives and civil registers, checks for security concerns, and may request additional documents or schedule an interview. You will rarely receive updates unless you follow up. There is no transparent tracking system, though 2025 reforms promise improvements.

There is a legal remedy worth knowing about. Under Law 554/2004 (Administrative Litigation), you can petition the Bucharest Tribunal to compel ANC to finalize your case if it has not been resolved within a reasonable timeframe. Your lawyer files the motion after six months without a decision. No court appearance is required. The court often rules in favor of the applicant and orders ANC to issue a decision within 30 to 90 days. This strategy typically cuts 6 to 12 months or more off the total wait. It adds 1,000 to 2,500 euros in legal costs, but most applicants consider it worthwhile to avoid years in limbo.

Step 10: Take the oath of allegiance

If your application is approved, you must take the Oath of Allegiance (Juramantul de credinta) in person, either at the ANC office in Bucharest or at a Romanian embassy or consulate abroad. The oath is in Romanian: "Jur sa fiu devotat Tarii mele si poporului roman, sa apar drepturile si interesele nationale, sa respect Constitutia si legile Romaniei." You do not need to be fluent; you just need to read the oath. The ceremony is recorded and recordings are kept for one year then destroyed. Minor children do not need to take the oath.

After the oath, you receive a temporary citizenship certificate valid for 60 days. Your permanent citizenship card is issued within 60 days.

If your application is rejected, you receive a written explanation and can address the deficiencies and reapply, or appeal through Romanian courts.

This step takes one to two months.

Step 11: Obtain your Romanian passport and ID card

With your citizenship certificate, you can apply for a Romanian biometric passport at the ANC passport office in Romania or at a Romanian embassy or consulate abroad. The passport is valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for minors. Cost is 33 to 50 euros depending on processing speed, with a standard processing time of 30 days.

The Romanian ID card can only be obtained in person in Romania at a local police station. It costs 10 euros, takes 30 days to process, and is valid for 10 years. It is required for some administrative procedures in Romania but not essential if you mainly plan to use your passport for travel.

This step takes one to two months.

How CitizenX handles this for you

CitizenX charges $25,000 to handle the whole thing.

We start with a full eligibility and strategy assessment: reviewing your ancestry, figuring out the right legal pathway (Article 10 versus Article 11), checking for former-territory eligibility, and assessing whether you might already qualify as a direct citizen. We figure out which ancestor gives you the strongest claim and what exemptions apply.

We conduct professional genealogical research in Romania and former Romanian territories, retrieving birth, marriage, death, church, and civil records, plus U.S. or Canadian immigration and naturalization documents. We reconstruct your complete generational chain.

We manage the language requirement under Law 14/2025, preparing exemption files if you qualify or coordinating with accredited schools for B1 certification if you do not. We handle criminal record coordination across every relevant country and jurisdiction, making sure timing and validity line up.

We take care of apostilles in all countries, authentication for 15 to 30 or more documents, and certified Romanian translations by Ministry-authorized translators. We prepare all forms and the supporting narrative in Romanian, organize documents, and coordinate biometric data collection. We handle submission, either through the faster Bucharest route or at an embassy if you prefer, and we schedule appointments and represent you at submission.

After six months without progress, we file Administrative Litigation under Law 554/2004 to compel ANC to act. This typically cuts the timeline by 6 to 12 months. Throughout processing, we communicate with ANC, follow up proactively, respond to document requests, and manage any interviews or clarification requests.

After approval, we coordinate the oath ceremony, citizenship certificate, passport application, ID card guidance, and EU rights orientation. We also offer optional Romanian tax and registration support.

Expected timelines with CitizenX: 18 to 24 months for straightforward parent or grandparent cases submitted in Bucharest with language exemption and legal intervention. Two to three years for grandparent or great-grandparent cases with moderate research and the B1 requirement. Two and a half to four years for former territory cases involving heavy archival research, name changes, missing documentation, or embassy submission delays.

The DIY route typically costs $4,000 to $6,000 for straightforward cases and $8,000 to $10,000 or more for complex ones, plus 200 to 400 hours of your time. The risks are real: missing documentation, incorrect translations, expired records, picking the wrong legal pathway, and multi-year delays that could have been avoided with better preparation.

Timeline summary

Best case (12 to 18 months): direct citizenship confirmation or straightforward parent/grandparent reacquisition with perfect documentation, fluent in Romanian or language-exempt, submitted in Bucharest with legal intervention after six months.

Typical case (2 to 3 years): grandparent reacquisition or Article 11 former territory claim with great-grandparent. Needs B1 certificate, some genealogical research, submitted at embassy abroad. Legal intervention brings processing down from 18 to 30 months to 10 to 15 months.

Complex case (3 to 5+ years): great-grandparent born in former territory, extensive archival research across multiple countries, limited documentation, complex family history with name changes and multiple marriages, submitted at busy embassy without legal intervention.

What speeds things up: submitting in Bucharest instead of at an embassy, using legal intervention after six months, having complete documentation from the start, qualifying for language exemption, and having a straightforward parent or grandparent case with post-1945 emigration.

What slows things down: submitting at a busy embassy abroad, missing or incomplete documentation, complex generational chains with name changes, great-grandparent claims requiring extensive proof, pre-1918 emigration from the Austro-Hungarian era, and not using legal intervention.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the entire process take?

Realistically, 2 to 5 years from starting to passport in hand. The fastest cases, direct citizenship confirmations with perfect documentation submitted in Bucharest and legal intervention, can finish in 12 to 18 months. Typical grandparent or great-grandparent cases with the language requirement run 2 to 3 years. Complex cases without legal intervention can stretch past 4 years.

What is the language requirement?

You must demonstrate intermediate Romanian language proficiency at B1 level under the CEFR. You can do this with a language certificate from an accredited institution or evidence of at least three years of studies conducted in Romanian. The language requirement does not apply to former Romanian citizens reapplying, applicants aged 65 or older, or minor children.

Can I apply if my great-grandparent was Romanian?

Yes, if your great-grandparent was born in territory that belonged to Romania between 1918 and 1940. That includes Bessarabia (now Moldova), Northern Bukovina and the Herta region (now Ukraine), the Cadrilater (now Bulgaria), and Northern Transylvania. This falls under Article 11. Great-grandchildren are the furthest generation eligible. Great-great-grandchildren and beyond cannot apply under current law.

Do I need to live in Romania?

No. You can apply from abroad, and there is no residency requirement at any point. You may need to visit Romania briefly to submit your application (if choosing the Bucharest route) and to take the oath of allegiance, but you are not required to establish residence there.

Will I lose my U.S. or Canadian citizenship?

No. The United States and Canada both allow dual citizenship, and Romania does too. You can hold both passports at the same time. The same applies to the UK and Australia. Check the rules for your specific country if you hold citizenship elsewhere.

Can I include my children?

Yes. Minors younger than 18 at the time of application can be added to your citizenship request. Once you become a Romanian citizen, any future children born to you automatically acquire Romanian citizenship at birth. They do not need to go through the application process.

How much does it cost?

Government fees are low: 50 to 200 euros for the application, 18 euros for the citizenship card, 33 to 50 euros for the passport, and 10 euros for the ID card. Total government fees run 111 to 278 euros.

Going the DIY route, expect to spend $4,000 to $6,000 for straightforward cases and $8,000 to $10,000 for complex ones. The biggest expense is usually certified Romanian translations (750 to 3,750 euros), followed by genealogical research if needed (500 to 2,500 euros).

CitizenX charges $25,000 for complete end-to-end service, plus government fees of $120 to $305.

What if I cannot find my ancestor's documents?

Professional genealogists can research the Romanian National Archives, regional archives, church archives, and international archives including Ellis Island records and U.S. naturalization documents. They typically charge 500 to 2,500 euros. Many documents can be reconstructed from archival records even when the originals are missing.

Can I apply if my ancestor emigrated before 1918 from Transylvania?

Yes, potentially. Even though Transylvania was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire before 1918, if your ancestor was born there and Transylvania was part of Romania from 1918 to 1940, you may qualify under Article 11.

What if my ancestor was from Bessarabia (now Moldova)?

Bessarabia was part of Greater Romania from 1918 to 1940, so many Moldovans and descendants of Bessarabian emigrants qualify under Article 11. This is actually one of the most common pathways.

Do I need a lawyer?

It is not legally required, but it is recommended for complex cases or if you want to speed things up. A lawyer can prepare Romanian-language documents, navigate ANC bureaucracy, file Administrative Litigation after six months to compel a decision (which can save 6 to 12 months or more), and handle all communications with Romanian authorities. Most people who go the DIY route are either fluent in Romanian with a simple case or accept the risk of a longer timeline.

Can I apply through a Romanian embassy in my country?

Yes, but applications submitted at embassies and consulates abroad are typically processed 6 to 12 months slower than applications submitted directly at the ANC in Bucharest. Many applicants travel to Romania for submission to avoid the delay.

What happens if my application is rejected?

You get a written explanation. You can fix whatever was wrong, whether that means obtaining missing documents or correcting errors, and reapply. You can also appeal through Romanian courts. Outright rejections are not common when documentation is complete. Most problems come from administrative backlog, not substantive issues with the application.

How can I speed up the process?

Submit in Bucharest instead of at an embassy. Make sure your documentation is 100% complete and correct from the start. File Administrative Litigation under Law 554/2004 after six months without a decision. And if you are exempt from the language requirement or already speak Romanian, that saves four to six months.

What is the difference between Article 10 and Article 11?

Article 10 is for reacquisition of citizenship if you or your parent or grandparent was a Romanian citizen who lost citizenship. Article 11 is for descendants (up to great-grandchildren) of individuals born in territories that were part of Romania from 1918 to 1940. Article 11 reaches one generation further than Article 10 but requires proving that your ancestor was born in the right territory during the right time period.

Will I have to pay Romanian taxes?

Not unless you live in Romania or earn income from Romanian sources. Romania taxes based on residency, not citizenship. Simply holding a Romanian passport while living abroad creates no Romanian tax obligation. If you do become tax resident in Romania (183 or more days per year), the rates are favorable: 10% flat personal income tax, 5% dividend tax, and 16% corporate tax.

U.S. citizens should note that the United States taxes on citizenship, so your U.S. tax obligations remain regardless of your Romanian citizenship. Tax treaties generally prevent double taxation.

Is my Romanian citizenship permanent?

Yes. Once granted, Romanian citizenship does not expire and does not need to be renewed. You can pass it to your children and future generations. The only way to lose it is through voluntary renunciation.

What rights do I get as a Romanian citizen?

Romanian citizenship is EU citizenship. You can live and work in any of the 27 EU member states plus Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway without a visa or work permit. The Romanian passport provides visa-free travel to over 180 countries. You get access to public healthcare and education in Romania and across the EU under various agreements. You can buy property anywhere in the EU without foreign-buyer restrictions. You can vote in Romanian national and EU Parliament elections. And your children automatically acquire Romanian citizenship at birth.