RomaniaCitizenship

Restoration of citizenship by descent in Romania

A programme for those who lost Romanian citizenship against their will and for their descendants up to and including the third degree. The restored citizenship does not require residence in Romania and is compatible with keeping another citizenship. The case is examined by the Commission within five months of the application being registered. Proof of conversational Romanian or an education document is required.

Source: cetatenie.just.ro — Articolul 11

The route to restoring citizenship

The process is divided into stages: preparing documents, filing the application with biometrics, examination by the Commission, the decision, and the issue of the citizenship certificate.

Who may apply

Adult former Romanian citizens who lost citizenship through no fault of their own
Children (first degree) of Romanian citizens who lost that citizenship
Grandchildren (second degree) of such descendants
Great-grandchildren (third degree) of such descendants

Knowledge requirements

Romanian language certificate at level B1 (Common European Framework)
Or an education diploma covering at least three years of study in Romanian
The requirement applies from 15 March 2026 for new applications
Exceptions: those over 65, minor children, and people with medical contraindications

Material for filing

Originals and certified copies of the passport or identity document
Originals and legalised copies of birth, marriage and divorce certificates
Criminal-record certificate (no more than one year old)
Documents confirming knowledge of the language (B1 certificate or record of studies)

Where to file

National Authority for Citizenship, Bucharest, str. Smârdan 3
Territorial offices in Iaşi (şos. Naţional 43) and Suceava (str. Parcului 2)
The office in Galaţi (str. Vadul Sacalelor 6)
Romanian consulates abroad, for those living outside Romania

When the programme will not work

The applicant has convictions for offences that make them unworthy of citizenship

Conclude the criminal proceedings before filing; the procedure may be suspended if a criminal case has been opened

There is no evidence at all of previous Romanian citizenship in the family

Try an archive search with the Romanian authorities; contact the consulate for advice on the documents you hold

Documents are in a foreign language and have not been properly translated and legalised

Have them translated by a sworn translator and legalised through the embassy or a notary before filing

What it costs

Citizen card (electronic)Issued after the citizenship certificate is received; paid when the card is arranged, not when the application is filed	91,5 RON

Paid separately

Fee for examining the application — Article 34(2) of Law 21/1991 exempts applicants from the fee for restoring citizenship under article 11
Verification of reports by the authorities — The cost of requesting certificates from foreign authorities is included in state processing

Documents to gather

All documents must be provided as originals with certified copies. Foreign documents require an apostille or legalisation. Laminated documents are not accepted, as they lose their authenticity.

Passport or identity document (original and legalised copy)
Birth certificate (original and legalised copy)
Marriage or divorce certificate (if any, original and legalised copy)
Criminal-record certificate issued by the authorities of the country of residence, no more than one year old
Romanian language certificate at level B1 or a record of studies covering at least 3 years in Romanian
Document confirming lawful residence (passport, visa, residence permit)
Legalised translations of all the above documents into Romanian

How the process runs

The process consists of several consecutive stages, each requiring attention to detail and adherence to deadlines.

1
Preparing and collecting documents
4-8 weeks
Collect all the necessary documents: passport, civil status certificates, criminal-record certificate and language certificate. Have them translated into Romanian by a sworn translator. Legalise them through the embassy (apostille) or a notary.
2
Filing the application with biometrics
1 day
Attend the National Authority for Citizenship (or a territorial office) in person with the originals and copies of all documents. Provide biometric data (fingerprints, photograph). Receive the application registration number. No fee is charged for examining the application.
3
Registration and preliminary check
2-4 weeks
The authorities check that the documents are complete. If anything is missing, you will be asked to complete the file within 4-6 months. Missing the deadline leads to rejection of the application.
4
First sitting of the Citizenship Commission
5 months (maximum)
The president of the Commission sets the first sitting no later than 5 months after registration. At that sitting the Commission verifies that all the conditions are met: the loss of citizenship, the family link, knowledge of the language and the absence of obstacles on grounds of good character.
5
Decision of the Commission and the president
2-4 weeks after the sitting
After the sitting the Commission draws up its opinion. The president of the National Authority for Citizenship issues an order approving or refusing the application. The decision is sent to the applicant by post or electronically.
6
Taking the oath and receiving the certificate
3-12 months
If the decision is positive, you receive notice of the obligation to take the oath of allegiance to Romania within 12 months. Once the oath has been taken, the authorities issue the citizenship certificate, on the basis of which a passport and citizen card can be arranged.
7
Arranging citizen's documents
2-6 weeks
Once you have the citizenship certificate, apply for the electronic passport at the local identity document office. At the same time pay the citizen card fee (RON 91.50). Collect the passport and the card.

Who you can bring with you

Citizenship by descent may be restored for direct descendants of those who lost Romanian citizenship. Spouses and other relatives are not eligible under this programme.

Former Romanian citizen

Adult (18+), who lost citizenship through no fault of their own. Proof of that status is required through civil documents, family records or archives.

Children (first degree of kinship)

Born to a person who was a Romanian citizen and lost that status. Age: both adults (18+) and minors. Minors require the consent of their legal guardians.

Grandchildren (second degree of kinship)

Born to the children of a former Romanian citizen. Age: adulthood is required at the time of filing. Proof of direct descent through the generations is required.

Great-grandchildren (third degree of kinship)

The most distant level — born to the grandchildren of a former Romanian citizen. Age: adulthood. Full genealogical documentation covering all generations is required.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

The application is filed in person with biometrics at the National Authority for Citizenship in Bucharest or at the offices in Iaşi, Suceava and Galaţi, and for those living abroad at consulates.

Once citizenship has been granted, the applicant must take the oath of allegiance to Romania within 12 months. Missing that deadline annuls the order restoring citizenship. One year after notice of the obligation to take the oath, a request may be filed for the citizenship certificate to be issued. The electronic passport is valid for 10 years for adults, and the electronic citizen card for 10 years. The card may be renewed before it expires. New versions of passports and cards are issued in line with changes in state standards.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to citizenship

Applicants may keep their domicile abroad. A Romanian language certificate at level B1 or higher is required, or a diploma covering at least 3 years of study in Romanian.

Frequently asked questions about Restoration of citizenship by descent

Can I keep my current citizenship if I restore Romanian citizenship?

Yes, Romanian law permits dual citizenship. You may keep the citizenship of another country alongside restored Romanian citizenship. While you are in that other country, however, you will be treated solely as a citizen of that country for the purposes of protection and consular services.

What happens if my application is rejected?

You may appeal to the Bucharest Court of Appeal within 15 days of receiving the refusal. If the appeal is also dismissed, you may file a new application no earlier than 6 months after the original refusal. When re-applying you should remedy the reasons for the previous refusal.

How long does the whole process take?

The minimum period from filing to receiving the citizenship certificate is 5-7 months (5 months to the Commission's first sitting plus the time taken to decide). Taking the oath and arranging the passport add a further 3-6 months. The whole process usually takes 9-18 months, depending on the complexity and on whether certificates must be requested from other countries.

Do I need to live in Romania to obtain citizenship by descent?

No. One of the advantages of the article 11 programme is that you may live abroad and residence in Romania is not required. The application may be filed at the consulate in your country of residence, and the Commission's decision is valid regardless of where you are. Once you have citizenship you remain free to live anywhere.

Do I need a B1 Romanian certificate if I was educated in Romanian?

No, provided you hold an education document covering at least three years of study in Romanian (for example a secondary or higher education diploma). In that case you may provide a legalised copy of that document instead of the B1 certificate. The requirement applies only to applications filed from 15 March 2026.

What are the main grounds for refusing to restore citizenship?

The main grounds for refusal are: convictions for offences that make a person unworthy; insufficient evidence of previous Romanian citizenship; missing documents; failure to meet the language requirement; and providing false information. If the applicant is under criminal investigation, the procedure may be suspended until the case is concluded.

Other ways to move to Romania

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Romania.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.