Ancestry / Descent in Romania
One documented route of this kind in Romania, with its conditions, documents, official government fees and process.
Citizenship by Descent / Restoration (Arts. 10 & 11)
Article 10 covers former Romanian citizens and their descendants to the second degree (children and grandchildren). Article 11 covers persons who lost citizenship due to historical territorial changes (e.g. Bessarabia, Northern Bukovina) and their descendants to the third degree (children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren). Both pathways require a B1 Romanian language certificate from an accredited institution under Law 14/2025, with exceptions for those aged 65+ and former Romanian citizens.
- Processing time
- Per ANC procedure
- Validity
- Permanent (citizenship)
- Language requirement
- None (descent/restoration route)
- Citizenship
- Approximately 24 months from file registration in typical cases. The statutory ANC target is 5 months but is not met in practice. Complex cases or those filed at busy embassies abroad may take 30-36 months or longer.
Requirements
- Art. 10: former Romanian citizens and descendants to the 2nd degree
- Art. 11: those who lost citizenship without fault/consent (e.g., 1940 territorial losses) and descendants to the 3rd degree
- No residence requirement; dual citizenship permitted; no renunciation required
- Apply through the National Citizenship Authority (ANC)
Required Documents
- Proof of the ancestral Romanian citizenship line (birth/marriage certificates establishing descent) required
- Applicant's identity/civil-status documents required
- Criminal record certificate required
Official fees
- ANC citizenship application processing fee
Process Steps
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1
Establish the descent line
Gather proof of the ancestral Romanian citizenship line (birth/marriage certificates establishing descent).
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2
Submit to ANC
Apply under Art. 10 or Art. 11 through the National Citizenship Authority (ANC).
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3
Take the oath
Take the oath of allegiance after approval.