Obtain Romanian citizenship is an important step that offers numerous advantages for individuals seeking a better future. Why is it advisable to obtain Romanian citizenship? Firstly, Romania is a member of the European Union, which gives its citizens access to numerous rights and opportunities, including the freedom to live, work and study anywhere in the EU.
With a Romanian passport, you can travel visa-free to many countries around the world, opening doors to new experiences and opportunities. Moreover, Romania offers a high quality of life, affordable healthcare, and a welcoming community. So if you’re considering a fresh start or expanding your horizons, Romanian citizenship is a wise choice that can change your life in many positive ways.
If you’ve got Romanian roots, there’s a good chance you might qualify to obtain Romanian citizenship by descent. With Romanian citizenship, the world becomes a more welcoming place. But how do you get there?
The process might seem confusing with all the forms and rules. That’s why I’ve put together this clear guide. Here, I’ll break down the benefits, lay out the must-dos, and show you the legal procedure you need to jump through to obtain Romanian citizenship.
Why Go for Romanian Citizenship?
First off, let’s talk about the big wins that come with a Romanian passport, ranked 16th in the 2022 Global Passport Index. As part of the European Union club, there won’t be a need for additional visas or permits. Having the Romanian citizenship means:
- Freedom to live, work, and study in any of the 27 EU member states.
- Access to a high-quality healthcare and education system.
- Enhanced visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 174 countries globally.
- Entitled to all the social, economic, and political benefits in Romania and throughout the European Union.
Eligibility and Requirements for a Romanian Citizenship
The key to understanding this pathway to Romanian citizenship lies in the Romanian Citizenship Law No.21/1991.
The journey to Romanian citizenship usually starts with understanding the basic prerequisites. As per Romanian Citizenship Law, there are several paths to acquiring citizenship:
Article 5
This deals with obtaining Romanian citizenship at birth.
Essentially:
If you were born on Romanian soil and both your parents are Romanian citizens, you are a Romanian citizen.
If only one of your parents is Romanian and you were born either in Romania or abroad, you are still a Romanian citizen.
Interestingly, children found in Romania whose parents can’t be identified also fall under this category.
Article 8
Here, an individual should either have been born in Romania and have legal residence or have lived legally in Romania for at least 8 years. This duration drops to 5 years if the applicant is married to a Romanian citizen.
Link to the National Citizenship Authority official site: https://cetatenie.just.ro/articolul-8-3/
Article 8″1: Special Contribution to Romanian Culture
This provision is for individuals who’ve contributed immensely to Romanian culture, civilization, and spirituality. In addition to other general requirements, applicants must present evidence of their significant contributions.
Article 8″2: Promotion of Romania in Sports
Outstanding sportspeople who can boost Romania’s image on global platforms can apply under this provision. Besides meeting specific criteria, the government, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, will decide on the citizenship.
Article 10: Regaining of Romanian Citizenship
During the 20th century, many Romanians fled the communist regime, resulting in the automatic renunciation of their Romanian citizenship. The key takeaway? If you can prove that either you and/or your parents or grandparents were Romanian citizens, then the door to citizenship may just swing open for you, and you can obtain Romanian citizenship.
Link to the National Citizenship Authority official site: https://cetatenie.just.ro/articolul-10-3/
Article 11: Restoration of Romanian Citizenship
Here’s where it gets a tad more intricate. If you have proof that you and/or any of your parents, grandparents, or even great-grandparents were Romanian citizens who were stripped of their citizenship against their will, Article 11 could be your gateway.
Why the emphasis on Article 11? Post-World War II, Romania lost significant territory. Areas now part of Moldova, Ukraine, and Bulgaria once belonged to Romania. This means many individuals in these regions, and their descendants, have a valid claim to Romanian citizenship under this article.
Link to the National Citizenship Authority official site: https://cetatenie.just.ro/articolul-11-2/
Important Considerations:
- Hunt down documents like birth certificates or residency proofs that show your family’s connection to Romania.
- All your civil status data in documents should align with your birth certificate and your Romanian descendants.
- Ensure all documents, especially those from abroad, are correctly legalized or apostilled as required.
- Ensure your passport and other essential civil status documents are translated into Romanian and legalized.
- Grab a copy of your clean record from your home country.
- All applications must be submitted personally. However, in exceptional cases, based on documented reasons, they might be accepted by a legal representative.
Pro Tip: Engaging a Romanian immigration lawyer can simplify the process, helping you navigate the paperwork and ensuring that you’re on the right track. Plus, they’re great to have in your corner if you need any advice or representation.
Steps to Obtain Romanian Citizenship
1. Application Submission for Romanian Citizenship:
Applicants should submit their Romanian Citizenship application in person.
Where to submit:
- Within Romania: At the National Authority for Citizenship in Bucharest or its territorial branches.
- Outside Romania: At the Romanian Consulates in one’s country of residence or where they have a legal residence permit.
Exceptions:
- If there’s a special reason, you might be able to have someone else do the legwork for you, as long as they’ve got official permission from the National Authority for Citizenship to act on your behalf through a special power of attorney.
You can check the status of your Romanian citizenship application here: https://cetatenie.just.ro/stadiu-dosar/
2. Settlement of the Application by the Citizenship Commission
Following your application, the Citizenship Commission will set a date to verify the conditions for granting Romanian citizenship. If some documents are missing, the President of the Commission will request file completion.
3. Interview Process to obtain Romanian Citizenship – Art. 8
General Assessment:
The purpose of the interview is to evaluate:
- Knowledge of the Romanian language.
- Understanding of Romanian culture.
- Familiarity with the national anthem.
- Grasp of the Romanian Constitution.
- Absence of a criminal record (both domestic and international).
The objective is to ensure applicants are well-acquainted with the country they intend to become citizens of.
The interview also highlights the applicant’s contributions to preserving and promoting Romanian culture, civilization, and spirituality.
4. Commission’s Report on Romanian Citizenship Application
- If all requirements are fulfilled, The President of the Citizenship Commission designates a timeframe for verifying all conditions. This draft report indicates the applicant’s suitability for citizenship.
- If any criteria are unmet, the application might be declined.
5. Issuance of the Romanian Citizenship Order
Articles 8, 8″1, 10, and 11: After successful verification, The President of the National Citizenship Authority issues an order to grant Romanian citizenship. The applicant will receive the order by registered mail.
Article 8″2: The Ministry of Youth and Sports suggests to the government to bestow citizenship, which is then formalized in a published Government decision.
The application will be rejected:
- If the requirements are unfulfilled, the President of the National Authority for Citizenship declines the application.
- This rejection is swiftly communicated to the applicant via a registered letter and to the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
- Applicants have 15 days to appeal at the Administrative and Fiscal Litigation Section of the Bucharest Court. Further appeals can be directed to the Bucharest Court of Appeal’s respective section.
6. Taking the Oath
One of the final steps is taking an oath of allegiance to Romania. This oath is a solemn affirmation of your commitment to Romania and its values. Here is the oath line: “Jur să fiu devotat patriei şi poporului român, să apăr drepturile şi interesele naţionale, să respect Constituţia şi legile României.”
- This must be done within 6 months of the order. If one fails to take the oath in the given period, the citizenship grant becomes void.
- Extensions are possible in specific cases. Special considerations exist for minors, deceased applicants, and those with permanent disabilities or chronic illnesses.
7. Receiving the Romanian Citizenship Certificate
After the oath, you will receive the Romanian Citizenship Certificate, which certifies your new status as a Romanian citizen.
It’s crucial to note that failing to take the oath within the specified timeframe, unless due to exceptional circumstances, can negate the citizenship grant.
Important Considerations!
Once you’ve achieved this milestone, you might think you can immediately flaunt your Romanian EU passport. Not so fast!
Achieving citizenship is just your first major accomplishment. Before you can proudly show off your new passport, there’s an essential procedure called transcriptions.
Foreign document transcription
This step involves obtaining Romanian versions of your foreign vital documents – from birth and marriage certificates to court orders for name changes or divorce decrees – by registering them with the Romanian authorities.
Those who are not domiciled in Romania will apply for the transcription of civil status documents at the Public Directorate of Personal Records and Civil Status of Sector 1 of Bucharest. More information on: https://dpepscs1.ro/
And finally, you can apply for the Romanian EU passport.
Frequently Asked Questions Related to Romanian Citizenship
1. Can I hold another country’s passport alongside my Romanian one?
Absolutely! Romania permits dual citizenship, meaning you can be a proud holder of both a Romanian passport and another country’s passport simultaneously.
2. How do I determine if I qualify for Romanian citizenship based on my family background?
To be eligible for Romanian citizenship through descent, you must have:
- Parents who are/were Romanian citizens.
- Parents or grandparents who once held Romanian citizenship but relinquished it.
- Parents, grandparents, or even great-grandparents who involuntarily lost their Romanian citizenship.
4. If my kids are older than 18, can they still obtain Romanian citizenship through my lineage?
Certainly! Youngsters below 18 will obtain citizenship if you were a citizen. However, for your adult children (those over 18), they’ll need to embark on the application process individually.
3. When and where can the oath of allegiance be taken?
Within 6 months from the order’s communication date, the oath can be taken at the National Citizenship Authority headquarters in Romania or at the Romanian diplomatic mission in your country of residence.
4. What happens after acquiring the Romanian citizenship certificate?
After receiving the certificate, one needs to transcribe their foreign civil status documents (like birth or marriage certificates) in Romania at the designated local offices or through the Romanian diplomatic mission.
5. Under what conditions can you register the Romanian citizenship application through a legal representative?
Applicants can involve a legal representative, but they must obtain prior approval by the National Citizenship Authority and give a valid special power of attorney for their legal representative.
6. What is the legal timeframe for a citizenship request?
The Citizenship Commission has a maximum of 5 months from the application’s registration date to verify the conditions for reacquiring Romanian citizenship. In practice, however, the processing time is longer.
To Sum Up!
Obtaining Romanian citizenship is a process that requires diligence, patience, and a thorough understanding of the legal procedures. By following this guide and possibly consulting a Romanian immigration lawyer, you’ll be well-prepared to embark on this rewarding journey towards securing a Romanian passport. Whether for personal, professional, or travel reasons, holding a Romanian passport offers numerous advantages in the European landscape and beyond.
Disclaimer: The information provided is for general information purposes only. It should not be interpreted as a legal opinion or advice. In addition, this information is not meant to establish an attorney-client relationship.
