Why Romanian Citizenship by Descent
Romania offers citizenship restoration for descendants of those who lost Romanian citizenship involuntarily. This includes descendants of Romanian Jews and others who emigrated or had citizenship revoked.
EU Freedom of Movement: Live, work, and study anywhere in the 27 EU member states.
Restoration Rights: Reclaim citizenship lost by ancestors up to 3 generations back.
No Residency Required: Obtain citizenship without living in Romania.
Dual Citizenship: Romania permits dual citizenship.
Who Qualifies
You may qualify for Romanian citizenship by descent if:
Romanian Ancestor (Pre-1940): Your ancestor was a Romanian citizen before 1940, including those from territories lost to the Soviet Union (Moldova, Northern Bukovina, Southern Bessarabia).
Lost Citizenship Involuntarily: Your ancestor lost citizenship due to historical circumstances beyond their control.
Direct Lineage: You can document the connection through vital records.
Note: Romania permits dual citizenship and has a straightforward repatriation process. No language or residency requirements for restoration.
The Process
Step 1: Eligibility Assessment
We verify your Romanian ancestry and determine if you qualify for restoration.
Step 2: Document Collection
We help obtain Romanian civil records and evidence of your ancestor's citizenship.
Step 3: Application Preparation
Our team prepares your citizenship restoration application.
Step 4: Submission to ANC
We submit to the National Citizenship Authority (ANC) and manage the process.
Need help finding documents? Our genealogical research service helps locate vital records across countries and generations. Learn more →
Requirements
Birth Certificate: Your official birth certificate with apostille.
Ancestral Vital Records: Birth, marriage, and death certificates for each generation linking you to your qualifying ancestor.
Proof of Ancestor's Citizenship: Passport, ID, or official records proving your ancestor held citizenship.
Apostilles and Translations: All foreign documents must be apostilled and translated into the official language.
What's Included
Eligibility assessment
Romanian archival research
Document procurement assistance
Application preparation
Translation coordination
ANC liaison and follow-up
Status updates throughout process
Timeline
| Milestone | Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Eligibility assessment | 1-2 weeks |
| Document collection | 2-6 months |
| Application preparation | 2-4 weeks |
| ANC processing | 12-24 months |
Processing times vary based on case complexity and ANC workload.
Important Notes
Applies to descendants up to the third generation (great-grandparents).
No Romanian language requirement.
Citizenship oath can be taken at Romanian embassy.
Government fees are additional.