The short answer
A Romanian passport means citizenship of the European Union. The point of it is not travel but the right to live, work and study in any EU country without permits, visas or being tied to an employer. You do not have to renounce your current citizenship: Romania allows multiple citizenship, and your domicile may stay abroad.
What comes with citizenship
| Right | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Freedom to reside in the EU | moving to any country of the Union without a visa or work permit |
| The labour market | hiring on the same terms as locals: no quotas, permits or employer ties |
| Education | admission on EU citizens’ terms, including tuition fees and grants |
| Healthcare | access to health systems on EU citizens’ terms |
| Business and banking | registering companies and opening accounts without foreigner status |
| Travel | visa-free entry or a visa on arrival in around 178 countries |
| Family | children acquire citizenship by birth; a spouse has a simplified route |
| Political rights | voting in Romanian elections and in local elections where you live in the EU |
Children deserve a separate word: if citizenship is obtained before they are born, they become Romanian citizens automatically — and the whole path you went through is one they will never have to take.
What comes alongside the rights
The honest conversation that advertising leaves out:
- Tax follows residency, not a passport. Citizenship alone does not make you a Romanian tax resident; moving and shifting your centre of vital interests does. It is better planned in advance.
- Domicile is a deliberate choice. Domicile in Romania brings the buletin and access to local services, but also registration duties. For those living in another EU country a passport noting domicile abroad is usually enough.
- There is no conscription. Romania moved to a professional army in 2007; there is no general peacetime conscription.
- Second citizenship has to be squared with your first country’s rules. Romania does not require renunciation — the other side might.
Why start now rather than “some day”
The right by descent is not open-ended in practical terms: it depends on what survived in the archives and how far down your line reaches. Archival collections do not grow fuller with the years, and the review period is already officially measured in years. Add the language requirement: the certificate has to be supplied by 14 March 2027, while the file can be submitted now — so the queue starts moving while you learn the language.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to live in Romania to keep the citizenship? No. Citizenship does not depend on residence, and domicile may remain abroad.
Can I move straight to Germany or Spain? Yes, as an EU citizen — registering under the rules of the country you move to.
Is Romania in Schengen? Yes, Romania is part of the Schengen area; internal borders are open for travel.
Is the passport issued immediately after the decision? No: first the oath, then transcription of records and obtaining the personal code, and only then the passport. That usually adds 2–6 months.
What happens to my current citizenship? As far as Romania is concerned, nothing: no renunciation is required.
Where this comes from
We publish only what we have checked against the primary source. Here it is — open it and see for yourself.