The short answer
Two categories are exempt from proving the language: people who were Romanian citizens themselves and are applying for restoration under article 10 or 11, and people who have turned 65 by the date the application is filed. A third group avoids the exam not by exemption but through an alternative: those who studied in Romanian for at least three years prove it with an academic transcript.
Three ways past the exam
| Category | How it is proved | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Former Romanian citizens | documents confirming the previous citizenship | the exemption is expressly set out in law |
| Aged 65 and over on the filing date | passport / ID | the filing date counts, not the decision date |
| Studied in Romanian for ≥ 3 years | certified copy of the school or university foaie matricolă |
not an exemption but an alternative way to prove the language |
A fourth situation stands apart: files submitted before 12 March 2025. The language requirement does not apply to them at all — the conditions for obtaining citizenship are those of the law as at the filing date.
Why age counts on the filing date
The wording of the law is tied to the moment the application is filed. That means:
- if you are 64 and a few months short of 65, it can be more rational to wait and file later, saving a year of language study;
- if you turn 65 while the case is under review, the exemption does not apply and the certificate still has to be supplied by the general deadline of 14.03.2027.
This is one of the rare cases where a deliberate pause before filing beats haste. The decision depends on how long your already collected documents remain valid — it has to be calculated together.
What people from Moldova should do
For many from Moldova and the Chernivtsi region the shortest route is not the exam but a school or university transcript: the teaching was in Romanian or in “Moldovan”, and the question comes down to how that is worded in the document and how it is formalised. What matters is not the schooling itself but the wording on paper and correct legalisation.
Where people get it wrong
- They treat “Romanian ethnicity” or everyday knowledge of the language as an exemption. The law names two specific categories; there are no discretionary criteria.
- They confuse exemption with deferral. The deferral to 14.03.2027 is open to everyone; the exemption only to two categories.
- They submit a transcript without legalisation. The copy must be certified and the document drawn up under the rules of the issuing country.
- They assume 65+ also exempts them from biometrics or filing in person. It does not.
What we take on
Checking whether you fall under an exemption or the transcript option, obtaining and legalising the supporting documents, and working out whether to file now or wait until 65 — taking into account how long your collected papers remain valid. For this group the procedure is shorter and cheaper, and the case review usually pays for itself immediately.
Frequently asked questions
My father was a Romanian citizen — am I exempt? No. The exemption applies to someone who was a citizen themselves. Descent gives you grounds to apply but does not remove the language requirement.
I was a citizen as a child and lost it along with my parents — does that count? Yes, if the former citizenship is supported by documents. That is precisely the category the law exempts.
Does the exemption have to be claimed somehow? It is proved by the documents in the file: a passport in the case of age 65+, or evidence of former citizenship.
Where this comes from
We publish only what we have checked against the primary source. Here it is — open it and see for yourself.