Romanian citizenship by descent in 2026: what changed and how it works now

The short answer

The route itself has not changed: descendants of former Romanian citizens up to the third degree can obtain citizenship under article 11 of Law no. 21/1991. But since 12 March 2025 the procedure has changed in four places at once: a Romanian language requirement at B1 level has appeared, the commission’s review period has officially grown from 5 months to 2 years, filing has become strictly in person with biometrics, and since 1 December 2025 incomplete files are simply not registered. The language certificate may be supplied up to 14 March 2027.

What exactly changed

Separately: Law no. 14/2025 extended the deadline for taking the oath to one year from the date the order is communicated. Yet the ANC’s own article 11 page still says “6 months” — it has not been updated since 2020. Until that discrepancy is resolved, it is safer to work to the shorter deadline and not delay the oath.

What the whole procedure looks like

1. The basis. Your ancestor was a Romanian citizen and lost that citizenship against their will; you are their descendant no further than the third degree (great-grandchild).
2. Documents. Civil status records along the entire chain of descent, a criminal record certificate, passport, ID card. A key detail: extracts of records must be issued no earlier than 2 years before filing.
3. Language. A B1 certificate from an accredited issuer — or proof of at least 3 years of schooling in Romanian. Or an exemption (65+, former citizens).
4. Appointment and filing. Book online at programarecetatenie.eu, file in person at the ANC in Bucharest or at the regional offices in Iași, Galați, Suceava; those living abroad may file at the consulate where they reside.
5. Review. The citizenship commission checks the conditions, may request additional documents (you have no more than 4 months to reply), then reports to the ANC president.
6. The order. The ANC president issues the order and sends it by registered post.
7. The oath. At the ANC (if domicile in Romania was requested) or at the diplomatic mission where you live. Citizenship arises from the date of the oath, not earlier.
8. Documents afterwards. Transcription of civil status records, the CNP, a Romanian-format certificate, then the passport and, if you wish, the buletin.

Three groups of applicants — and why this matters to you

• The B1 route. The majority. You will have to learn the language and obtain a certificate from one of the four types of issuer.
• Exempt from the language. Those who were Romanian citizens themselves, and those who are 65 or over on the date of filing. The procedure is shorter and cheaper.
• Files submitted before 12.03.2025. The substantive conditions for them follow the old law, that is, without the language. But the procedural changes do apply, and there are tens of thousands of such cases: they need help at the later stages — commission queries, the oath, the documents.

Where people get it wrong

• “The B1 requirement has been cancelled.” It has not — the deadline for meeting it was extended. The difference is fundamental: without a certificate by 14.03.2027 the application will be rejected.
• “It will be reviewed in 5 months.” The five-month period survives on older ANC pages, but the law has said two years plus a possible six months since March 2025. The real average under article 11 is longer still — around three years.
• “Someone can file for me by power of attorney.” They cannot. Biometrics are taken at filing: a facial image and prints of two fingers. The law provides no exceptions. A lawyer may accompany you and be present, but not file instead of you.
• “A paper is missing — I will bring it later.” Since 1 December 2025 such a file is not registered, and anything sent without a request from the commission simply does not reach the case.

Difficult cases: they work out more often than people think

Three situations that make people postpone for years — and what is actually done about them:

• “I have almost no documents.” That is normal: most clients start with 2–3 papers out of 20. The rest is reconstructed through requests to archives and registry offices — routine work that we do, without your involvement or travel.
• “I do not know whether my ancestor was a Romanian citizen.” This is checked before any spending: the place and date of the event show which fonds to look at. The free eligibility check takes two minutes; a paid review takes a few days and produces a written plan.
• “I will never manage the language.” B1 is everyday conversational level, it can be learned while the documents are being collected, and the file may be submitted now. Some applicants are exempt altogether, and for people from Moldova a school certificate often serves instead of the exam.

And to be straight about the opposite: there is no lawful way around the language requirement, and promises to “sort it out” put you at risk, not the intermediary. A “passport within a year” under article 11 does not exist — whoever promises it is selling a scheme.

What we take on

Archival searches and restoration of records, legalisation and translations, assembling and checking the file before filing, exam preparation with a partner school, support at the filing, replies to the commission’s queries, the oath and the documents that follow. You pay stage by stage — for the stage completed, not everything upfront.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to renounce my current citizenship? No. Romania permits multiple citizenship, and you may keep your domicile abroad.

Do I have to travel to Romania? You can file at the consulate in your country of residence, and in that case the oath is taken there too. But many steps after approval (transcription of records, documents) are easier to complete in Romania or through a representative acting under a power of attorney.

How much does the state part cost? The citizenship card costs 91.50 lei per person, including children included in the application; it is paid through CEC Bank. The main costs are not the fees but the archival search, apostilles, sworn translations and exam preparation.

What does a Romanian passport give you? EU citizenship: the right to live, work and study in any country of the Union. It also brings obligations — from military registration to tax consequences when you change your residency.