How to get Romanian citizenship by descent?

Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting Romanian citizenship by descent: 

Identify Your Romanian Ancestry 

You are eligible if one of your ancestors (parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents) was a Romanian citizen at any time and lost their citizenship (e.g., through emigration or other reasons). Also, you need to prove your direct descent from a Romanian citizen by providing documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, and proof of citizenship of your Romanian ancestor. 

Gather Documentation for Romanian Citizenship 

If you want to know how to obtain Romanian citizenship, collaborate with specialized experts, including legal consultants and translators. They will help you in the process of collecting the key documents: 

• Your Birth Certificate: it needs to be an official, long-form birth certificate, translated into Romanian if it's in another language; 

• Your Parents’ and Grandparents’ Birth Certificates: these documents establish the lineage to your Romanian ancestor; 

• Marriage Certificates: if relevant, marriage certificates of your parents and grandparents, translated into Romanian; 

• Proof of Romanian Citizenship of the Ancestor: this could be an old Romanian passport, citizenship certificate, or other official documents that show your ancestor held Romanian citizenship. If you don't have this proof, you may need to request an official search from Romanian archives; 

• Proof of Romanian Citizenship Loss (if applicable): if your ancestor lost their Romanian citizenship (for example, due to emigration), you might need to show documents proving how and when they lost it; 

• Additional Documents: depending on your situation, other documents might be required (e.g., death certificates, divorce decrees, etc.). 

Request Copies of Romanian Documents (if needed) 

If you don’t have the original Romanian documents (like birth or citizenship certificates of your Romanian ancestor), you may need to request them from Romanian civil authorities or national archives. For birth, marriage, and death certificates, the local town hall (Primaria) in the town or city where the event took place is the responsible authority. Contacting them directly or visiting their website will provide you with the necessary information about the application process, costs involved, and the expected waiting time. 

To overcome these challenges, it is advisable to seek assistance from a translation service or a local contact who speaks both English and Romanian. It is also important to keep copies of all correspondence and to send documents by registered mail, to minimize the risk of loss or damage. 

Submit Your Application for Citizenship 

Applications for Romanian citizenship by descent can be submitted either at the Romanian Consulate or Embassy in your country of residence, or directly in Romania, through the Authority for Citizenship (Autoritatea Națională pentru Cetățenie). Complete the required application form, which can typically be found on the Romanian embassy or consulate’s website. 

Ensure that all documents are translated into Romanian and apostilled (legalized) if required. Submit all the documents along with the completed application form and the applicable fee. The processing time can vary. It might take anywhere from several months to a couple of years, depending on the complexity of your case and the Romanian authorities' workload. 

Receive Your Romanian Citizenship 

In some cases, after approval, you may be required to take an oath of allegiance to Romania before receiving your citizenship certificate. Once your citizenship is granted, you will receive a Romanian citizenship certificate. You can then apply for a Romanian passport, which provides all the benefits of Romanian (and EU) citizenship.  

There are generally no language requirements for citizenship by descent, but it is beneficial to know some Romanian for interacting with officials and submitting documents. Romania allows dual citizenship, so you may not need to give up your current nationality to become a Romanian citizen. If you meet the descent criteria and have all the necessary documentation, Romanian citizenship by descent can be a straightforward path to obtaining European Union (EU) citizenship, granting you access to all the benefits of EU residency and travel.