Descent · decided by ANC
Romanian citizenship by descent
Romania lets descendants up to the 3rd degree of Romanians who lost citizenship not by their fault reacquire it — keeping foreign citizenship and domicile abroad. Check whether you qualify, build your lineage, and get a primary-source-backed document checklist and cost estimate.
Grandparent or great-grandparent claim? Complex chain? Skip the research — talk to a Romania citizenship specialist in 30 minutes.
🇷🇴 Reclaimed across borders
Descendants to the third degree can reacquire Romanian citizenship — keeping their current passport and home abroad.
Eligibility
Who may qualify
A Romanian ancestor within the 3rd degree (parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent).
The ancestor lost citizenship for reasons not their fault (includes former-territory cases).
Reacquisition by application (Art. 10/11) is discretionary and requires B1 Romanian — an accredited certificate or ≥3 years of Romanian schooling; exemptions for former citizens and age 65+.
If your Romanian-citizen line was never broken you are a citizen at birth (Art. 5/6) — outside this application process and not language-tested.
You may keep your current citizenship and live abroad.
A general overview — your eligibility depends on the specifics of your line. The free check gives a personalized answer. EasyPassport is not affiliated with ANC. We help you organize and verify your documents. You submit your application to ANC directly — we do not file, submit, or act on your behalf with any government authority.
Why Romania
What makes Romania different
Reach to the 3rd degree
Descendants up to great-grandchildren of Romanians who lost citizenship (not by their own fault) may reacquire it.
Born-citizen vs reacquisition differ
An unbroken Romanian line means you're a citizen at birth (Art. 5/6, no language test); a broken line means discretionary reacquisition (Art. 10/11).
B1 Romanian now required to reacquire
Law 14/2025 (in force 15 Mar 2025) made the Art. 10/11 route require B1 Romanian (certificate or ≥3 years of Romanian schooling), with exemptions for former citizens and applicants 65+; the certificate deadline was extended to 14 Mar 2027.
Keep your passport, stay abroad
You may retain your current citizenship and need not move to Romania.
Former-territory cases are covered
Bessarabia and Bukovina losses are explicitly within the reacquisition route.
By ancestor path
Your relationship to the Romanian ancestor determines which rules apply
Through your parent
A former Romanian-citizen parent — the most direct reacquisition.
See requirements 02GRANDPARENTThrough your grandparent
Document the chain to your former-citizen grandparent.
See requirements 03GREAT-GRANDPARENTThrough your great-grandparent
The 3rd-degree limit — a documented chain to a great-grandparent still qualifies.
See requirementsProcess
How to apply
- 1
Determine your route
Establish whether you're a citizen at birth (Art. 5/6) or must reacquire (Art. 10/11) — requirements differ sharply.
- 2
Document the loss and the chain
Gather proof the ancestor lost citizenship not by their fault, plus birth and marriage records to the 3rd degree.
- 3
Translate and apostille
Most cost here is sworn translations and apostilles of foreign records.
- 4
Meet the language step if reacquiring
Obtain a B1 Romanian certificate, or rely on an exemption, for the Art. 10/11 route.
- 5
File with the National Citizenship Authority (ANC)
Submit in person, including biometric capture, and use the digital case tracker.
- 6
Oath and processing
Reacquisition is discretionary with a ~2-year legal target (often longer) and ends with an oath of loyalty to Romania.
Choose your path
Do it yourself, or talk to a specialist?
Do it yourself
Free tool- Parent or grandparent claim with clear documentation
- You know your ancestor held Romania citizenship
- Records are legible and translated where needed
- No broken-chain events (renunciation, timing gaps)
Talk to a specialist
- Great-grandparent or further-back claim
- Unsure whether a naturalization broke the chain
- Mixed ancestry — multiple possible pathways
- Want a professional to verify before gathering 10+ documents
At a glance
What you'll need
- Government fee
- Small administrative charges (most cost is translations + apostilles)
- Typical timeline
- ~3+ years (2-year legal target)
- Where
- National Citizenship Authority (ANC)
Key dates & laws
The rules that decide your case
Law 14/2025 (in force 15 Mar 2025)
Made reacquisition-by-application (Art. 10/11) require B1 Romanian and be discretionary; added biometric capture, a digital case-tracker, and a 2-year processing target. The B1-certificate submission deadline was extended to 14 Mar 2027. Citizens at birth (Art. 5/6) are unaffected.
Former territories
Bessarabia / Bukovina cases are explicitly covered by the reacquisition route.
Law 21/1991
Romania's base citizenship law, under which reacquisition runs; the process includes taking an oath of loyalty to Romania and can involve an appeals stage.
Where it's processed
A single national authority
🇷🇴 National Citizenship Authority (ANC)
National Citizenship Authority (ANC)
Romania processes descent applications centrally through one national authority, rather than routing them through consulates.
See mailing instructionsTools & guides
Plan your application
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
🇷🇴 Not sure where to start?
See if you qualify in about two minutes.
A personalized answer based on your specific line of descent. No passport or ID uploads — ever.