Who qualifies for Romania citizenship by descent?

Eligibility runs through the Descent pathway and depends on your specific line of descent — which ancestor was a citizen, when, and whether the chain was ever broken by naturalization or other events. Run the free eligibility check for a personalized answer.

Which authority decides Romania citizenship cases?

ANC. EasyPassport is not affiliated with them; we help you organize and verify, and you submit to the authority directly.

How long does it take?

Timelines vary widely by route and backlog and are outside any service's control. Treat published averages as estimates and confirm current waits with the authority.

Do I need to upload my passport or ID?

No. EasyPassport never stores passports or government IDs — it's a checklist and organization tool, not a document vault.

Is this legal advice?

No. We use “may qualify” language because the authority makes the final determination. For an individualized opinion, consult a qualified attorney in the relevant jurisdiction.

Romania 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.

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).
Romanian-language knowledge is required (re-introduced by Law 14/2025).
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.

Not sure where to start?

The free eligibility check takes about two minutes.

Check your eligibility

By ancestor path

Your relationship to the Romania ancestor determines which rules apply.

Through your parent

A former Romanian-citizen parent — the most direct reacquisition.

Through your grandparent

Document the chain to your former-citizen grandparent.

Through your great-grandparent

The 3rd-degree limit — a documented chain to a great-grandparent still qualifies.

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

Law 14/2025
Re-introduced a Romanian-language requirement and a 2-year processing target.
Former territories
Bessarabia / Bukovina cases are explicitly covered by the reacquisition route.

Where it's processed

National Citizenship Authority (ANC)

Tools

Romania cost calculator

Guides

Required documents Where to apply Frequently asked questions Can my child get Romania citizenship?

Frequently asked questions

Who qualifies for Romania citizenship by descent?: Eligibility runs through the Descent pathway and depends on your specific line of descent — which ancestor was a citizen, when, and whether the chain was ever broken by naturalization or other events. Run the free eligibility check for a personalized answer.
Which authority decides Romania citizenship cases?: ANC. EasyPassport is not affiliated with them; we help you organize and verify, and you submit to the authority directly.
How long does it take?: Timelines vary widely by route and backlog and are outside any service's control. Treat published averages as estimates and confirm current waits with the authority.
Do I need to upload my passport or ID?: No. EasyPassport never stores passports or government IDs — it's a checklist and organization tool, not a document vault.
Is this legal advice?: No. We use “may qualify” language because the authority makes the final determination. For an individualized opinion, consult a qualified attorney in the relevant jurisdiction.

Other countries we support

EasyPassport is not affiliated with ANC, any government, or any consulate. This is a document-organization tool, not legal advice — always verify with the relevant authority.