How Romanian citizenship by descent works
The eligibility rules for Romanian citizenship by descent, in plain English — who may qualify, what disqualifies, and the legal regimes over time, each cited to its primary statute.
Who may qualify
A qualifying path — via the passport direct route
Requirements
ALL of the following
the qualifying ancestor must have held romanian citizenship at the moment the applicant was born, passing it down the line by descent.
- required citizenship:
- romanian
the applicant has a recorded citizenship held such that mode = descent. If this fact is absent, the rule treats it as not applying (rather than asking for more information).
- mode:
- descent
Primary sources
- § Law 21/1991 on Romanian Citizenship, Art. 5 & Art. 6(2) — Romanian citizenship acquired automatically at birth (jus sanguinis) from a Romanian-citizen parent where the line was never lost. Outside the Art. 10/11 reacquisition-by-application process, so NOT subject to the Law 14/2025 B1-language requirement or the Art. 4(2) discretionary grant.
A qualifying path — via the restitution route
Date keying
- In force until 2025-03-15 (exclusive) — keyed on the assessment date, not on anyone's birth.
Requirements
ALL of the following
ANY of the following
the applicant must be the parent of the qualifying ancestor.
- relationship:
- parent
the applicant must be the grandparent of the qualifying ancestor.
- relationship:
- grandparent
the applicant must be the great grandparent of the qualifying ancestor.
- relationship:
- great_grandparent
The qualifying ancestor must have been born in Greater Romania (1918–1940) between 1918-12-01 and 1940-09-07.
- territory:
- greater_romania_1918_1940
- window start:
- 1918-12-01
- window end:
- 1940-09-07
the qualifying ancestor must have held romanian citizenship at the moment the applicant was born, passing it down the line by descent.
- required citizenship:
- romanian
Primary sources
- § Law 21/1991 on Romanian Citizenship, Art. 11 — reacquisition for persons who lost citizenship through no fault of their own (historical territorial changes), descendants up to the 3rd degree (great-grandchildren)
A qualifying path — via the restitution route
Date keying
- In force from 2025-03-15 onward — keyed on the assessment date, not on anyone's birth.
Requirements
ALL of the following
ANY of the following
the applicant must be the parent of the qualifying ancestor.
- relationship:
- parent
the applicant must be the grandparent of the qualifying ancestor.
- relationship:
- grandparent
the applicant must be the great grandparent of the qualifying ancestor.
- relationship:
- great_grandparent
The qualifying ancestor must have been born in Greater Romania (1918–1940) between 1918-12-01 and 1940-09-07.
- territory:
- greater_romania_1918_1940
- window start:
- 1918-12-01
- window end:
- 1940-09-07
the qualifying ancestor must have held romanian citizenship at the moment the applicant was born, passing it down the line by descent.
- required citizenship:
- romanian
ANY of the following
ANY of the following
the applicant has a recorded language proficiency such that language = romanian, level = B1.
- language:
- romanian
- level:
- B1
the applicant has a recorded language proficiency such that language = romanian, level = B2.
- language:
- romanian
- level:
- B2
the applicant has a recorded language proficiency such that language = romanian, level = C1.
- language:
- romanian
- level:
- C1
the applicant has a recorded language proficiency such that language = romanian, level = C2.
- language:
- romanian
- level:
- C2
the applicant has a recorded formerly held citizenship such that country = romanian.
- country:
- romanian
the applicant has a recorded language requirement exempt such that reason = age_65_plus.
- reason:
- age_65_plus
the applicant has a recorded language requirement exempt such that reason = former_citizen.
- reason:
- former_citizen
Primary sources
- § Law 21/1991 on Romanian Citizenship, Art. 11 — reacquisition for persons who lost citizenship through no fault of their own (historical territorial changes), descendants up to the 3rd degree (great-grandchildren)
- § Law 14/2025 (in force 2025-03-15) — mandatory B1 Romanian-language certificate; exemptions: former citizens, age 65+, minors <18, medical incapacity.
A qualifying path — via the restitution route
Date keying
- In force until 2025-03-15 (exclusive) — keyed on the assessment date, not on anyone's birth.
Requirements
ALL of the following
ANY of the following
the applicant must be the parent of the qualifying ancestor.
- relationship:
- parent
the applicant must be the grandparent of the qualifying ancestor.
- relationship:
- grandparent
the qualifying ancestor must have held romanian citizenship at the moment the applicant was born, passing it down the line by descent.
- required citizenship:
- romanian
Primary sources
- § Law 21/1991 on Romanian Citizenship, Art. 10 — reacquisition for former Romanian citizens and their descendants up to the 2nd degree (children + grandchildren)
A qualifying path — via the restitution route
Date keying
- In force from 2025-03-15 onward — keyed on the assessment date, not on anyone's birth.
Requirements
ALL of the following
ANY of the following
the applicant must be the parent of the qualifying ancestor.
- relationship:
- parent
the applicant must be the grandparent of the qualifying ancestor.
- relationship:
- grandparent
the qualifying ancestor must have held romanian citizenship at the moment the applicant was born, passing it down the line by descent.
- required citizenship:
- romanian
ANY of the following
ANY of the following
the applicant has a recorded language proficiency such that language = romanian, level = B1.
- language:
- romanian
- level:
- B1
the applicant has a recorded language proficiency such that language = romanian, level = B2.
- language:
- romanian
- level:
- B2
the applicant has a recorded language proficiency such that language = romanian, level = C1.
- language:
- romanian
- level:
- C1
the applicant has a recorded language proficiency such that language = romanian, level = C2.
- language:
- romanian
- level:
- C2
the applicant has a recorded formerly held citizenship such that country = romanian.
- country:
- romanian
the applicant has a recorded language requirement exempt such that reason = age_65_plus.
- reason:
- age_65_plus
the applicant has a recorded language requirement exempt such that reason = former_citizen.
- reason:
- former_citizen
Primary sources
- § Law 21/1991 on Romanian Citizenship, Art. 10 — reacquisition for former Romanian citizens and their descendants up to the 2nd degree (children + grandchildren)
- § Law 14/2025 (in force 2025-03-15) — mandatory B1 Romanian-language certificate; exemptions: former citizens, age 65+, minors <18, medical incapacity. B1-submission grace period extended by OUG to 2027-03-14.
See how these rules apply to your family
The free eligibility check walks your own lineage through these rules — no account, no card, about two minutes.
Check your Romanian eligibility