CITIZENSHIP OF ROMANIA

Romania has been a member of the European Union since 2007. The country is located in the south-east of Europe, has a temperate climate and is washed by the Black Sea. Romanian citizenship for foreigners from third countries (from outside the EU) is one of the most affordable ways to immigrate and move to Europe for permanent residence.

Citizenship of Romania

In 1989 Romania said goodbye to the communist past and today the country is a full-fledged member of the European community and shows stable indicators of development.

If someone likes more economically stable countries, for example, Germany or France, then obtaining citizenship of Romania – is free access to life in any country in Europe.

How to get Romanian citizenship

The Romanian Law "On Citizenship" of March 6, 1991 allows you to obtain citizenship in the following ways.

By birth or acceptance

The following categories of citizens receive Romanian citizenship:

  1. Children of Romanian citizens born on the territory of Romania or abroad, if at least one of the parents holds a Romanian passport.

  2. Children staying in Romania if nothing is known about the parents.

  3. Minor children (under 18 years old) adopted by Romanian citizens.

By naturalization or request

A Romanian passport can be obtained on condition of:

  • Permanent residence in Romania for at least 8 years.

  • Being married to a Romanian citizen for at least 5 years.

In special cases, the Romanian authorities can shorten the period of granting citizenship.

The main requirements for Romanian citizenship by naturalization are:

  • 18 years of age;

  • material security;

  • law-abidingness and absence of criminal record both in Romania and abroad;

  • basic knowledge of the Romanian language;

  • knowledge of the anthem and the basic provisions of the constitution.

For citizens of the former USSR, especially Moldovans, Ukrainians and Russians, there is an opportunity to obtain Romanian citizenship through the procedure of "repatriation". That is, children and grandchildren of citizens born on the territory of Romania and Moldavia before 1940 can apply to the Romanian authorities for citizenship. To do this, it is necessary to prove the presence of ethnic roots in the form of a birth certificate of an ancestor.

Documents for Romanian citizenship

  1. Original foreign and civil passport, plus notarized copies of all pages.

  2. Application, with confirmation of the fact of legal residence in Romania for at least 8 years or the state of being married to a Romanian citizen for more than 5 years. In case of "repatriation", proof of Romanian roots.

  3. Original and notarized copies of civil status documents translated into Romanian. These are birth, marriage/divorce, name change and so on.

  4. Certificate of no criminal record in Romania and in your country.

  5. Proof of material security, in the form of a statement of income for the last 3 years.

  6. Copies of documents proving the availability of a place to live in Romania. Rental contract or real estate in ownership.

  7. Official confirmation that the candidate for citizenship does not violate and does not plan to violate local laws and does not threaten the foundations of national security of the country, as well as has not engaged in such activities in the past.

Term and procedure of Romanian citizenship

  1. Gathering the necessary documentation and submitting an application. The documents must be carefully checked, translated into Romanian and notarized. The application is sent to the Ministry of Justice of Romania. You can do it in person or through the Romanian Consulate in your country.

  2. Within 6 months of submitting the application, the candidate will be called for an interview. At this stage, the knowledge of the Romanian language, the basics of the constitution, the national anthem, the peculiarities of the culture and history of Romania will be tested.

  3. Based on the previous stages, a commission of 5 judges decides whether the candidate for Romanian citizenship complies with the legal norms of the country. After that, a special report is sent to the Minister of Justice. If the legal norms are met, a decree on granting citizenship is prepared. In case of a negative decision, the applicant will be informed in writing about the refusal. Within 15 days, the decision can be challenged at the Bucharest Court of Appeal.

  4. At the last stage, not later than 3 months from the date of publication of the decree, the applicant takes the oath of allegiance to Romania. After that, the certificate of citizenship is handed over. The whole procedure of obtaining Romanian citizenship takes at least a year, on average 12-18 months.

Advantages of Romanian citizenship

  • Free movement within the territory of the European Union, including a simplified procedure for entry into the United States.

  • Employment in Romania and Europe without special permits.

  • Access to study in Romanian universities and the European education system.

  • Quality medical care and social security.

  • Doing business in Romania, buying real estate and obtaining loans on favorable terms.

  • Possibility to have dual citizenship.

  • Additional rights on an equal footing with other Europeans, for example, the possibility to participate in elections and to stand as a candidate.

  • In 2025, holders of Romanian citizenship can freely visit 149 countries of the world.

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