In short
- Art. 11 of Law 21/1991 allows former Romanian citizens who lost citizenship for reasons not attributable to them, or had it withdrawn without their will, and their descendants up to the third degree, to regain it on request.
- The foreign citizenship may be kept; settling in Romania is not required.
- The application is filed with the National Citizenship Authority (ANC) or through a Romanian diplomatic mission or consulate.
- Citizenship is acquired after the oath of allegiance.
Three steps
1. Trace the ancestor
Identify the former Romanian citizen in your family and obtain documents proving that citizenship and each generation of descent.
2. Prepare the file
Collect civil status documents, apostille or superlegalise foreign documents and obtain certified Romanian translations.
3. File and take the oath
File with the ANC or a consulate; after approval, citizenship is acquired by taking the oath of allegiance.
Documents to prepare
- Application form published by the National Citizenship Authority
- Birth and marriage certificates for each generation back to the former Romanian citizen
- Documents proving the ancestor’s Romanian citizenship (e.g. Romanian civil status records)
- Passport or identity document of the applicant
- Certified Romanian translations and apostille or superlegalisation of foreign documents
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Official sources
General legal information, not legal advice. Each situation requires individual review. Cabinet de Avocatură Pantilimon Rikhárd-Árpád, based in Târgu Mureș.