Romanian citizenship by descent
Romania offers two reacquisition routes, Article 10 and Article 11 of the citizenship law, reaching as far as great-grandchildren of former Romanian citizens. My own family used both articles. I know exactly where they differ, because I lived the difference.
Article 10 or Article 11? It depends on how citizenship was lost, and how far you are from the ancestor.
Reacquisition
A reacquisition route available to certain former Romanian citizens and qualifying descendants.
Reacquisition
A route available in certain historical-loss cases and capable of reaching qualifying descendants through the great-grandchild generation.
Generational distance alone does not always determine the correct article. The former citizen's circumstances and the complete family history must also be reviewed.
Who needs B1 proof, who is exempt, and what happens after approval
Who must provide B1 proof? Most descendants applying under Article 10 or Article 11 must prove Romanian-language ability at a minimum B1 level, through an accepted certificate or qualifying records showing at least three years of Romanian-medium education. Transition rules may give certain post-reform applicants additional time to submit B1 proof. The applicable deadline depends on the filing date and circumstances.
Age 65 or older? You are exempt from the B1 proof requirement.
Applicants who were at least 65 on the date they filed under Article 10 or 11 do not have to provide B1 proof. Former Romanian citizens applying to reacquire citizenship under Article 10 or 11 are also exempt from providing B1 proof.
Minor children have separate requirements.
Minors included in a parent's application are handled under separate procedural rules, not the adult B1 exemption list: civil-status records, parental consent, age-based consent requirements, personal attendance, and age-based biometric collection. Consent from the other parent may be required if only one parent applies. Exact age thresholds are confirmed as part of the paid engagement, since procedures can change and getting a specific age wrong is worse than not stating one.
After approval: the applicant completes the Romanian-language oath process, and citizenship is acquired when the oath is taken. Authorities may request clarification, additional documents, or personal interaction in an individual case, but there is no universal statutory language interview for every applicant.
The Romanian document chain
A Romanian file generally requires a complete civil-status chain connecting the former Romanian citizen to the applicant, together with evidence addressing names, dates, and historical status. Document age, authentication, translation, and consistency rules can cause applicants to purchase records twice when the sequence is handled incorrectly. I provide the case-specific order and document specifications after reviewing the family.
Names make or break files
Immigration and civil records frequently contain spelling changes, translated names, or inconsistent dates. Some variations are straightforward. Others may require additional evidence or explanation. I review the full pattern and determine what supporting evidence may be needed.
What the Romanian path actually involves
Pick the right article, prove the lineage
Establish whether your case is Article 10 or Article 11, then document every generational link from the ancestor to you.
Pull the Romanian records
Some records are searchable online; many require retrieval from local registries, and knowing what the authorities can request on your behalf saves real money. My own ancestor's birth record came out of a small-town archive, from the 1800s.
Start the language path early
B1 is achievable, but exam seats are scarce and oath-readiness is its own preparation. Start studying before you file, not after. The processing years are your study years.
File in person and wait strategically
Romania now requires in-person filing and biometric collection: no proxies, no agents. Your file then moves to the citizenship authority in Bucharest. Romania's current tracking tools remain limited, but a new electronic citizenship-file platform is scheduled to become operational 30 November 2026. I help clients organize official correspondence, track material developments, and respond to document requests within the scope of their selected package. Last reviewed: July 2026.