- Romania now requires a mandatory B1-level language test for all citizenship applicants except for seniors and those with specific disabilities.
- The application process incorporates mandatory biometric data collection including fingerprints and facial scans to reduce fraud and improve security.
- Citizenship remains primarily based on bloodline (jus sanguinis), offering a direct path for descendants of Romanian citizens and Moldovans.
(ROMANIA) Romania’s citizenship rules in 2026 rest on jus sanguinis, not birth on Romanian soil, and the process is now stricter than it was two years ago. Since March 15, 2025, applicants face a B1-level Romanian test, biometric data collection, a longer oath deadline, and tougher residency checks.
Those changes matter most for descendants of Romanian citizens, especially applicants from Moldova, where family-based claims have driven most approvals for years. They also matter for people applying through naturalization, because the paperwork now has to prove both identity and real ties to Romania.
Romania’s citizenship law, built on Law no. 21/1991 as amended, still allows dual citizenship and still gives the strongest path to people who can show descent from a Romanian parent or grandparent. That system has produced more than 1.2 million citizenship grants since 1991, with Moldovans making up about 80% of approvals in recent years. Romania’s full entry into the Schengen Area on January 1, 2025 also increased the appeal of the passport.
The main rule remains simple: citizenship is still centered on bloodline. Jus sanguinis covers descendants of Romanian citizens, including many people in Moldova and parts of Ukraine and Serbia. Jus soli applies only in narrow cases, usually to children born in Romania who would otherwise be stateless.
Naturalization now follows a clearer and tighter path. Applicants generally need eight years of legal residence, or five years for EU citizens, four years for refugees, and one year for spouses of Romanian citizens. People with Romanian ancestry can apply without the usual residence period. Applicants must be at least 18, have a clean record, and show social and cultural ties to Romania.
The most visible change is language. Every applicant must now pass a B1-level Romanian test, unless they are over 65, have a disability, or hold a pre-1940 Romanian-language school diploma. B1 means the person can speak in everyday situations, read simple texts, and write basic messages. The test is given at ANC-approved centers, and the fee runs from €100-150.
That requirement has changed the rhythm of many applications. In 2025, ANC reported a pass rate of about 75%, while Moldovan applicants who grew up speaking Russian faced a 20% failure rate. The agency responded with free webinars and online study material. For applicants in Bucharest and Chisinau, private classes also became common.
The second major change is biometric data. Since September 2024, applicants submit fingerprints, facial scans, and iris data at ANC offices or consulates. The information is stored in secure EU systems and linked to border and identity checks. Paper certificates are fading out, and electronic IDs have been issued since the first quarter of 2025.
Officials say the shift reduces fraud and improves security. ANC data showed a 40% drop in biometric mismatches in 2025. It also fits Romania’s move toward digital border management inside the European Union. For many applicants, especially those abroad, the process now feels more like an identity screening than a purely paper-based nationality claim.
The oath stage has also changed. After approval, applicants now have 12 months to take the oath of allegiance, up from six. Ceremonies take place in Bucharest or at consulates, and virtual options were being tested in 2026 for some overseas applicants. ANC said delays averaged three months in 2025, and about 60% of oaths were taken abroad.
Residency rules tightened on January 1, 2025. Anyone staying more than 15 consecutive days must report address changes. The rule links to EU residence cards and to digital updates through the ANC app launched in 2025. Missed updates can lead to denial or revocation, and fines can reach €500.
The full process usually takes planning, not luck. Applicants spend two to three months gathering records, then wait six to 12 months for an initial review after filing. The full timeline for standard cases averages 18-24 months, and ANC reported an average of 20 months end to end in 2025.
A typical file includes birth and marriage certificates, proof of ancestry, a passport, residence records, a language certificate, and criminal record extracts from every country where the person lived in the past five years. Non-Romanian documents need a Hague apostille and a translation. The application fee is €70 and is not refunded.
After submission through the ANC portal or at Bucharest or a consulate such as Chisinau or Istanbul, the applicant attends an interview and language or biometrics appointment. Some applicants must appear in Bucharest. If approved, the notice arrives by email. The oath follows, then the e-ID, and finally the Romanian passport. The passport application usually takes three to six weeks and costs €120.
In 2025, ANC handled 150,000 applications, with an 85% approval rate. Diaspora applications made up 70% of the total. The agency also said its 2025 portal cut paper use by 50%, while AI pre-screening flagged fraud earlier in the process. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the digital shift has made Romanian citizenship more traceable but also less forgiving for incomplete files.
Support for the reforms comes from the government and security specialists, who say fraud fell by 35% in 2025 and that the new rules align Romania with broader EU practice. Critics, especially Moldovan NGOs and diaspora groups, say the language test blocks 10-15% of otherwise eligible applicants and that biometric data adds another layer of pressure.
That tension is why preparation now matters more than before. Applicants from Moldova still benefit from streamlined proof of origin, and the Chisinau consulate processes claims about 40% faster. For ancestry-based claims, old family records remain the strongest proof, especially pre-1990 documents. The success rate for well-documented reclamation cases is about 90%.
The cost of a full attempt often reaches €500-1,000 once tests, travel, and legal help are added. Incomplete files still cause about 25% of rejections, and appeals can take six months. The National Authority for Citizenship keeps the most current guidance on its official site at ANC’s citizenship information page.
Romania’s citizenship system in 2026 still opens a direct route into the European Union, but it no longer rewards weak files. The door remains open for descendants of Romanian citizens, including many Moldovans, yet the route now demands proof, language, and patience.
