Romanian citizenship lawyer: regaining, granting and ANC files
We assist you from checking your documents and filing with the National Citizenship Authority to taking the oath and obtaining your first Romanian documents.
Romanian citizenship can be regained by people who once held it and lost it for reasons not attributable to them or for other reasons set by law, and by their descendants. It can also be granted to foreign nationals who have lived lawfully in Romania and meet the legal conditions. The legal framework is the Romanian Citizenship Law no. 21/1991, and applications are decided by the National Citizenship Authority (ANC).
Most delays are caused by documents: old civil status records issued in other countries, names spelt differently from one record to another, missing translations or apostilles. An incomplete file is put on hold or receives requests for further documents that extend the procedure. That is why we start by tracing the family line and checking every single document.
We represent you in dealings with ANC, prepare you for the interview and the oath, and then help with the transcription of your civil status records and with obtaining a Romanian passport or identity card. If the application is refused or not decided within a reasonable time, we assess whether to challenge it in court.
Our services for citizenship applications
- Assessing eligibility to regain or be granted Romanian citizenship
- Locating and obtaining parents' and grandparents' civil status records from archives
- Checking that names and dates match between Romanian and foreign records
- Coordinating certified translations, legalisations and apostilles
- Preparing and filing the application with ANC, through a representative or at consulates
- Replying to requests for additional documents and tracking the file
- Preparing for the interview and the Romanian language assessment, where required
- Scheduling and assistance with the oath of allegiance
- Transcription of birth and marriage certificates into the Romanian civil registers
- Obtaining your first Romanian passport and identity card
- Extending citizenship to minor children
- Court action against refusals or unjustified delays
How we can help
- Your grandparents were born in Bessarabia or Northern Bukovina and you want to regain Romanian citizenship.
- You filed your application with ANC a long time ago and have heard nothing since.
- Your grandfather's name is spelt differently in the Romanian record and in one issued later by another state.
- You have lived lawfully in Romania for several years and want to know whether you qualify for citizenship.
- You have taken the oath and need to transcribe your birth certificate in order to get a passport.
- Your application was refused and you do not understand the reasons given in the order.
How we work
Eligibility check
We identify the right legal basis and your link to the ancestor who held Romanian citizenship.
Documents
We list the records needed, search the archives for missing ones and coordinate translations and apostilles.
The ANC file
We file the application, track its progress and reply to requests for documents until the order is issued.
After the order
We assist with the oath, the transcription of records and your first Romanian identity document.
Frequently asked questions
Who can regain Romanian citizenship?
Law no. 21/1991 allows citizenship to be regained by people who were Romanian citizens and lost citizenship for reasons not attributable to them, or had it withdrawn against their will, and by their descendants up to the degree set by law. In practice, many applicants have parents or grandparents born in territories that once belonged to Romania. We check the documents before filing.
What are the conditions for a foreigner to be granted citizenship?
Being granted citizenship requires, among other things, a minimum period of lawful residence in Romania, knowledge of the Romanian language and basic knowledge of Romanian culture and civilisation, lawful means of support and conduct that does not threaten public order. The minimum residence period varies with the circumstances, for example for people married to a Romanian citizen. We review your specific case.
How long does the procedure take?
It depends on the type of application, ANC's caseload and how complete the file is when submitted. We cannot promise a timeframe, but a well-prepared file avoids requests for further documents, which add months of waiting. If the authority exceeds the legal time limits without justification, an administrative court action to compel it to decide can be considered.
What happens after the oath?
After the oath you receive a certificate of Romanian citizenship. Next, your birth certificate, and your marriage certificate if relevant, is transcribed into the Romanian civil registers, and then you can obtain a passport or identity card, depending on where you live. The oath must be taken within the legal deadline after the order is communicated; missing it may cause the order to lapse.
Other practice areas
Do you need a lawyer?
Tell us briefly about your situation. We will tell you honestly what can be done and what the next steps are, anywhere in Romania.
