Romanian citizenship “by descent” is usually not a simple parent-to-child transmission case like France or Spain. In practice, most applicants use Romania’s reacquisition / restoration framework under Law No. 21/1991, especially Article 10 and Article 11.
That’s why Romania is often treated as one of the strongest ancestry-based EU options in: EU Citizenship by Descent — Which Countries Allow It? and How Long Does It Take to Get EU Citizenship? (By Country).
This guide explains who qualifies, which article applies, what documents matter most, and how the procedure works from filing to passport.
1) The two “descent” routes people actually use: Article 10 vs Article 11
Romanian law provides two main reacquisition pathways that are commonly used by descendants:
Route A — Article 10 (reacquisition for former Romanian citizens and certain descendants)
Article 10 is typically used when the qualifying ancestor personally lost Romanian citizenship, and the applicant is a descendant within the eligible degree. In practice, this route is often used for children and grandchildren of a former Romanian citizen, depending on the exact legal scenario and evidence.
Key point: Article 10 cases are usually about proving:
- the ancestor was Romanian,
- the ancestor lost citizenship under a specific legal context, and
- your lineage to that person is clean and complete.
Route B — Article 11 (restoration for those deprived of citizenship, plus wider descendant scope)
Article 11 is often used for people who acquired Romanian citizenship by birth or adoption and later lost it without their consent / not attributable to them, plus their descendants. In many practical scenarios, this route is associated with historical loss circumstances and can extend to children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren depending on the case and proof.
Bottom line: the “best” article is not the one that sounds broader online. It’s the one that matches your ancestor’s legal history and can be documented cleanly.
2) What conditions apply
Articles 10 and 11 are not “automatic.” In practice, authorities examine:
- whether the legal ground is correct (Art. 10 vs 11),
- whether you are within the allowed descendant degree,
- whether the civil-status chain is complete and consistent,
- and whether there are disqualifying conduct or security concerns.
Even strong ancestry cases can stall if the file is incomplete or inconsistent.
3) Dual citizenship: is it allowed?
Romanian reacquisition/restoration pathways are widely understood as allowing applicants to keep another citizenship. In practice, many successful applicants retain their existing nationality.
That said, always check your other country’s rules. Romania allowing dual nationality does not mean your current citizenship country does.
4) Who processes Romanian citizenship-by-descent applications?
Romanian citizenship applications under this framework are handled through the National Authority for Citizenship (ANC) within the Ministry of Justice ecosystem. The procedure typically includes:
- filing the application,
- review by the citizenship commission,
- and an approval/rejection issued by an order of the ANC President.
5) Where you can file: ANC in Romania or consulates abroad
In many cases, applications under Article 10 and Article 11 can be filed:
- in person at ANC, or
- through Romanian diplomatic missions/consulates abroad, which forward the file to ANC.
Consulates commonly require appointments and personal submission, and they apply strict formatting rules for documents and translations.
6) Document strategy: what a strong Romanian “descent” file usually contains
Romanian citizenship cases are won on documentation. Think in “document blocks,” not random checklists.
A) Civil-status chain (your lineage proof)
You will usually need:
- your birth certificate,
- your parent’s birth certificate,
- your grandparent’s birth certificate (and sometimes great-grandparent’s),
- marriage/divorce records linking each generation,
- name-change records where applicable.
B) Proof of the qualifying ancestor’s Romanian citizenship status
Depending on the case, this can include:
- Romanian civil registry records,
- documents showing the ancestor had Romanian citizenship,
- evidence of when/how Romanian citizenship was lost (where relevant).
C) Identity and current status
- valid passport/ID,
- evidence of current citizenship.
D) Conduct documentation (common in practice)
Authorities assess good conduct and may require criminal record evidence depending on the route and case specifics.
E) Formalities
- apostille/legalization where applicable,
- certified translations into Romanian where required.
A structured checklist of the usual civil records, translations, and legalization steps is covered in Documents Needed for EU Citizenship Applications — Complete Checklist by Route. If key records are missing or inconsistent, practical reconstruction methods are explained in How to Prove Ancestry When Records Are Missing — Practical Strategies That Work.
7) Step-by-step process (how it works in real life)
Step 1 — Choose the correct legal basis (Article 10 or Article 11)
This is the single most important decision. If you file under the wrong article, you can lose months (or more).
Step 2 — Build the civil-status chain (no gaps)
In practice, most delays come from:
- missing marriages/divorces in the chain,
- inconsistent spellings/transliteration,
- non-accepted certificate formats.
Step 3 — Prepare translations and legalization correctly
A correct document in the wrong format is still a problem. This is one of the most common reasons files stall.
Step 4 — Submit the file (ANC or consular channel)
Applications are typically submitted in Romanian and filed personally (with limited exceptions). Consular channels can be used for applicants abroad in many cases.
Step 5 — Review → decision by ANC order
The citizenship commission reviews the file and a decision is issued by order of the ANC President.
Step 6 — Oath of allegiance (jurământ)
After approval, applicants generally must take an oath. In practice, official communications commonly reference a time limit for taking the oath after the order is communicated (often described as one year, case-specific and procedure-dependent). Always verify the current rule on the instruction you receive with your approval.
Step 7 — Certificate, civil registration, then passport/ID
After the oath, the final steps typically include:
- obtaining the citizenship certificate / confirmation documentation,
- updating civil records as required,
- applying for Romanian identity documents and passport through the appropriate channel (Romania or consulate).
8) Minors (children included in a parent’s file)
Family cases require careful planning. Minors may be included under certain conditions, but children’s documentation must be complete and consistent with the parent’s civil records.
Family files often fail on:
- missing minor birth records,
- missing parental marriage/divorce links,
- inconsistent names across documents.
9) Processing times: what’s realistic
Romanian “descent” timelines vary widely depending on:
- file quality and completeness,
- verification requirements,
- institutional workload,
- whether the case is filed domestically or via consulate,
- and whether follow-up requests are triggered.
The only reliable planning approach is to assume the timeline depends heavily on documentation quality and authority capacity.
For a comparative overview—and a useful way to think about the two timelines in any case (your eligibility timeline versus the authority’s processing timeline)—see How Long Does It Take to Get EU Citizenship? (By Country).
10) Common mistakes that cause refusals or long delays
These repeat in real cases:
- filing under the wrong article (10 vs 11),
- missing one generational link (marriage/divorce/name change),
- unclear proof of the ancestor’s citizenship / loss circumstances,
- inconsistent names across countries and decades,
- incorrect apostille/legalization,
- translations not accepted in the required format,
- submitting partial files and trying to patch later.
A broader breakdown of the errors that most often cause refusals and long delays is covered in Common Mistakes That Delay or Ruin Citizenship Cases — And How to Avoid Them.
FAQ
Can I get a Romanian (EU) passport without Romanian citizenship?
No. The passport comes after citizenship is granted/recognized and properly registered.
(More information: What an “EU Passport” Really Means — and Why Citizenship Comes First)
Is Romania’s “citizenship by descent” the same as Italy’s jure sanguinis?
Not exactly. Italy is typically a direct descent-recognition model. Romania’s widely used ancestry route is usually a reacquisition/restoration framework under Articles 10–11.
(See: Italian Citizenship — Complete Legal Guide)
Can I keep my current citizenship?
In many cases, yes—but you must also check your other country’s laws.
Can I file from abroad?
Often yes—many applicants file via Romanian diplomatic missions/consulates, which forward files to ANC. Appointment rules and document standards vary by consulate.
Closing perspective
Romanian citizenship by descent is one of the most important EU ancestry strategies—but it is not “automatic.” It is a structured legal procedure where outcomes are decided by:
1) choosing the correct legal article (10 vs 11), and
2) proving eligibility with a clean, complete civil-status chain and compliant formalities.
If your case involves older records, border-region history, or multi-country documentation, treat it as an evidence project first. The strongest files are built with discipline, not optimism.