The door to European citizenship through Romanian heritage remains open in 2026, and HA Group helps the world’s lost descendants return home to Europe.
If you have ever looked into your family tree and found your roots in Romania, you could be relying on something more important than a memory – legal ways to get a European Union passport. Romanian citizenship by descent has quietly become one of the most powerful and affordable second citizenship options in Europe, and at HA Group we’ve helped numerous families find the rights their ancestors left behind.
European citizenship offers families freedom of mobility, world-class education and global chances for career and long-term stability. Many people don’t realise that thousands of individuals are already eligible for EU citizenship via their ancestors — especially those with Romanian citizenship by descent.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll take you through exactly how Romanian citizenship by descent is, who can apply, what documentation you’ll need and why thousands of individuals are recovering their Romanian origins in 2026.
What Is Romanian Citizenship by Descent?
Romanian citizenship by descent is a legal procedure that enables children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren of former Romanian citizens to obtain or reacquire their Romanian nationality, even if they have never been to Romania.
The law is based on Articles 10 and 11 of Law No. 21/1991, which is Romania’s Citizenship Act. This law primarily benefits the descendants of those born in territory that was part of Romania before World War II. These regions are portions of today’s Moldova and Ukraine. These rules were made because Romania had a tough 20th century with moving borders, two world wars, a lot of people leaving the country during socialism, and whole towns losing their citizenship. Romanian legislation grants descendants a fundamental right to connect with their history rather than writing off these losses as irreversible.
Another difference is vital and frequently gets blurred by conflicting guides. Romanian law does not, strictly speaking, provide a distinct “citizenship by descent” process. Instead, the law acknowledges two actual procedures: acquisition (for those who never had it) and reacquisition (for those whose ancestors lost it).
The greatest benefit? You don’t have to be a Romanian resident to apply. It also declares that Romania accepts dual citizenship, so you usually don’t have to give up your present passport to become a Romanian citizen.
Why Romanian Citizenship Is So Attractive in 2026
Before we get into qualifying standards, let’s be open about why this is so crucial. A Romanian passport is more than just a piece of paper, it’s a key.
- Full EU Citizenship: The right to live, work, study and retire in any of the 28 EU nations.
- You may visit over 175 countries with no visa required or a visa on arrival. This includes the whole Schengen Area, the UK, Japan, and Singapore.
- You do not have to give up your current citizenship since Romania accepts dual and multiple citizenship.
- Generational transfer – once you’ve acquired it, your children (and even unborn descendants) inherit the right.
- Access to the European healthcare, education and banking systems, including some of the cheapest world-class colleges on the continent.
Being a Romanian citizen is “the most overlooked golden ticket in Europe” at HA Group, and it’s easy to see why once you know how it works.
Who Qualifies for Romanian Citizenship by Descent?
Most people come to HA Group to find out the answer to this question. The truth is that more people qualify than they expect. You can apply if you can show proof of three things: your ancestor, the rule that applies, and the documentation line. Let us make it clear.
Direct Descendants of Romanian Citizens
You are eligible if you can show that at least one of your parents, grandparents or great-grandparents was a Romanian citizen. The law extends to the third degree of ascendancy, that is to say:
- Former Romanian citizens themselves.
- Children of former Romanian citizens (1st degree)
- Grandchildren of former citizens of Romania (second degree)
You do not need to have been to Romania, spoken Romanian, or have any present-day connection with the nation. The blood tie is good enough.
Descendants from Former Romanian Territories
If your ancestors lived in territories that were part of Romania before 1940 – namely Bessarabia, Northern Bukovina or the Herța area – they were automatically Romanian citizens. The reacquisition route is open to their children, who are now mostly citizens of Moldova or Ukraine or live in different parts of the world. Over the past 20 years, hundreds of thousands of Moldovan applications have proceeded this way, and it is still accessible.
Direct” Citizenship — When You Are Already Romanian Without Realising It
You may already be a Romanian citizen if one of your parents was a Romanian citizen at the time of your birth and never officially renounced their citizenship. You don’t need to apply at all. You only need to register your legal status records in Romania and apply for your Certificate of Citizenship and passport. At HA Group, we always try the shortest method first, as it can take years off the process.
Who Does Not Qualify
Spouses (Limited Pathway)
Current legislation does not include great-great-grandparents and beyond.
Spouses of Romanian nationals are not eligible through ancestry (there is a separate naturalisation path based on marriage).
Minor Children
Stepchildren who are over 18 and not officially adopted are not qualified. The line must be straight and organic, with a few exceptions for adoption. Second cousins, nieces and nephews of Romanian citizens are not qualified.
The 2025–2026 Legal Changes You Need to Know
Law No. 14/2025, which began on 15 March 2025, updated Romania’s citizenship law for the language requirement.
- Most adult applicants must now show B1 level of Romanian.
- B1 means you can speak and understand everyday conversations.
Accepted Language Proof
You can prove Romanian language with:
- Certificate from a Romanian university
- Certificate from Institutul Limbii Române
- Certificate from a Romanian Cultural Institute abroad
- School/university transcript showing 3 years of study in Romanian
Who Does NOT Need B1 Romanian?
Applicants 65+ at the time of application submission
- Parents’ application includes minor children under age 18
- Former Romanian citizens (not their children or grandchildren) regaining citizenship.
- Direct citizens are applicants who were born in Romania and are just registered. Cases where a recorded physical condition makes learning the language impossible.
Important Time Update
- The government has given extra time (grace periods) for language certificates.
- If you have delayed applying, the next 12 months are crucial for starting your application.
What Documents Do You Need?
This is where most applicants mess up, and HA Group’s experienced staff is here to help you.. The National Authority for Citizenship (ANC) in Romania needs careful documentation, such as:
- Birth and marriage records of your Romanian ancestor
- Proof of Romanian citizenship of your ancestor: usually a birth certificate, baptism record, military record or archival document from Romania, Moldova, Ukraine or another former region.
- A full chain of ancestry connecting you to that ancestor (all marriages, births and name changes must be verified)
- Certificates of a clean criminal record from all countries where you have resided in the last 5+ years
- Valid ID and Passports Copies
- Personal statement regarding your aim and commitment to the Romanian state
Missing or unverified documents are a common reason applications are delayed or refused. HA Group researchers go directly to the archives in Romania and Moldova to get even the most mysterious documents of your ancestors, saving you years of aggravation.
The Application Process With HA Group: Step by Step
HA Group helps to complete the entire application process to obtain citizenship by descent. The process is!
- Eligibility Assessment: Our staff will review your family history and determine the best approach to help you qualify.
- Document collection and archive research: We determine, acquire, and verify all the records required. The form is in Romanian, and candidates who don’t speak Romanian well can ask our staff to help them fill it out correctly and completely.
- Apostille and translation checked: All papers from other countries need to be legalised and translated into Romanian.
- File submission to the ANC: Files filed with the ANC in Bucharest or Romanian consulates abroad.
- Review time: Generally 12 to 24 months, depending on the complexity and current workload of the ANC.
- Oath of allegiance: after the approval you take the oath at a Romanian consulate or in Bucharest
Now you can obtain a Romanian ID and a passport, so welcome to the EU.
Note: Processing times depend heavily on the National Authority for Citizenship (ANC) workload and the completeness of your file. Strong files move faster.
FAQs
Do I need to learn Romanian to become a citizen by descent?
No. Language competency is not necessary for the descending route. It is solely essential for normal naturalisation.
Do I have to give up my present citizenship?
No, Romania allows dual and multiple citizenship without any restrictions.
What if the documentation of my ancestors were destroyed in the war?
HA Group specialises in alternative archive study. Military files, school lists, church records, and records of people who left the country are all good alternatives.
6. Do I have to be living in Romania during or after the process?
There is no residency requirement for the descending path, either before or after approval.
What is the price of the process?
Government expenses are not high, but the total cost will depend on the documents that need to be obtained, translations, apostilles, language courses, and a lawyer. HA Group provides transparent fixed-fee products following an eligibility evaluation.
Ready to Reclaim Your Romanian Heritage?
Romanian citizenship by descent is not an administrative act – it is a restoration of identity, mobility and opportunity which can have been interrupted by history but was never legally erased. The legislation has hardened, the linguistic hurdle has been raised, but the door is still wide open for those who play the proper game.
Every case at HA Group starts with a confidential eligibility assessment by our experts. We map your family tree against the latest provisions of Law 21/1991 and identify the fastest legal route, whether that is direct citizenship confirmation, Article 10 reacquisition or Article 11 territorial restoration.
Depending on your family status, our immigration lawyer in Romania will be able to analyse your case and offer personalised advice on the paperwork.
Contact HA Group now for a confidential eligibility evaluation and let us help convert your family’s past into your family’s future.
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