Required Documents for Romanian Citizenship Applications

Romania is one of the most generous countries in the European Union for citizenship by Romanian descent, allowing not just children but also grandchildren and great-grandchildren to apply. But eligibility alone is not enough to reclaim your Romanian citizenship. Every application depends on getting the right Romanian documents to prove your lineage. Romanian origin matters: Romanian authorities are strict: incomplete or inconsistent documents are the main reason for rejection.

This guide explains which documents are required, how to prepare them, and common pitfalls to avoid when applying for Romanian citizenship by descent or restoration under Romanian citizenship law.

Why Documentation Matters

The  National Authority for Citizenship (ANC) in Bucharest, as well as Romanian embassies and consulates worldwide, handle thousands of descent-based citizenship cases each year. They require applicants to provide a seamless “paper trail” from themselves back to the Romanian ancestor in Romanian territory or former one.

If even one link in the chain is missing, unclear, or mistranslated, the application can be delayed for months or rejected outright by Romanian local authorities.

• Example: Laura applied in Paris based on her grandfather’s Romanian birth certificate. She submitted her own birth record but forgot to include her father’s marriage certificate, which explained a surname change. Without it, the ANC considered the family link unproven and returned her file.

The lesson: every document matters – especially official documents proving genealogical evidence.

Core Categories of Documents

Civil Status Documents

These establish the direct lineage from you back to the Romanian ancestor.

• Applicant’s birth certificate – Long-form version listing both parents.
• Parent’s birth certificate – Connects you to the grandparent.
• Grandparent’s birth certificate – Connects the family to Romania.
• Marriage certificates – Needed if a parent or grandparent changed names.
• Adoption decrees – If applicable, proving the legal parent-child relationship.
• Death certificates – Sometimes requested if an ancestor has passed away and additional proof is needed.

All certificates must be recent and either apostilled or legalized.

Proof of Romanian Ancestry

The foundation of every application is proof that your ancestor was Romanian.

• Romanian birth certificate (certificat de naștere) from the Civil Registry (Oficiul Stării Civile).
• Romanian citizenship certificate (certificat de cetățenie), if available.
• Romanian passport or national ID card (carte de identitate), even if expired.
• Archival records – church, military, or census records for ancestors who left Romania decades ago.

For applicants from Moldova, Ukraine, or other territories once part of Romanian territory, historical records may also serve as proof of origin.

Identity and Legal Documents

To confirm your current identity and legal standing, you must provide:

• Valid passport – Current nationality and photo ID.
• National identity card (if applicable in your country).
• Police clearance certificates – Required from every country where you have lived since age 14. Must be recent (usually less than 6 months old).
• Proof of residence – Utility bills, rental contracts, or residence permits if applying in Romania.
• Application forms – Official ANC forms, completed and signed.

Additional Documents for Minors

If you are applying for a child, consulates may request:

• The parent’s Romanian citizenship proof.
• The child’s long-form birth certificate.
• Parents’ marriage or adoption decrees.
• Parents’ IDs and consent forms (if only one parent is Romanian).

Apostilles and Legalization

Romania requires that all foreign documents be legalized:

• If your documents come from a Hague Apostille Convention country, you must obtain an apostille for each certificate.
• If your documents come from a non-Hague country, they must be legalized by the Romanian consulate.

Applications without proper legalization are automatically rejected. This is part of the legal assistance needed to navigate the system.

Translation Requirements

All documents not originally in Romanian must be translated by a certified translator (traducător autorizat). The translation must then be notarized.

Authorities do not accept uncertified translations, even if accurate.

Common Challenges

Old Records

Many emigrants left Romania before World War II, and their records are scattered. In such cases, applicants may need to contact Romanian archives, church parishes, or municipal offices.

Border Changes

Ancestors born in areas like Bessarabia or Northern Bukovina may have been Romanian citizens even though the territory is no longer part of Romania. Applicants must show that their ancestor held Romanian citizenship when the territory was under Romanian administration.

Name Variations

Names often changed abroad. For example, “Ion Popescu” might appear as “John Popesco” on U.S. records. You may need additional affidavits or documents to prove these variations refer to the same person.

Processing Delays

Even with complete files, applications can take 1-3 years to process. Demand is especially high among European citizens from Moldova and Ukraine. International migration and bureaucratic backlog contribute to the delay. Expedited legal help or legal opinion may help.

Example Document Trail

Let’s take the case of Cristian, applying for Romanian citizenship in New York through his great-grandmother.

• He collects his own U.S. long-form birth certificate.
• He adds his mother’s U.S. birth certificate.
• He secures his grandmother’s U.S. birth and marriage certificates.
• He obtains his great-grandmother’s Romanian birth certificate from Cluj.
• He adds his U.S. passport, police clearance, and proof of address.
• He apostilles all U.S. documents and translates them into Romanian with a certified translator.

Cristian’s file establishes a clear line of Romanian descent and includes all legal formalities, giving him a strong case under Article 11 of Romanian citizenship law.

FAQs

Important Note

Romanian citizenship laws are generous, but applications succeed or fail based on documentation. Every link must be proven with properly legalized and translated certificates. In many cases, official documents from foreign jurisdictions are required.

We recommend starting with our $250 full service guide and consulting a trusted citizenship expert before filing your application.

Final Checklist: Documents for Romanian Citizenship Applications

• Applicant’s long-form birth certificate
• Parent’s and grandparent’s birth certificates
• Marriage certificates (if names changed)
• Ancestor’s Romanian birth certificate or citizenship certificate
• Adoption decrees (if applicable)
• Death certificates (if relevant)
• Applicant’s valid passport
• Police clearance certificates (not required for minors)
• Proof of residence (if applying in Romania)
• Application forms (ANC standard)
• Apostilles or consular legalization
• Certified Romanian translations

If you can check every box, you are ready to move forward with your application – with the help of a trusted guide. The Romanian government will likely ask for additional documents at their discretion, but these will give your application a good foundation for your passport application, and for establishing Romanian origin.

Ready to learn more about citizenship by descent? See if you qualify with one of our service packages.