I want to apply for Romanian citizenship
6 tasks in suggested order
1. First identify the correct legal basis: naturalisation under Article 8, reacquisition under Articles 10/11, or another category provided by law.
Before collecting the application file.
Romanian Citizenship Law no. 21/1991 / Autoritatea Națională pentru Cetățenie (ANC).
Your own and your ancestors’ citizenship history, residence status, marriage and domicile/residence details.
There is no single identical checklist for “Romanian citizenship”; the conditions and place of submission differ by legal basis.
Official source: legislatie.just.ro
2. If you are applying for naturalisation under Article 8, check the current conditions on stay/residence, duration of lawful residence, conduct, means of support and the other statutory requirements.
Before booking/submitting the application.
The consolidated law and ANC.
Long-term residence permit/permanent residence and the documents relevant to the Article 8 conditions.
At the time of verification, the general rule in Article 8 requires a right of long-term residence or permanent residence and at least 8 years of lawful residence, or 5 years from marriage if the applicant is married to and lives with a Romanian citizen; statutory reductions/exceptions exist. These values must be treated as volatile.
Official source: legislatie.just.ro
3. Prepare the documents required for your legal route and follow the current rules on originals, legalisation/translation and biometric data.
Before personal submission.
ANC or, for categories permitted by law, a Romanian diplomatic mission/consular office.
Identity documents, civil-status documents, criminal-record/background documents and the other evidence required for your route.
Law no. 104/2026 introduced the framework for an electronic file, but the mandatory operational date set by the law is 30 November 2026. Until then, Lili must not present an electronic account/file as an already mandatory step. The exact document list still depends on the legal basis.
Official source: legislatie.just.ro
4. Submit the application in person to the authority competent for your legal basis; for certain applications under Articles 8^1, 10 and 11, the law also allows submission at diplomatic missions/consular offices.
After the file is complete.
ANC or a diplomatic mission/consular office, only where the law allows this for the specific legal basis.
The application in Romanian and the complete file.
Lili must not automatically direct every applicant to a consulate.
Official source: legislatie.just.ro
5. If your route requires verification of Romanian language, culture/civilisation, Constitution and anthem knowledge, prepare for the current form of assessment/interview.
At the stage indicated by ANC for your file.
ANC / Citizenship Commission.
Language documents/certifications or preparation for the interview, depending on the legal basis.
For Article 8, the current law includes knowledge of Romanian and notions of culture/civilisation, the Constitution and the anthem; the interview procedure was regulated in 2025.
Official source: legislatie.just.ro
6. After your application is approved, take the oath within the time and at the place required by law; citizenship is acquired when the oath is taken.
After the approval order/decision has been communicated.
ANC or, where permitted by law, a diplomatic mission/consular office.
Identity documents and the documents required for the oath ceremony/appointment.
At the time of verification, Article 20 provides a period of one year from communication of the approval; this period is treated as volatile.
Official source: legislatie.just.ro
