Romania citizenship restoration (Art. 11) in 2026: still no residence required — but there's a new language test
As of 2026-06-10 · informational, not legal advice
Yes — the Art. 11 restoration route is open, you can keep your current citizenship and stay abroad. But since March 15, 2025 there is a real new hurdle. Former Romanian citizens who lost citizenship involuntarily — and their descendants to the 3rd degree — can reacquire it under Art. 11 of Law 21/1991 while keeping their foreign citizenship and their domicile abroad. Law 14/2025 (published March 12, 2025) added a condition: applicants must prove Romanian at level B1 — with exemptions for the former citizen applying personally and for anyone 65 or older at filing. Plan for the real queue, not the legal one: the statute now caps the Commission's review at 2 years, but ANC's own published figure (February 4, 2026) puts the average Art. 11 resolution at 3 years and 10 months.
Key facts
| Who qualifies | People who were Romanian citizens and lost citizenship for reasons not attributable to them (or had it taken without their will) — and their descendants to the 3rd degree (ANC enumerates degrees I, II and III) |
|---|---|
| Dual citizenship / residence | Both preserved by the statute: Art. 11 expressly allows keeping your foreign citizenship and keeping your domicile abroad — no move to Romania required |
| What Law 14/2025 changed | Published M.Of. 218 of March 12, 2025: added proof of Romanian at B1 level (exempt: the former citizen personally, and applicants aged 65+), set a 2-year statutory cap on the Commission's review (+ max 6-month extension), and kept conditions of the old law for files already pending |
| Real processing time | ANC's published status (February 4, 2026): average Art. 11 resolution 3 years 10 months; the Commission was assigning files registered May 2023 |
| Cost on ANC's list | No application fee appears on ANC's official document list — the only listed payment is the 91.50 lei citizenship-card countervalue (card regime in force since September 1, 2024); apostilles, legalized translations and notary costs are separate |
| The oath | Citizenship is acquired on taking the oath, within 1 year of the approval order — applicants domiciled abroad take it before the Romanian diplomatic mission or consulate |
| Where to file | In person at ANC Bucharest, its territorial offices (Iași, Galați, Suceava), or the Romanian mission/consulate in your country of domicile; civil-status documents must be issued within the last 2 years, apostilled, with legalized Romanian translation |
Likely still eligible
- Former Romanian citizens who lost citizenship involuntarily — applying personally, with NO language test (exempt) and no residence requirement
- Their children, grandchildren and 3rd-degree descendants — with B1 Romanian proof if under 65 at filing
- Applicants 65 or older — exempt from the language proof
- Files already pending when Law 14/2025 entered into force — judged under the conditions of the law in force at their filing date
Newly restricted
- Descendants beyond the 3rd degree — Art. 11 stops there
- Descendants under 65 who cannot show B1 Romanian (certificate from a Romanian university, the Romanian Language Institute, or the Romanian Cultural Institute incl. its institutes abroad)
- People who lost citizenship through their own act in ways the law treats as attributable to them — Art. 11 requires the loss to have been involuntary
- Approved applicants who miss the 1-year oath deadline — the approval order lapses
Frequently asked
- Do I have to learn Romanian now?
- If you are a descendant under 65: yes — since March 15, 2025 you must prove Romanian at B1 level with a certificate from a recognized issuer. The former citizen applying personally and anyone 65+ at filing are exempt by statute (Art. 15¹(5)).
- How long does it really take?
- The amended law caps the Citizenship Commission's review at 2 years (plus a maximum 6-month extension for authenticity checks), but ANC's own published average for Art. 11 files was 3 years 10 months as of February 4, 2026. Budget for the published queue, not the statutory cap.
- Is the application free?
- No application or processing fee appears on ANC's official Art. 11 document list. The one listed payment is 91.50 lei for the Romanian citizenship card (the card replaced the paper certificate from September 1, 2024). Apostilles, certified translations and notary fees are real costs on top.
- Can I do everything from abroad?
- Largely yes: you may file at a Romanian mission or consulate in your country of domicile, keep your domicile abroad, and take the oath before the head of the diplomatic mission or consular office. Note: card-holders domiciled abroad must request a Romanian passport noting the country of domicile within 3 years of reacquiring citizenship.
- Does 3rd degree mean great-grandchildren?
- ANC enumerates descendants of degrees I, II and III without defining the count in its public pages. The standard practitioner reading is child → grandchild → great-grandchild, but verify your exact position with ANC or counsel before relying on it — this page won't assert what the authority hasn't published.
Related routes
Compiled from primary legal and official sources (below) — not legal advice. Citizenship law and fees change and turn on your exact documents; confirm with the competent authority or a licensed professional before acting. Verified as of 2026-06-10.
Get the 2026 change-tracker
Romaniadescent rules are in flux. We'll email you in plain English when this changes again — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.