Romania offers citizenship repatriation to descendants of Romanian citizens who lost citizenship due to communist-era persecution or emigration. Up to 3 generations (grandchildren) may qualify. Romania also allows dual citizenship — no renunciation required.
Legal Basis
Romanian Citizenship Law 21/1991 (as amended multiple times). Article 10: citizenship repatriation for former Romanian citizens and their descendants up to the third degree (grandchildren). Romania allows dual citizenship under Article 19 of Law 21/1991.
Generation Limit
3 generations (grandchildren of pre-1989 Romanian citizens)
Cost
$500–$2,000 total
Timeline
1–3 years (ANC processing backlog)
Presence Required
Zero — done at Romanian Embassy or Consulate
Passport Rank
7th globally
Visa-Free Countries
190+ countries
Overview
Romania's citizenship repatriation law (Law 21/1991, as amended) allows descendants of Romanian citizens who lost citizenship due to communist-era persecution, forced emigration, or other circumstances to reclaim it. The law extends to grandchildren (3 generations). Romania is notable for having one of the most accessible EU citizenship by descent programs — the process is handled through the National Authority for Citizenship (ANC) and does not require physical presence in Romania. Romania also fully allows dual citizenship.
Step-by-Step Process
1: Confirm Romanian ancestor lost citizenship due to communist-era circumstances — obtain their birth certificate and citizenship documents — Romanian civil registry or family records · 1–3 months · $100–$300
2: Obtain vital records for each generation (birth, marriage, death certificates) — US vital records offices + Romanian civil registry (SPCLEP) · 2–4 months · $200–$500
3: Apostille all US documents and obtain certified Romanian translations — Secretary of State + certified translator · 4–6 weeks · $150–$400
4: Submit citizenship repatriation application at Romanian Embassy or Consulate — Romanian Embassy or Consulate (US) · 1 day appointment · ~$100 consular fee
5: National Authority for Citizenship (ANC) processes application in Bucharest — Bucharest (processed centrally) · 1–3 years · Included
6: Take citizenship oath at Romanian Embassy — Romanian Embassy · 1 day · Included
7: Apply for Romanian passport — Romanian Embassy · 4–6 weeks · ~$50
Advantages
Romanian passport ranks 7th globally — 190+ visa-free countries
Full EU citizenship — live, work, study anywhere in the European Union
Romania fully allows dual citizenship — no renunciation required
Extends to grandchildren (3 generations)
No residency requirement — entire process done at Romanian Embassy
Covers communist-era emigration and persecution — broad eligibility
Romanian citizenship passes to your children
Considerations
ANC processing backlog can be 1–3 years
Romanian civil registry records can be difficult to obtain remotely
Communist-era records may be incomplete or inaccessible
Requires proving ancestor lost citizenship due to specific circumstances
Romania taxes residents on worldwide income — plan accordingly if relocating
Requirements
Birth certificate of Romanian ancestor
Evidence of Romanian citizenship and loss circumstances
Birth and marriage certificates for each generation
Your US birth certificate (apostilled)
Certified Romanian translations of all non-Romanian documents
Completed citizenship repatriation application
~$100 consular fee
Tax Considerations
Romania taxes residents on worldwide income. As a non-resident dual citizen (living in the US), you are only taxed on Romanian-sourced income. Romania has a flat income tax rate of 10% — one of the lowest in the EU.
Frequently Asked Questions
My grandparent left Romania in 1960 — do I qualify?
Possibly. The key question is whether your grandparent was a Romanian citizen at the time of departure and whether the departure was due to communist-era circumstances (persecution, forced emigration, etc.). Voluntary emigration with official permission may also qualify — the law has been interpreted broadly.
Does Romania allow dual citizenship?
Yes. Romania explicitly allows dual citizenship under Article 19 of Law 21/1991. You can hold both a US and Romanian passport simultaneously without any restriction.
What is the ANC and how long does it take?
The ANC (Autoritatea Națională pentru Cetățenie — National Authority for Citizenship) is the Romanian government body that processes citizenship applications. Current processing times are 1–3 years due to high application volumes, particularly from Moldovan and Romanian diaspora applicants.
Can Moldovans claim Romanian citizenship?
Yes. Moldova was part of Romania before WWII (as Bessarabia). Moldovans whose ancestors were Romanian citizens before 1940 can claim Romanian citizenship under the same repatriation law. This is one of the most common routes — hundreds of thousands of Moldovans have obtained Romanian (EU) citizenship this way.