The fastest way to obtain Romanian citizenship

There is an opinion among residents of post-Soviet countries that a large amount of funds is needed to obtain legal status abroad. Typically, obtaining a second passport is associated with special services to the country or complex migration programs that require either a doctorate, entrepreneurial activity, or a profitable business plan. Many people have the impression that all this is difficult, expensive and time-consuming.

However, not everyone knows that citizenship of one of the European Union countries can be obtained within a period of 12 months. Moreover, without special requirements for knowledge of the language, the need to spend a large amount of money and other difficulties. Below we will understand how such a program works and who can take part in it.

What does Romanian citizenship give?

Usually, when thinking about moving to the European Union, people imagine Germany, France or Spain. And this is understandable - economically developed countries attract expats with new opportunities, high salaries and social security. At the same time, the EU includes 27 countries, including Romania.

According to Directive 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and Council of April 29, 2004, all citizens of member countries have equal rights, freedoms and obligations. This means that holders of Romanian passports, just like Italian or French ones, can move freely throughout the entire European Union and the Schengen zone, freely live, work, study and conduct business in the chosen state. There is no need to obtain visas or additional permits.

What does the holder of a Romanian passport receive?

A Romanian passport is a documentary proof of the status of a citizen of the country. Its strength is determined by its position in the official world Passport Index, which is formed based on the number of countries available for entry without visas. Romania ranks 8th, and its citizens can visit 169 countries without first obtaining a visa. Other advantages of a Romanian passport include:

• studying at the best universities in Europe with the opportunity to receive scholarships and grants;
• social guarantees in the form of pensions, maternity and other benefits;
• high-quality and affordable medical insurance services;
• tax benefits, access to the European banking system and low lending rates;
• Ample opportunities for startups and businesses.

How to obtain Romanian citizenship

One of the simplest and most accessible ways to obtain a Romanian passport is to restore citizenship by roots. The state authorities are interested in the return of the descendants of the Romanians who lived in the country from 1918 to 1940 and were

forced migrants. Today, people from post-Soviet countries often do not even suspect that they have Romanian ancestors, which can serve as a basis for obtaining a passport from an EU state.

The procedure for obtaining citizenship by repatriation includes the following steps:

1. Collection of documents

Applicants must prepare a dossier in accordance with the chosen basis for immigration. It is essential to carefully prepare the required documents to avoid delays in obtaining Romanian citizenship.

2. Submitting an application

The procedure involves a personal visit to the Ministry of Justice, so the immigrant must obtain a national visa allowing entry into Romania or apply for a biometric passport. The queue for serving must be reserved in advance.

3. Waiting for a decision

After submitting documents and talking with an employee of the Romanian Ministry of Justice, the applicant is given a special dosar number, which allows you to track the status of the case on the state website. The waiting period should be used to study the text of the oath of allegiance to the Romanian people and a few phrases for basic communication.

4. Exit to order

If the submission of documents and the interview were successful, then usually the assignment of status is only a matter of time. According to the law, the period for reviewing a case is 6 months, and the speed of making a decision is influenced by the current number of applications, the workload of inspectors and other factors. You must appear in person at the citizenship certificate ceremony and take the oath before employees of the Ministry of Justice.

5. Paperwork

The final stage is the registration of all internal documents of a Romanian citizen. These include an identity card, international passport, tax number, registration and a Romanian birth certificate.

Other ways to obtain citizenship

There are a number of programs for obtaining a Romanian passport on the following grounds:

- Employment

Legal work in Romania allows you to apply for a residence permit with subsequent acquisition of permanent resident status, and subsequently citizenship.

– Business

Romania does not offer current citizenship by investment programs, but doing business in the country can also serve as a starting point on the path to obtaining a passport.

- Education

Education at a Romanian university is not the basis for obtaining citizenship, but after receiving a diploma and employment in the country, the applicant can apply for a residence permit, permanent residence, and ultimately a passport.

– Family reunion

This category includes the fact of marriage with a Romanian citizen, adoption and reunification with family members who are not residents of the country.

Each of the above-mentioned methods for obtaining Romanian citizenship has its advantages and disadvantages. Despite the apparent simplicity of the procedure, complications can arise, leading to citizenship denials. The most common reasons for passport denials include the absence of a police clearance certificate, incorrect or false information, violations of the law in EU countries, or inconclusive documentary evidence. It's best to entrust the document processing to immigration specialists with experience and the necessary knowledge in this area.

By the way, just a few years ago almost no one had heard about the restoration of citizenship in Romania and the process of reviewing the application took a matter of months. In the last two years, the popularity of the program has grown rapidly, which directly affects the time it takes to check and make a decision. If you have been considering the idea of ​​moving to the EU for a long time, then a Romanian passport will be an excellent solution. The country's legislation does not require living on its territory or knowing the language at a high level. Immediately after completing the internal documents, you can choose to reside in any state of the association.

Those who are already staying in one of the EU states on the basis of a work or any other visa should also consider the possibility of obtaining a Romanian passport. The document provides expanded rights and eliminates the need to regularly obtain, renew and extend residence permits in any EU country.