Romania's Ministry of Justice has clarified the residency requirements and document checklist for foreign nationals seeking Romanian citizenship. According to official guidelines published at cetatenie.just.ro, applicants must have maintained legal residence in Romania for a minimum of eight years before they can apply. This period is reduced to five years for individuals married to a Romanian citizen, calculated from the date of marriage.
Required Documents for Romanian Citizenship
The application process demands a comprehensive set of official documents. Applicants must submit a notarised copy of their passport along with a certified Romanian translation, a certified copy of their permanent residence permit, and a certificate from the General Inspectorate for Immigration confirming the dates of legal residence and permanent residency in the country.
Proof of lawful income is also mandatory. Applicants must demonstrate sufficient earnings obtained within Romania over the preceding three years to support a decent standard of living. Additionally, all documents must be placed in a fastener folder, fees must be paid before submission, and the applicant must appear in person to lodge the application.
International Document Requirements
Documents issued outside Romania must carry an Apostille stamp from the relevant authority in the issuing country under the 1961 Hague Convention, or be superlegalized. This requirement does not apply to documents prepared by Romanian diplomatic or consular representatives abroad. A critical administrative note: the marital status information on any submitted document must exactly match the applicant's birth certificate.
Knowledge and Language Test
Beyond paperwork and residency, applicants must demonstrate working knowledge of the Romanian language, both reading and writing. They are also tested on their familiarity with the Constitution of Romania, the national anthem, and broader topics covering Romanian culture and civilisation, including history, geography, art, and literature.
These requirements ensure that new citizens can integrate into Romanian society. For comparison, similar residency requirements exist in other countries. Legit.ng previously reported that Australia requires applicants to have lived in the country on a valid visa for a specified number of years before applying for citizenship, with strict rules on time spent outside Australia.
Legit.ng also published the residency years for foreigners seeking Qatari citizenship. Romania's process, while detailed, provides a clear path for eligible foreign nationals.
