Romanian citizenship by birth

Romanian citizenship by birth is decided by the principle of jus sanguinis, which translates as “right of blood”. In other words, Romanian citizenship is earned primarily through descent from Romanian citizens rather than birthplace.

A person is deemed a Romanian citizen by birth if at least one of their parents is a Romanian citizen, according to Romanian law. This is true regardless of where you were born. It means that if one or both of your parents is a Romanian citizen, you are immediately eligible for Romanian citizenship from birth.

How to get citizenship by birth in Romania

1. At the moment of your birth, at least one of your parents must be Romanian citizens. This might be either your mum or father.
2. If you were born outside of Romania, you must register your birth within one year of your birth at the nearest Romanian embassy or consulate. The registration process requires you to submit documents proving your parent’s Romanian citizenship and your link to them.
3. The situation is slightly different if you were born in Romania to non-Romanian parents. In such instances, you do not automatically gain Romanian citizenship by birth. There are several exclusions and special conditions that may apply, such as stateless children or children whose parents acquire Romanian citizenship while they are still children. It is best to check with Romanian authorities or legal professionals in such cases to determine your eligibility for citizenship.

If you were born outside of Romania and one of your parents is a Romanian citizen, you must register your birth at the nearest Romanian embassy or consulate. This registration procedure will assist you in obtaining proof of Romanian citizenship.

Documentation and Application

To apply for Romanian citizenship by birth, you must collect the required papers and submit an application. Here is a collection of often requested documents:

1. Your original birth certificate.
2. Proof of parent’s Romanian citizenship. You must produce documentation proving that at least one of your parents is a Romanian citizen. This includes their Romanian passport, ID card, and any other formal documentation establishing their citizenship.
3. If applicable, a marriage certificate. If your parents are married, their marriage certificate may be required as proof of their legal partnership.
4. Evidence of a parent-child bond. Documents establishing your relationship to the Romanian citizen parent, such as a parent’s name on your birth certificate or other necessary legal documents, should be submitted.
5. Legalization and translation. If any of your documents are not in Romanian, they may need to be translated into Romanian by an authorized translator. Furthermore, depending on the criteria of the Romanian embassy or consulate, the translations and/or original papers may need to be legalized or apostilled.

Dual Citizenship

Dual citizenship is permitted in Romania, which means that you can obtain Romanian citizenship while also maintaining citizenship in another nation. The Romanian government supports its citizens’ right to dual citizenship and does not require them to renounce their former citizenship.