Romanian citizenship by marriage

Romanian citizenship by marriage is a legal process that allows a foreign national who is married to a Romanian citizen to acquire Romanian citizenship. The acquisition of citizenship is subject to certain conditions and requirements set by Romanian law.

How to get citizenship by marriage in Romania

Here are the general guidelines:

1. Length of marriage. The foreign spouse must have been married to a Romanian citizen for a minimum period of three years. This requirement can be waived in exceptional cases, such as if the couple has children together.
2. Residency requirement. The foreign spouse must have resided in Romania for a minimum period of at least three years. This period can be reduced to one year if the couple has a child together.
3. Proof of marriage. The marriage must be legally recognized in Romania. The foreign spouse will need to provide a marriage certificate issued by the competent authorities in their home country, translated into Romanian and legalized.
4. Integration requirements. The foreign spouse must demonstrate a basic knowledge of the Romanian language, as well as knowledge of Romanian culture and society. This requirement is typically assessed through an interview conducted by the Romanian authorities.
5. Good character and no criminal record. The foreign spouse must provide evidence of good character and must not have a criminal record.
6. Renunciation of previous citizenship. In general, Romania requires the foreign spouse to renounce their previous citizenship upon acquiring Romanian citizenship.

Documentation and Application

To apply for Romanian citizenship by marriage, you will need to gather the necessary documentation and submit an application to the competent authorities. Here are the general documents required:

1. Application form. Obtain the application form for acquiring Romanian citizenship. This form can usually be obtained from the Romanian diplomatic mission or the competent authority in Romania.
2. Valid passport.
3. Marriage certificate. Ensure that the certificate is translated into Romanian and legalized, if required.
4. Proof of residency. Gather documents that demonstrate your residency in Romania for the required period. This can include rental agreements, utility bills, or other official documents that show your address and length of stay in Romania.
5. Romanian language and culture knowledge. Prepare evidence of your knowledge of the Romanian language and culture, as required by the authorities. This can include certificates of language courses, diplomas, or any other documents that attest to your proficiency.
6. Criminal record clearance. Obtain a criminal record clearance certificate from your home country.
7. Photos and additional forms. Provide recent passport-sized photos of yourself as per the specifications provided by the authorities. Additionally, you may need to complete and submit any additional forms or declarations required by the Romanian authorities.

Dual Citizenship

Romania allows for dual citizenship, which means that individuals can hold Romanian citizenship while also maintaining citizenship in another country. The Romanian government revised its citizenship laws in 2010, removing the previous requirement for mandatory renunciation of previous citizenship upon acquiring Romanian citizenship.