{"id":51870,"date":"2025-09-05T15:47:49","date_gmt":"2025-09-05T15:47:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/developments\/?post_type=legal_developments&p=51870"},"modified":"2025-09-05T15:47:49","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T15:47:49","slug":"legal-analysis-the-conditions-for-obtaining-romanian-citizenship-have-been-tightened-statistics","status":"publish","type":"legal_developments","link":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/developments\/thought-leadership\/legal-analysis-the-conditions-for-obtaining-romanian-citizenship-have-been-tightened-statistics\/","title":{"rendered":"Legal analysis. The conditions for obtaining Romanian citizenship have been tightened (statistics)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Additional conditions for obtaining Romanian citizenship<\/strong><\/p>\n

The process of obtaining\u00a0Romanian citizenship<\/strong>\u00a0has undergone significant changes in recent years, and statistical data clearly reflects this trend. Between 2018 and 2024, the number of\u00a0Romanian citizenship<\/strong>\u00a0application files fluctuated, with a steady increase during 2018-2019, but also a sharp decrease in approval rates in the following years. For example, in 2018, there were 93,787 applications, of which 88% were approved and 12% remained pending. In contrast, in 2023, only 0.37% of the 38,981 files were approved, the rest still being under evaluation.<\/p>\n

During the pandemic years (2020-2021), the number of applications dropped significantly due to the impact of social distancing and related restrictions. Thus, in 2020 only 20,871 files were submitted, and in 2021 this number slightly increased to 38,707. Nevertheless, the approval rate remained low.
\nIn 2024, 50,350 requests were submitted, but none were approved by the end of the year. The situation remained unchanged through March 2025, with 3,976 files currently submitted and none approved by the National Authority for Citizenship (ANC).<\/p>\n

This trend of increasing pending files and decreasing approval rates in Romania is directly influenced by recent legislative changes, which have introduced stricter conditions for obtaining\u00a0Romanian citizenship<\/strong>.<\/a><\/p>\n

With the new legal provisions in place, the process of obtaining\u00a0Romanian citizenship<\/strong>\u00a0has become more rigorous, requiring applicants to meet new conditions for\u00a0Romanian citizenship<\/strong>\u00a0compared to previous years. One of the most important changes concerns Romanian language proficiency, which has now become a mandatory requirement for all applicants seeking to acquire\u00a0Romanian citizenship<\/strong>\u00a0by\u00a0naturalisation in Romania<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0reacquisition of Romanian citizenship<\/strong>. Law no. 21\/1991 on Romanian citizenship, particularly Articles 10 and 11, clearly stipulates that the applicant must demonstrate a certain level of competence in the Romanian language by presenting a language proficiency certificate issued by higher education institutions in Romania or other accredited institutions.<\/p>\n

In this context, an\u00a0immigration lawyer in Romania<\/strong>\u00a0plays a crucial role in the citizenship application in Romania process, providing\u00a0lawyer advice in Romania<\/strong>\u00a0and support throughout all phases. The Romanian law firm Pavel, M\u0103rg\u0103rit & Associates provides specialized\u00a0immigration services in Romania<\/strong>\u00a0and legal assistance in the process of obtaining\u00a0Romanian citizenship<\/strong>\u00a0and representation before the National Authority for Citizenship or the Immigration Office. A\u00a0Romanian citizenship lawyer<\/strong>\u00a0ensures that every legal requirement, such as proof of Romanian language knowledge or other necessary conditions for\u00a0Romanian citizenship<\/strong>, is fulfilled correctly and efficiently, minimizing both administrative and legal risks.<\/p>\n

Citizenship Attorney in Romani<\/u><\/strong>a\u2013\u00a0Obtaining Citizenship by Birth<\/strong><\/p>\n

The simplest way to obtain Romanian citizenship<\/strong>\u00a0is by birth, for persons born on Romanian territory or whose parents are Romanian citizens. According to the law, individuals born on Romanian soil automatically acquire\u00a0Romanian citizenship<\/strong>, except in certain special cases regulated by law. Similarly, those born outside Romania to Romanian parents have the right to acquire\u00a0Romanian citizenship<\/strong>\u00a0by birth, without needing to file a full citizenship application in Romania or meet any linguistic competence requirements. This is a much simpler and quicker process than\u00a0naturalisation in Romania<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0reacquisition of Romanian citizenship<\/strong>, which impose significantly stricter conditions for\u00a0obtaining Romanian citizenship<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Romanian Citizenship Lawyer<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Obtaining Citizenship by Naturalisation in Romania<\/strong><\/p>\n

Naturalisation in Romania<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is the legal method by which foreign nationals can obtain\u00a0Romanian citizenship<\/strong>, provided they fulfill the conditions imposed by the Romanian state. These conditions include\u00a0legal residency in Romania<\/strong>\u00a0for at least 8 years (or 5 years if married to a Romanian citizen), proof of Romanian language proficiency through certification (at least B1 level), and the applicant\u2019s social and cultural integration. These requirements must be demonstrated through supporting documents such as employment proof, proof of social integration, and good legal conduct.<\/p>\n

For specialized\u00a0lawyer advice in Romania\u00a0and assistance from a\u00a0citizenship attorney in Romania, including in cases\u00a0of reacquisition of Romanian citizenship, please don\u2019t hesitate to contact us via our online form:\u00a0<\/strong>https:\/\/avocatpavel.ro\/contact\/<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t navigate these challenges alone. Contact Us today for expert assistance tailored to your needs.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Contact Us<\/a><\/p>\n

Applicants must prove they are capable of actively participating in Romanian social and cultural life. At the time of citizenship application in Romania file submission, they must include identity documents, proof of\u00a0residency in Romania<\/strong><\/a>, a Romanian language certificate, and other relevant paperwork. Due to the lengthy duration of the procedure, the need for\u00a0lawyer advice in Romania<\/strong>\u00a0is essential to help navigate the complex regulations and the new conditions for obtaining Romanian citizenship.<\/p>\n

Immigration Attorney in Romania \u2013 Obtaining Citizenship by Reacquisition<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

In cases of reacquisition of Romanian citizenship, individuals who previously held\u00a0Romanian citizenship\u00a0<\/strong>but lost it due to emigration or voluntary renunciation may submit a request to the National Authority for Citizenship. The\u00a0loss of citizenship<\/strong>\u00a0often stems from prior laws or personal decisions, and\u00a0loss of citizenship<\/strong>\u00a0must be reviewed before reinstatement. The\u00a0reacquisition of Romanian citizenship<\/strong>\u00a0follows an administrative procedure whereby the applicant can regain citizenship status, provided certain conditions for obtaining\u00a0Romanian citizenship<\/strong>\u00a0are met. These include\u00a0residency in Romania<\/strong>, background checks on the reason citizenship was lost, and proof of Romanian language proficiency.<\/p>\n

Foreign citizens applying for reacquisition of\u00a0Romanian citizenship<\/strong>\u00a0must submit a complete file, similar to the\u00a0naturalisation in Romania<\/strong>\u00a0process. A\u00a0Romanian citizenship lawyer<\/strong>\u00a0can be of great help in preparing and submitting the necessary documents. An\u00a0immigration attorney in Romania<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0provides full assistance in the\u00a0citizenship application in Romania<\/strong>\u00a0process, guiding clients through all stages, especially with the new conditions for obtaining Romanian citizenship and other legal requirements enforced by the Romanian authorities.
\nA\u00a0naturalization lawyer in Romania<\/strong>\u00a0works closely with the Immigration Office in Romania and other relevant institutions to ensure the documentation is accurate and complete, making the process as efficient as possible and protecting the applicant\u2019s interests.<\/p>\n

\u201cObtaining\u00a0Romanian citizenship<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is no longer a simple formality. The new requirements demand a careful and well-documented approach. The support of a specialized\u00a0immigration lawyer consultation in Romania<\/strong>\u00a0is not just an advantage, but a real necessity for those seeking to obtain\u00a0Romanian citizenship<\/strong>.\u201d
\n\u2014 Dr. Radu Pavel, Managing Partner of Pavel, M\u0103rg\u0103rit & Associates Romanian Law Firm<\/p>\n

In conclusion, the procedure of obtaining\u00a0Romanian citizenship<\/strong>\u00a0has become significantly more demanding due to the new legal requirements, focusing primarily on the real integration of applicants into Romanian society. Therefore, requesting\u00a0immigration lawyer consultation in Romania<\/strong>\u00a0or professional assistance from a\u00a0citizenship attorney in Romania<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0naturalization lawyer in Romania<\/strong>\u00a0is highly recommended.
\nLegal support through experienced\u00a0immigration services in Romania<\/strong>, offered by a dedicated\u00a0immigration attorney in Romania<\/strong>, ensures that clients receive accurate\u00a0lawyer advice in Romania<\/strong>\u00a0tailored to their specific case, especially in the context of\u00a0residency application in Romania<\/strong>\u00a0or after\u00a0loss of citizenship<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Romanian Law Firm Pavel M\u0103rg\u0103rit and Associates<\/strong>\u00a0provides specialized\u00a0immigration services in Romania<\/strong>\u00a0at every stage, from risk analysis and tax compliance to the drafting and submission of administrative complaints and representation in court. With a team of\u00a0Romanian citizenship lawyers in Romania<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0naturalization lawyers in Romania<\/strong>, we ensure the protection of our clients\u2019 interests by reducing financial risks and maintaining legal stability in the context of increasingly complex regulations.<\/p>\n

Pavel, M\u0103rg\u0103rit and Associates Law Firm<\/strong>\u00a0is one of the top law firms in Romania, providing high-quality legal services. The firm\u2019s clients include multinational and domestic companies of great magnitude. In 2025, the law firm\u2019s success stories brought it international recognition from the most prestigious international guides and publications in the field. As a result,\u00a0Pavel, M\u0103rg\u0103rit and Associates Law Firm<\/strong>\u00a0ranked 3rd in Romania in the Legal 500\u2019s ranking of business law firms with the most relevant expertise. The law firm is internationally recognized by the IFLR 1000 Financial and Corporate 2025 guide. Additionally,\u00a0Pavel, M\u0103rg\u0103rit and Associates Law Firm<\/strong>\u00a0is the only law firm in Romania recommended by the international director of Global Law Experts in London in the Dispute Resolution practice area. All relevant information\u00a0about Pavel, M\u0103rg\u0103rit and Associates Law Firm c<\/strong>an be found on the website\u00a0www.avocatpavel.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-51870","legal_developments","type-legal_developments","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/developments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/legal_developments\/51870","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/developments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/legal_developments"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/developments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/legal_developments"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/developments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51870"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}