Romania Citizenship Requirements

Eight years plus a settled residence right

An applicant aged at least 18 must hold long-term or permanent residence rights when applying and have at least eight years of lawful residence. The married route instead requires at least five years of lawful residence since marriage while married to and living with a Romanian citizen, still with the required residence rights.

Effective from 2025-03-15

Absences and reductions are qualified

An absence exceeding six months in a year excludes that year. The eight-year period can be reduced by up to three years for qualifying EU/EEA/Swiss or Romania-born applicants only with the statutory participation or contribution conditions; recognised refugees need the separate exceptional-integration assessment. These are not automatic nationality discounts.

Means, loyalty and good conduct

Applicants must show lawful means for a decent living, loyalty to the Romanian state and constitutional values, and good conduct. Conduct or convictions incompatible with citizenship, undermining the legal order or national-security concerns can prevent admission.

Romanian language and civic interview

The ordinary interview assesses reading, writing and oral Romanian alongside history, geography, culture, the Constitution and anthem. A mean mark of at least 5 out of 10 is required. The procedure provides disability adaptations; applicants under the specified court protective measures are exempt from the interview.

No Article 8 renunciation condition; oath matters

Article 8 does not list surrendering another citizenship as an admission condition. Another country's law may nevertheless remove that nationality. Meeting the Romanian conditions does not create an automatic entitlement; citizenship is normally acquired on taking the allegiance oath after approval.