Romanian Passport: How Russians Can Obtain Citizenship

Romanian citizenship attracts Russians with its fast, simplified application process, lasting only 12-18 months. There’s no need to obtain a temporary residence permit, observe a residency period, and then apply for permanent residence. A Romanian passport allows you to live, work, develop a business, or study in any EU country.

You can obtain Romanian citizenship through naturalization, which requires you to reside in the country for eight years. Citizenship can also be acquired by birth to parents who hold Romanian passports, or after five years of marriage and cohabitation with a Romanian citizen.

By engaging immigration lawyers, you’ll receive support at every stage of the application process. Obtain a second passport in the way that works best for you.

What does a Romanian passport offer Russians?

By obtaining a Romanian passport, Russians have the opportunity to retain Russian citizenship, which allows them to enjoy all civil rights in Russia, as well as access to the rights of EU citizens. In practice, this means the following:

• visiting over 170 countries without visas;
• employment at any company operating in the EU, outside of the quotas often applied to foreign specialists;
• residence in any EU country without the need for a temporary or permanent residence permit;
• studying at EU educational institutions with the opportunity to receive scholarships and grants under the same conditions as other EU student students;
• receiving social security from the state, participating in the pension system on an equal basis with EU citizens;
• running a business, accessing loans, and obtaining a mortgage from EU banks without additional checks.

A Romanian passport offers all of these opportunities, offering freedom of movement throughout the European Union, access to the European labor market, and a high standard of living.

Methods for Obtaining a Romanian Passport: An Overview of Relevant Options for Russians

To obtain Romanian citizenship, Russians can reside in the country for many years, first with a temporary residence permit, and then with a permanent residence permit. Most citizens also have access to a simplified procedure that does not require prior residence in Romania. A Romanian passport can also be obtained through marriage to a Romanian citizen.

Romanian citizenship law does not require renunciation of the first passport, unless the issuing country prohibits its citizens from holding multiple citizenships. Russian law permits dual citizenship, meaning that upon obtaining citizenship in Romania, you can retain your Russian citizenship and retain your Russian passport.

Next, we’ll take a closer look at all the methods Russians can use to obtain Romanian citizenship.

Simplified Program

According to Article 11 of the Romanian Citizenship Law, you can obtain a Romanian passport through a simplified procedure. In this case, you bypass the residence permit process and obtain citizenship immediately.

The first step in acquiring simplified citizenship is preparing your documents, which our lawyers will handle. Next, submit your completed application to the National Citizenship Authority (ANC) in Bucharest, to your embassy/consulate in Russia, or through the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

This is followed by a lengthy review process, lasting approximately a year. The Citizenship Commission will review your documents. All information must be correct. This is one of the most important stages of the procedure, as many applications are rejected due to providing false information.

Upon completion of the review, if the ANC makes a positive decision, the President of the National Citizenship Authority will issue a decree granting you citizenship. You will receive written notification by mail within 15 days of the decision.

Then, within a year, you must register and attend an oath-taking ceremony, which takes place at the ANC. On the day of the oath-taking ceremony, you become a Romanian citizen. After the ceremony, you will receive a temporary citizenship certificate valid for 60 days. During this period, you will be issued a permanent biometric Romanian citizen card.

To simplify the process of acquiring Romanian citizenship, take advantage of the legal assistance of our specialists. Our lawyers will help you prepare a complete set of documents, verify their accuracy, and support you through all stages of the immigration process. This is especially important if you plan to use a simplified procedure or expect to shorten your residency period.

Citizenship by Naturalization

Russians can obtain Romanian citizenship through naturalization, which requires eight years of residence in the country. You must have a stable income sufficient to support yourself and your family, which is at least the minimum wage per person, which is 795 EUR.

You must also prove that you have no criminal record, speak Romanian at a B1 level, understand the basics of the Romanian Constitution and culture, and have integrated into local life.

Obtaining Romanian citizenship by naturalization begins with determining the purpose of your move to the country. Russians can migrate to Romania for work, business development, study, or family residency. Once you’ve determined your purpose, you can apply for a visa to enter Romania and a residence permit, which is granted for one to five years, depending on the reason, with the possibility of renewal.

After five years of residence in Romania, you can apply for permanent residence, which is valid for five years. Please note that a residence permit for study does not directly entitle you to permanent residency. The years spent in Romania for study purposes count toward half of your residency period. Therefore, upon completion of your studies, you must obtain a new residence permit based on work, business, or marriage to a Romanian citizen and reside with it for the remaining years before applying for permanent residence.

After eight years of residence in Romania, provided you meet all other legal requirements, you can apply for citizenship. Marriage to a Romanian citizen or Romanian ancestry will expedite the process of obtaining a Romanian passport.

Citizenship by Marriage

A Romanian passport can be obtained based on a five-year marriage to a Romanian citizen and the same period of residence in the country. This is the only exemption provided for in Article 8 of the Romanian Citizenship Law. Spouses of Romanian citizens must obtain a temporary residence permit through family reunification. Like other applicants for Romanian citizenship through naturalization, they can also obtain a residence permit for work or business purposes. With a temporary residence permit, you must live in the country for five years. Then, you must obtain permanent residence, and then apply for Romanian citizenship.

If you plan to give birth to a child in Romania, this will not qualify you for citizenship. However, the child can become a Romanian citizen if their other parent holds a Romanian passport. Your child can also obtain Russian citizenship, since you can retain your Russian passport while applying for Romanian citizenship.

Citizenship by Investment

Naturalization in Romania by investment is suitable for Russians who wish to develop a business in Romania. Establishing a company and investing a significant amount of money (from 150,000 EUR) will allow you to obtain a residence permit for 1 to 3 years, followed by permanent residency, and finally a Romanian passport.

Initially, to enter the country, you must obtain a visa authorized by the Ministry of Energy, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Business Environment (MEIMMMA). To obtain this permit, you must submit a business plan that convinces the authorized commission that your business will bring real benefits to Romania.

After receiving your 90-day visa, you must travel to Romania. Next, you must open a company in Romania, where you will be a shareholder, board member, or administrative employee. Based on the incorporation documents and notification from the Romanian Center for Foreign Investment Promotion, you can obtain a residence permit for business. You must also provide proof of income of at least EUR 500 if you are an employee, and EUR 700 if you are a shareholder.

When starting a business, you must invest at least EUR 150,000 or create 25 jobs. This will allow you to receive a one-year residence permit with the right to regular renewal if you can annually prove the viability of your business. If you invest at least EUR 500,000 in the development of the Romanian economy or create more than 50 jobs, you can receive a three-year residence permit, which can then be renewed subject to the successful development of your business. After residing for five years, you can apply for permanent residence, and after eight years, for Romanian citizenship.

How long do you need to live in Romania to obtain citizenship?

To obtain Romanian citizenship, you must live in the country for eight years through the naturalization process. Obtaining Romanian citizenship through the simplified program does not require residency in the country.

For clarity, let’s look at a table showing the possible grounds for citizenship and the required residency periods for each.

Applying for a Romanian passport through naturalization will require more than eight years of processing. You’ll first need to obtain a temporary residence permit, renew it regularly, and reside in the country for the required five years before receiving permanent residency. You’ll then need to obtain permanent residency and reside there for another three years. Only then can you begin applying for Romanian citizenship.

After receiving Romanian citizenship, you’ll need to obtain a Romanian national identity card (buletin) and a Romanian passport. Processing of these documents takes between 15 and 60 business days, depending on whether you apply domestically or internationally.

If you apply for a passport at a Romanian diplomatic mission located in another EU country, the waiting period is 45 business days. If you apply in Russia through an embassy or consulate, you’ll receive your Romanian biometric passport within 60 business days. Do I need to renounce my Russian citizenship?
Romania allows citizens to hold dual citizenship, so you don’t need to renounce your Russian citizenship when applying for a Romanian passport. The Russian Federation, on the other hand, doesn’t prohibit citizens from obtaining passports in other countries while simultaneously acquiring dual citizenship. This allows you to retain your Russian citizenship, as well as your child and other family members, while obtaining a Romanian passport.

The difference between dual and second citizenship in Russia and Romania is that in the former case, the countries have agreements allowing each state to recognize a citizen with a second passport as a citizen of another country. Dual citizenship means you can hold passports from Romania and other countries, but Russia will only recognize you as its own citizen. Therefore, you can hold Russian and Romanian citizenship simultaneously, but due to the lack of a mutual agreement between these countries, each state will only recognize you as its own citizen.

What other conditions must be met to obtain a Romanian passport?

To obtain Romanian citizenship through the simplified procedure, you must prepare the necessary documents, submit an application to the ANC, and await a decision from the authorized body.

Russians who would like not only to obtain Romanian citizenship but also to seamlessly integrate into local society must go through all the stages of naturalization. The following conditions under Romanian law must be met:

• be of legal age;
• have legally resided in the country for eight years, holding a valid residence permit, and, at the time of applying for citizenship, a permanent residence permit;
• have an income sufficient to support themselves and their family;
• have a certificate confirming proficiency in Romanian at level B1;
• pass a citizenship test during an interview at the ANC, which asks questions about the fundamentals of the Constitution, history, and traditions of Romania;
• have no criminal record or history of disturbing public order in Romanian territory.

Documents for a Romanian Passport

Applying for Romanian citizenship requires the preparation of certain documents. The exact list of documents depends on the basis you used to obtain your temporary or permanent residence permit. The general list consists of the following documents:

• an application written in Romanian;
• your original passport and a copy;
• your permanent residence permit;
• a certificate from the General Inspectorate for Immigration indicating the date of obtaining your permanent residence permit and the total period of residence in the country;
• a notarized statement stating that you do not pose a threat to the national security of the Romanian state;
• a certificate of no criminal record obtained from the Russian Federation;
• documents confirming your marital status;
• birth certificate;
• a residential purchase or rental agreement;
• a bank statement, salary certificate, or other documents confirming your financial status Status.

All documents must be submitted in Romanian or with a notarized translation.

How much does a Romanian passport cost?

Payment of the state fee is a mandatory requirement for obtaining Romanian citizenship and a Romanian passport. In accordance with paragraph 4 of Article 22(1) of Law No. 21/1991, a payment of EUR 17.65 for the Romanian citizenship certificate must be made before submitting documents. A receipt for payment must be attached to the documents you submit to the ANC.

If you are also acquiring Romanian citizenship with your children and their details are included in your application, you must also pay the specified state fee for each child. A single fee of EUR 52 is required for a biometric passport.

Reasons for Denial of Citizenship

When applying for Romanian citizenship, you may be refused if it is established that you have provided false information. Threats to Romania’s national security, as well as ties to terrorist organizations, are grounds for denial of Romanian citizenship.

You will not be able to become a Romanian citizen if the competent authorities find evidence of your service in the armed forces of a state with which Romania does not maintain diplomatic relations or is at war. Romanian citizenship will also not be granted if you have outstanding debts to the state or if you are a party to a criminal case, accused of a crime, or suspected of committing a crime.

If you fail to swear allegiance to the Romanian state within one year of the issuance of the decree granting your citizenship, the decree will be annulled, and you will not receive citizenship.

Illegal Immigration and Its Consequences

Romania is often used by undocumented immigrants as a transit point for travel to other, more economically developed EU countries. However, even so, in the most recent reporting year, 10,266 foreigners were denied entry to Romania due to situations that led to their illegal status in the country. The most common violations include:

• staying in the EU without a visa or residence permit for a period exceeding 90 days in a six-month period;
• failing to provide documents confirming the purpose of the foreigner’s arrival in Romania;
• lack of a valid visa permit.

To avoid breaking the law and being considered illegal, it is essential to renew your visa and residence permit promptly. Even one day in the country with an expired permit is considered illegal. Losing the basis for obtaining a residence permit can also lead to illegal immigration status unless you find another purpose for your stay and obtain a new residence permit.

If you are found to be illegal, the immigration authorities have the right to deport you and ban you from entering the country for up to five years, depending on the severity of the violation.

Romania combats illegal immigration through enhanced border controls—border police actively patrol problem areas and employ technical surveillance. The country also cooperates with the EU and Frontex (the European Border and Coast Guard Agency), exchanging data and conducting joint operations. Additionally, deportations are being implemented, measures are being taken against smugglers of illegal immigrants, and the possibility of legalization is being offered to those who have fled illegal or military actions and require protection.