The post The Romanian EU Passport: A Gateway to Global Mobility and Opportunity appeared first on Romanian citizenship by descent and Romanian EU passport by ancestry.
]]>The Power of the Romanian Passport
The Romanian passport is often ranked among the top in terms of travel freedom. Currently ranked 7th on the Global Guide Passport Index, and 35th on the Individual Guide Passport Index, the Romanian passport is providing visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 175 countries (passportindex.org).
As such, the Romanian passport is currently offering a wider range of travel options than countries such as Australia, Brazil, Israel, Mexico, and even the United Stated of America, which is currently 39th on the Individual Guide Passport Index.
As a member of the European Union (EU), Romania offers its citizens access to all the privileges that come with EU citizenship, including visa-free travel to most countries across Europe and beyond. The recent decision by the United States to remove the visa requirement for Romanian nationals is a game-changer, putting the Romanian passport in the spotlight as one of the most valuable travel documents.
1. Visa-Free Travel to the U.S.
For years, Romanian citizens were required to apply for a visa when traveling to the United States. However, with the USA lifting this requirement, Romanian passport holders now enjoy the freedom of visa-free travel for tourism or business stays of up to 90 days. This is a monumental advantage for Romanians, particularly for businessperson, tourists, students, and anyone with personal or professional ties to the U.S.
On January 10th, 2025, the Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas, in consultation with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, designated Romania as a participating country in the Visa Waiver Program. United States Customs and Border Protection anticipates the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) online application and mobile application will be updated on or around March 31st, 2025, to allow most citizens and nationals of Romania to apply to travel to the United States under the VWP for tourism or business purposes for up to 90 days without first obtaining a U.S. visa. (ro.usembassy.gov)
2. EU Citizenship Benefits
Being a Romanian citizen means access to all the benefits of being part of the European Union. This includes:
- Freedom of Movement: The ability to live, work, and study in any of the 27 EU member states.
- Healthcare: Access to EU-wide healthcare systems, often with low or no costs depending on the country.
- Education: Romanian citizens can take advantage of EU education programs, which often feature lower tuition fees and better opportunities for exchange programs.
- Social Security & Pension Benefits: Romanian citizens enjoy the social security system provided by other EU countries when they work or reside there.
- Legal Protections: The EU offers strong legal protections for workers, consumers, and travelers.
The Advantages of the Romanian Passport for Citizens of Other Countries
While the United States, United Kindgom, Canada, Israel, Japan, Brazil, and Australia all hold strong passports with significant global mobility, a Romanian passport offers several distinct advantages that could appeal to citizens of these countries. Here’s how they would benefit:
- European Union Access: While most citizens of the countries listed above can visit the EU without a visa, holding a Romanian passport would provide access to long-term residence, work, and education rights within the EU. This can be an attractive option for those seeking to establish a business or relocate to Europe, particularly given the political and economic stability of EU countries.
- Simplified Travel Within the EU: For frequent travelers to European countries, a Romanian passport allows for hassle-free travel with fewer restrictions, border checks, and access to services across the EU. Having a Romanian passport offers additional flexibility.
- Access to EU Social Systems: Romanian passport holders can access the social benefits of EU countries, such as healthcare, pensions, and unemployment benefits, which are among the best in the world.
- Economic Opportunities: The EU is a major economic block with access to diverse markets, and holding a Romanian passport would provide the aforementioned citizens with additional options for conducting business or investing in Europe.
For those with ancestral ties to Romania, obtaining a Romanian passport could be a relatively simple process. Romanian citizenship by descent is available to individuals who can prove their Romanian lineage, potentially opening the door to an EU passport that offers all of the aforementioned benefits. It’s an increasingly attractive option for people in the United States, United Kingdom, Israel, Japan, Brazil, and Australia and not limited to those, who want enhanced mobility and access to a broader set of global opportunities.
Tap into Romanian Passport’s Growing Influence and unlock a new chapter in your personal, academic, or professional life Contact us now.
The post The Romanian EU Passport: A Gateway to Global Mobility and Opportunity appeared first on Romanian citizenship by descent and Romanian EU passport by ancestry.
]]>Romania is full member Schengen
Romanian EU passport
— a true asset for international mobility —
For those who are eligible for Romanian citizenship, now is the perfect time to act. Starting January 1, 2025, Romania will officially join the Schengen Area as a full member. This will make Romanian passport one of the most powerful travel documents in the world.
EU member states have decided to remove checks on persons at the internal land borders with and between Bulgaria and Romania from 1 January 2025.
With Romania’s Schengen full membership, obtaining a Romanian passport unlocks incredible global mobility and prestige. Our expert legal services are here to guide you through the process of securing your citizenship and passport quickly and efficiently, ensuring you can fully benefit from this historic change. The legislation currently in place makes it easier to apply for citizenship and this comes as a helping hand from the Romanian authorities to those with Romanian ancestry and blood.
The Schengen Area? A border-free zone comprising 27 European countries allows passport-free travel across its member states. By joining, Romania unlocks unparalleled mobility for its passport holders. Romanian EU citizens will now enjoy visa-free travel to popular European destinations like France, Germany, Italy, and Spain with minimal border formalities.
For foreigners, this change also carries indirect benefits. Romania’s inclusion in Schengen facilitates smoother business and leisure travel, especially for dual citizens and those with Romanian roots. Americans and British traveling to Romania can now seamlessly continue their European journeys without encountering additional border checks. This expansion reinforces Europe’s interconnectedness, streamlining logistics for global explorers.
For Romanians and their diaspora, the strengthened passport signifies greater freedom and prestige on the global stage. With visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 175 countries, the Romanian passport is now one of the most powerful in the world—a true asset for international mobility.
Whether you’re an American or British with Romanian ties or simply planning your next European adventure, 2025 marks an exciting chapter. Romania’s Schengen membership makes travel easier, faster, and more connected than ever before. It’s time to embrace the future of borderless exploration!
Are you interested to join Schengen Area, and you have Romanian roots? Please fill our ELIGIBILITY TEST or CONTACT US for further legal assistance towards your EU passport.
The post Romania is full member Schengen appeared first on Romanian citizenship by descent and Romanian EU passport by ancestry.
]]>Lately, several clients have reported to us the concern that arose as a result of the alarmist rumors published on certain clandestine websites in Romania regarding the amendment of the Romanian citizenship law no. 21/1991. We were invited to express our legal opinion on the following aspects:
Has the citizenship law been amended or not? What is the impact of these changes on the persons eligible to acquire the Romanian citizenship under “jus sanguinis”? Is a standard of knowledge of the Romanian language introduced for people who intend to acquire Romanian citizenship by descent?
As a result of the legislative changes, are the descendants of the 2nd degree no longer eligible to acquire Romanian citizenship?
Here are some questions that we will be answering throughout this article. In the spirit of loyalty, good commercial practices and legal professionalism, with which we have accustomed our clients, we will present the legal status of the legislative changes that affect the Romanian citizenship.
- The premises for amending the Romanian Citizenship Law.
- On 23.02.2024, the Ministry of Justice put up for public debate the draft law for amending and supplementing the Romanian Citizenship Law no. 21/1991 and specified that the revision of the citizenship law is a necessary step for Romania to adhere to the VISA WAIVER.
In other words, according to the claims of the Ministry of Justice, the amendment of the citizenship law will allow Romanian citizens to travel more easily to the United States of America, once the risks of illegally acquiring Romanian citizenship are eliminated, in the context in which “Between October 2022 and today (February 2024) suspicions of forgery have been confirmed in almost 1,000 citizenship files”. PRESS ARTICLE LINK
(ii) The Minister of Justice specified that “In a broader sense, a legislative intervention is more than necessary to adapt the legal norms to the current realities. It will be a law that will give respect to every person who wants to become a Romanian citizen. But, very importantly, it will also be a law that will ensure the integrity of the process of acquiring Romanian citizenship and the elimination of possible frauds.” By revising the law, the Ministry of Justice says that the risk of corruption regarding the acquisition of Romanian citizenship by immigrants from/and outside the European Union will be eliminated. PRESS ARTICLE LINK
- Current legislative status of the draft amendment of the citizenship law.
(i) The Romanian Parliament in its two legislative chambers (Senate and later the Chamber of Deputies) adopted the draft law for amending and supplementing the Romanian Citizenship Law no. 21/1991, on June 26, 2024.
During the debates in Parliament, criticism of the draft law was made, including the fact that it facilitates access to Romanian citizenship for “Ukrainians, French, Israelis, Americans, Austrians”, and that it disadvantages Romanians. PRESS ARTICLE LINK
- On June 27, 2024, The High Court of Cassation and Justice decided to refer the matter to the Constitutional Court of Romania for constitutional review, prior to promulgation, regarding the Law on the amendment and completion of the Romanian Citizenship Law no. 21/1991, as well as for the modification and completion of other normative acts in relation to the constitutional provisions of art. 1 para. (3) and (5) on the principle of the rule of law and legality, in its component regarding the quality, predictability and accessibility of the law, as well as art. 4 para. (2) in conjunction with Article 53 of the Constitution regarding the unity of the people and equality between citizens and the proportionality of the measure with the purpose pursued.
The official press release of the High Court of Cassation and Justice can be viewed by accessing the following links: Comunicate/informări de presă – Înalta Curte de Casație și Justiție a României (iccj.ro) regarding Hotarare-SU-nr.-5-2024.pdf (iccj.ro)
Therefore, at the time of writing this article:
– The Romanian Parliament adopted the Law on the amendment of the Romanian Citizenship Law;
– The High Court of Cassation and Justice invoked several exceptions of unconstitutionality of the Law amending the normative act on Romanian citizenship;
– The Constitutional Court of Romania is to rule on the exceptions of constitutionality invoked by the High Court of Cassation and Justice;
In other words, the legislative amendments to the citizenship law have not entered into force, and are to be verified within the constitutionality review exercised by the Constitutional Court of Romania. The final form of the legislative amendments adopted by the Romanian Parliament before the constitutionality review can be accessed here. LINK
- Are the legislative changes introducing the obligation to know the Romanian language?
(i) First of all, we must emphasize that our analysis refers strictly to the persons eligible to regain Romanian citizenship based on Articles 10 and 11 of the Romanian Citizenship Law.
The premise situation from which these cases are based is that the applicant had Romanian citizenship, which he/she lost, for various reasons. In the situation of art. 10 of Law no. 21/1991 is eligible to regain Romanian citizenship both the person who has lost it and his descendants up to the second degree inclusive, and in the case of art. 11 of Law no. 21/1991 both the person who lost the Romanian citizenship and his descendants up to the third degree inclusive.
(ii) Secondly, as we have informed our clients, since 2018 (https://romaniancitizenship.ro/it-is-now-harder-to-obtain-romanian-citizenship) , the Romanian Authority for Citizenship, as well as the Romanian Consulates request from the persons, who have been approved the application for regaining Romanian citizenship (i.e. at the end of the legal procedure WHILE TAKING THE OATH) based on art. 10 and art. 11 of Law no. 21/1991, to know the Romanian language at a conversational level (B1) at the time of taking the oath of allegiance to Romania.
In contrast, according to the current legislation, persons who have not lost Romanian citizenship and their descendants up to the second degree inclusive, are NOT required to know the Romanian language, when requesting the recognition of the quality of Romanian citizen by applying for the issuance of the Romanian European passport, the assignment of the personal numerical code(CNP) or the transcription of the foreign birth certificate.
(iii) Regarding the standard of knowledge of the Romanian language introduced by the draft amendment of the citizenship law.
The draft amendment of the citizenship law affirms the standard of knowledge of the Romanian language applicable at this time in the practice of the Romanian Authority for Citizenship and the Romanian Consulates.
The draft expressly mentions that the granting of Romanian citizenship under art. 10 and 11 is conditional on the applicant’s knowledge of the Romanian language at a conversational level.
The proof of knowledge of the Romanian language is made by the applicant by:
- certificate of linguistic competence issued by the higher education institutions in Romania accredited for the study program “Preparatory Year of Romanian Language”, by the Institute of the Romanian Language, by the Romanian Cultural Institute or by the Romanian cultural institutes abroad, which certifies the knowledge of the Romanian language at a level not lower than level B I of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages – CEFR;
- a certified copy of the transcript issued by high school education units or higher education institutions in the state of citizenship or residence, certifying the study for at least 3 years in Romanian.
On the other hand, exceptions to the rule of knowledge of the Romanian language are also established:
- persons who have been Romanian citizens and who apply for the re-acquisition of citizenship according to art. 10 or 11;
- persons who have reached the age of 65 on the date of submission of the application and who apply for the granting of Romanian citizenship according to art. 10 or 11.
In order to remove any doubt, we reiterate that the draft amendment of the Citizenship Law does not require in any way the persons who have NOT lost the Romanian citizenship and their descendants up to the second degree to know the Romanian language when applying for the issuance of the Romanian European passport.
The procedure for issuing the Romanian European passport based on your descent of a Romanian citizen, it is a complex process, which can become easy if you will choose our legal services. We will review your documents. and we will inform you in detail about the steps you need to take to become a European citizen. First step – filling in the eligibility form: LINK.
The post HAS THE LAW ON ROMANIAN CITIZENSHIP BEEN AMMENDED? appeared first on Romanian citizenship by descent and Romanian EU passport by ancestry.
]]>Romanian ladies, professionally and socially active in all fields of activity, were celebrated and awarded last week, March 7, at the “Together We Protect Romania” Feminine Excellence Gala, at the Royal Palace, the National Art Museum of Romania.
The event, organized by the MediaUno Press Group, the National Institute of Statistics and the Department for Sustainable Development of the Government of Romania, was opened by Alina Gorghiu, President of the Senate of Romania, Nicolae Ciuca, Prime Minister of Romania and Associate Professor Univ. Dr. Diana – Loreta Păun, Presidential Advisor, Department of Public Health.
RomanianCitizenship.ro had the honor of being invited to this event through Gabriel Toma, the Managing Partner of our legal team.
(In the picture you can see: Mrs. Ioana Tiganescu, Managing Partner MediaUno Press Group; Mrs. Mihaela Pruna, Managing Partner MediaUno Press Group; Gabriel Toma, Managing Partner RomanianCitizenship.ro)
The post Ladies of Romania – celebrated and awarded at the Gala of Female Excellence “Together Protect Romania” appeared first on Romanian citizenship by descent and Romanian EU passport by ancestry.
]]>The post CONFERENCE EVENT appeared first on Romanian citizenship by descent and Romanian EU passport by ancestry.
]]>Along with important personalities from different fields of interest, Mr. Gabriel Toma spoke about “The challenges of the UK Romanian immigrants after BREXIT and the ways in which they can be helped by Romanian authorities”.
You can watch Mr. Gabriel Toma’s speech following the next link: https://impreuna-protejam-romania.ro/protecting-europe-in-turbulent-times-speakers-17-may/
The post CONFERENCE EVENT appeared first on Romanian citizenship by descent and Romanian EU passport by ancestry.
]]>The post ROMANIAN CITIZENSHIP CONFERENCE EVENT appeared first on Romanian citizenship by descent and Romanian EU passport by ancestry.
]]>Along with important personalities from different fields of interest, Mr. Gabriel Toma spoke about “The challenges of the Romanian public institutions and Romanian Consulates regarding the Romanian citizenship by descent, the issuance of the Romanian EU passports and the Romanian civil status documents”.
You can watch Mr. Gabriel Toma’s speech following the next link (Panel: Public Institutions I&II&III-between the period 2h-25 min and 2h-42 min):
The post ROMANIAN CITIZENSHIP CONFERENCE EVENT appeared first on Romanian citizenship by descent and Romanian EU passport by ancestry.
]]>The post Dual British-Romanian Citizenship How to protect it after BREXIT ? appeared first on Romanian citizenship by descent and Romanian EU passport by ancestry.
]]>With the exit from the EU, certain British citizens wish to keep their European origin. They appeal to the own families’ history, invoke the law principle “jus sanquinis” and acquire the rights of European citizens.
Great Britain represented and still represents one of the main destinations for the Romanian migration. Britain served Romanian immigrants either as a refuge during the two World Wars, or as a territory of economic prosperity during and after the communist regime.
Regardless of whether they left Romania during the interwar period, during the communist regime, or nowadays, Romanian immigrants from Great Britain and / or their descendants can benefit, even after BREXIT, from the full rights of Romanian citizens, and implicitly of European citizens.
They have a shortcut towards the European citizenship, namely the claiming /reclaiming the Romanian citizenship.
Which are the practical ways in which British citizens with “Romanian blood” can acquire / regain / preserve the status of Romanian citizens?
A. If the applicant takes advantage of a predecessor born in Romania, then his path to a European passport will be different depending on whether or not the applicant has lost Romanian citizenship.
In case the Romanian citizenship was lost or the applicant gave up Romanian citizenship (at the date of naturalization as a British citizen), then his direct descendant (up to the second or third degree – in some cases) is eligible for the legal procedure of regaining citizenship (Article 10 or Article 11 of Law No 21/1991).
In the situation in which the citizenship has not been lost, the descendants are eligible to acquire the Romanian citizenship through the transcription procedure of the foreign birth or marriage certificates.
B. What is happening with the Romanian citizens who did not lost/denounced their citizenship, but do not have a personal identification number (CNP), who changed their names or their marital status?
The issuance of the Romanian European passport is conditioned by the assignment of a personal numerical code, which will be registered first in the birth and marriage certificate of the person who proves that he/she has not lost the Romanian citizenship.
Also, there are many Romanian immigrants who have changed their name on the territory of Great Britain, in the context in which the procedure is relatively simple in this country. In this case, before obtaining a Romanian passport, the applicant must make the mention of the name change on the Romanian Civil Status Register, and request the issuance of the birth certificate with the mention of the name change.
C. The situation is similar when the applicant married in the UK and/or subsequently divorced. The eligible person will receive a European passport only after registering the mention of marriage and divorce in the Romanian civil status documents.
Are you a descendant of a Romanian born ancestor? Did you were born in Romania and you want to preserve your European rights? Are you Romanian citizen living in UK and you want your children have Romanian citizenship?
Are you interested to have dual British-Romanian citizenship after BREXIT? Your journey to an European passport start with us!
The post Dual British-Romanian Citizenship How to protect it after BREXIT ? appeared first on Romanian citizenship by descent and Romanian EU passport by ancestry.
]]>The post Questions about getting divorce recognized in Romania appeared first on Romanian citizenship by descent and Romanian EU passport by ancestry.
]]>Do you handle things like this and if so, what does the process entail? Also, how much would it cost from start to finish?
B. I was born in Romania and immigrated in UK together with my parents. I got married and changed my birth name. Now, I am divorce and I want to obtain a new Romanian EU passport with my new name after divorce procedure. Can you guys help me with the trial?
This are the most commune cases regarding the legal procedure of recognized in Romania a foreign divorce decision.
According with the Romanian law, you cannot issue a new Romanian EU passport without registering your foreign marriage in Romania.
You must comply with the same legal requirements if you were married abroad and divorced: you will obtain your new Romanian EU passport only after the registration of your foreign divorce on the Romanian Civil Status Register.
Our team is confronting daily with such cases and we know very well the tips for making this process running smoothly.
The most important tips are concerning the next juridical aspects:
- Where was register your last official domicile in Romania?
- Did you register your last foreign marriage with the Romanian Civil Status Register? Did you obtained a Romanian marriage certificate through the transcription procedure?
- Did you were the citizen of the foreign country at the divorce decree time? Did you lost Romanian citizenship when you gained the foreign citizenship?
- Do you keep the connection with your ex-husband/wife? Since according with the Romanian law, in order to register your foreign divorce in Romania, some documents might be signed by him/her as well;
The answers to the above inquiries will help you to determine: the official public authority in charge with this process; if you need to follow in Romania the exequatur procedure of the divorce decree; the specific mentions that you need to register on the Romanian Civil Status Register and how to avoid the consent of your ex-wife/husband on the legal proceedings.
The process is not easy, and we do recommend you to have a Romanian legal advicer which will show you the map of your trial.
So, please let us know if you need our professional guidance on this road, in order to complete advice you about the whole process and costs.
The post Questions about getting divorce recognized in Romania appeared first on Romanian citizenship by descent and Romanian EU passport by ancestry.
]]>The post AM I ELIGIBLE FOR ROMANIAN CITIZENSHIP IF MY DNA TEST SHOWS THAT I AM A PART ROMANIAN? appeared first on Romanian citizenship by descent and Romanian EU passport by ancestry.
]]>According with the Romanian citizenship law, you are eligible to gain Romanian citizenship if you have a Romanian born ancestor from maternal or paternal line and only if you are at most second or third generation (under article 11).
In order to link with your Romanian born ancestor, Romanian authorities will request you to present them the vital records documents attesting your family line: birth certificates, marriage certificates, documents attesting the name changes, death certificates.
Romanian authorities will not recognize your “Romanian blood” if you are not able to show them your grandfather/grandmother or father/mother Romanian original birth records.
So, there is no legal way to prove your eligibility for Romanian citizenship through the DNA test. It is requested by law to obtain your Romanian ancestor′s vital records documents.
The road to your Romanian dual citizenship is not an easy one, but can be possible with patience, persistence, and determination.
If you want to start the process of Romanian dual citizenship, please take our eligibility test.
The post AM I ELIGIBLE FOR ROMANIAN CITIZENSHIP IF MY DNA TEST SHOWS THAT I AM A PART ROMANIAN? appeared first on Romanian citizenship by descent and Romanian EU passport by ancestry.
]]>The post WHY TO REGISTER A FOREIGN MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE IN THE ROMANIAN REGISTRY? appeared first on Romanian citizenship by descent and Romanian EU passport by ancestry.
]]>Is it illegal for the Romanian citizen if the marriage is not registered?
Is the Romanian Citizen breaking the law if not registering the marriage with the Registry?
Many of our clients are interested to have an answer to the above inquiries. They have been told that they need to register the foreign marriage in Romania in order to avoid legal consequence.
Also, since the Romanian Consulates from U.K., U.S.A., and Australia are closed for services due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many of them are searching a legal solution to register the foreign marriage without the need to travel to Romania.
We want to kindly aware all the Romanian citizens that according with the Romanian law they have the legal duty to register the foreign marriage certificate within 6 months after the solemnization of their foreign marriage.
You can submit the application without being necesary to travel in Romania. You can use the services of a local proxy/attorney at law based on a special power of attorney.
In order to fill the application, Romanian authorities shall request the next documents (in original):
- The foreign marriage certificate (original) with Hague Apostile and sworn translated into Romanian language;
- Affidavit related with the assets matrimonial regime notarized and translated into Romanian language (original) – notarized & bear with Hague Apostile and sworn translated into Romanian language;
- Spouses birth certificates;
- Power of attorney in order to get the Romanian marriage certificate, notarized & bear with Hague Apostile, and sworn translated into Romanian language (original);
- Spouses passports (scan copies);
But, what happens if the Romanian citizen postpone the process, and will not comply with the legal term?
Is it illegal for the Romanian citizen if the marriage is not registered?
Is the Romanian Citizen breaking the law if not registering the marriage with the Registry?
If you will not register the foreign marriage in Romanian Registry within 6 months after the solemnization, it is not consider a fraud. So, you will not have to pay a fine.
But, be aware that this omission can produce you collateral juridical effects.
We are referring to the fact that Romanian authorities have the legal right to reject your claims/applications for Romanian EU passport, Romanian ID, registering a second foreign marriage after the divorce, registering a foreign name changes, etc.
We do recommend you to not postpone the transcription in Romania of your foreign marriage.
The process takes 60 days. At the end, it will guarantee your right to obtain/renew you Romanian EU passport/Romanian ID and you will keep clear and up-dated your Romanian vital records.
Contact us if you want to start the process of registering your foreign marriage in the Romanian Registry. We are ready to obtain your Romanian marriage certificate.
The post WHY TO REGISTER A FOREIGN MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE IN THE ROMANIAN REGISTRY? appeared first on Romanian citizenship by descent and Romanian EU passport by ancestry.
]]>