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Romania is an EU country known for its affordable prices and high standard of living.
A citizen's passport allows to travel within the EU without the need for additional visa arrangements. A simplified procedure is provided for travel to the USA and Canada.
Ways to Obtain Citizenship
According to the Citizenship Law, there are several different grounds for qualifying for a Romanian passport:
Repatriation.
People whose ancestors were born or resided on Romanian territory before 1940 can obtain citizenship of the country through an accelerated procedure. Kinship up to the 3rd knee is allowed.
Naturalization.
To obtain a Romanian passport, one must obtain a residence permit, live in this status for 5 years, then obtain permanent residency and live in that status for a minimum of 3 years. Citizenship of the country can only be obtained after completing these previous stages.
Marriage to a citizen.
To formalize the status after marriage to a citizen of the country will require alternately obtaining a residence permit and a permanent residence. Citizenship can be claimed only after 8 years of permanent residence on the territory of the state on legal grounds.
Investments.
Those who are ready to invest in an established business operating within the country may be eligible for an accelerated path to obtaining Romanian citizenship. On average, this process takes around four years.
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Advantages of Romanian Citizenship
Obtaining Romanian citizenship opens up a wide range of opportunities for immigrants. The status provides several advantagess:
- Living in the country. Romania is a country with a developing economy. The cost of food, various goods, and services is approximately the same as in Poland, Bulgaria, and some other countries, making it comparable to prices in Russia.
- Visa-free travel. Within the Schengen Agreement countries, there are no borders. Traveling across Europe does not require obtaining additional visas. For tourist trips to the USA and Canada, it is enough to apply for the appropriate entry permit, without needing a visa.
- Education opportunities. Citizens can apply for free education at some public universities in the European Union. Those wishing to study at private universities can benefit from preferential conditions.
- Doing business in Europe. Citizens are offered favorable conditions for entrepreneurial activities. They can conduct business not only within Romania but also in any EU country.
- Opening accounts in European banks. Holders of passports from EU member states have access to the European banking system. They can open accounts, make deposits, and take advantage of preferential loans.
- Access to medical care. With an insurance policy, citizens can receive free treatment, medications, and medical examinations.
- Employment opportunities. Romanian citizenship allows individuals to obtain high-paying jobs in any EU country.
- Social benefits. Citizens can apply for pensions, various allowances, and other social benefits.
- Real estate ownership. Citizenship status allows individuals to purchase real estate in any EU country.
Citizenship grants a person the ability to reside in any EU country with minimal restrictions and access the benefits available to the local population.
Dual Citizenship
According to local laws, obtaining Romanian citizenship does not require renouncing one's original citizenship. The first country is not notified when an individual acquires a Romanian passport. This means it is possible to hold dual citizenship and use two identity documents simultaneously.
Citizenship by Investment Program
Romania does not offer a so-called "Golden Visa" program, which grants citizenship in exchange for investments. However, entrepreneurs willing to invest in the country's economy can obtain a residence permit (RP). Subsequently, they can acquire citizenship through an expedited process.
Investors who invest €1 million or more in an existing company can become full-fledged citizens after four years.
Recent Reforms in the Citizenship Program
In June 2021, amendments were made to the "Romanian Citizenship Law" by the government, significantly simplifying the process of collecting and notarizing documents for individuals participating in the repatriation program.
As of January 1, 2024, a new law has come into effect, according to which individuals purchasing a sought-after real estate property worth over 120,000 euros must pay an additional 9% VAT. Previously, the value-added tax was 5%. This change is expected to lead to an increase in property prices in the country.
Step-by-step application process
To obtain Romanian citizenship, it is important to legally enter the country's territory and have no issues with the law. To enter the country, a type D visa is first issued at the consulate.
Next, you need to go through several stages:
It is necessary to have grounds. Additionally, registration in your own or rented housing will be required. You must have lived in the status for at least 5 years. The exception is repatriates and major investors.
It is required to have lived in the status for 3 years. The rule does not apply to repatriates and large investors.
If all the previous conditions are met and there are sufficient grounds for issuing a Romanian passport to a person, there are no difficulties with the processing.
Document Gathering and Application Submission
The process of citizenship obtaining takes place in several steps:
To obtain the status, you will need to provide identification and documents that serve as the basis for citizenship processing.
Documents translated into Romanian must be certified by the relevant authority. Without apostille, the documents will not be accepted for review.
At the moment, in order to submit a document package for citizenship, it is necessary to make an online appointment in advance on the Ministry of Justice website.
At the appointed time, it is necessary to appear with the original documents and certified copies at the Ministry of Justice in Bucharest or its branches located in many cities across the country.
The applicant's minor children can also acquire citizenship. To do so, they must be included in the application.
List of Documents
To obtain citizenship, the following documents must be provided:
- Application form
- Identity card
- Birth certificate
- Family composition documents
- Certificate of no criminal record
- Documents that serve as grounds for obtaining the status
You will also need to pay a state fee of 170 euros.
The documents must be submitted in person.
Review and Decision
The review of an application for Romanian citizenship can take up to 12 months. Exceptions are made for individuals participating in the repatriation program and major investors.
If the decision is favorable to the applicant, a notification letter will be sent to their email.
If no notification is received within a year, it is likely that the citizenship status was denied. In this case, the applicant should contact the Ministry and request an official rejection letter. This document can be used to appeal the decision in court. To do so, it will be necessary to consult immigration lawyers familiar with the country’s laws.
If the decision is positive, the applicant must take an oath of allegiance to Romania.
Disadvantages of Romanian Citizenship by Investment
If someone decides to pursue Romanian citizenship through investment, it is important to understand that this strategy has a number of downsides:
- High cost. To expedite citizenship, an investment of at least 1 million euros is required.
- No direct program for investors. Businesspeople obtain citizenship through naturalization, which means they must first apply for a residence permit.
- No guarantees. Even significant investments do not guarantee that citizenship will be granted.
Despite the favorable conditions for investors, it is advisable to consider less expensive options for obtaining citizenship.
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