Citizenship by descent: new language requirements in 2025

Published on: 26 March 2025.

Prior to 15 March 2025

Citizenship by descent applicants were excluded from all language requirements prior to 15 March 2025.

Starting with 15 March 2025

As of 15 March 2025, if you plan to apply for citizenship by descent, you will need to provide documentation of your Romanian language studies.

Applicants still exempted

In the following scenarios, you will still be exempted from language requirements:

• you already had Romanian citizenship in the past and lost it, or

• you are at or above 65 years of age.

The proof

The proof has to be any of the following:

• the certificates issued by any Romanian cultural institutions, from Romania or abroad, attesting that you know Romanian language at B1 level;

• proof from your high school or university attesting that you have studied Romanian language for at least 3 years.

B1 Romanian level

According to the official CEFR guidelines, someone at the B1 level in Romanian:

• can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.;

• can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling;

• can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest;

• can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.

The citizenship by descent guide

If you are interested in a comprehensive guide on applying for citizenship by descent, please visit our recently updated article here.