Who can use Article 10 for Romanian citizenship?
Understand Article 10 for a former Romanian citizen, child, or grandchild, including proof, language, conditions, and oath.
Who can use Article 10?
Short answer: a person who lost Romanian citizenship, or that former citizen's child or grandchild, may request reacquisition under Article 10 if the current conditions are met.
You must prove the former citizenship, the loss, the family links, the permitted degree, and the applicant's own conditions. Romanian ancestry alone is not enough.
What does “second degree” mean?
Article 10 of Law 21/1991 reaches descendants through degree II inclusive.
Count from the former citizen:
- child is first degree
- grandchild is second degree
- great-grandchild is third degree
Current eConsulat Article 10 guidance expressly describes children and grandchildren. ANC identifies Form 3 on its live forms page. Link to the current authority form rather than saving an old local copy.
What must the file prove?
The file normally needs competent evidence that:
- the qualifying person actually held Romanian citizenship
- that person lost Romanian citizenship
- every legal parent-child link reaches the applicant
- the applicant falls within second degree
- the applicant meets the conditions that Article 10 incorporates
- language proof or an exemption is established
A birthplace, Romanian ethnicity, surname, emigration record, or family tree does not prove former citizenship or legal loss. Foreign naturalization does not automatically tell you whether or when Romanian citizenship ended.
Use the current eConsulat Article 10 document list and Order 85/2025 annex for the official evidence framework.
Which Article 8 conditions apply?
Article 10 does not import the ordinary Article 8 residence period. It allows the applicant to maintain domicile abroad.
It does incorporate specified Article 8 conditions involving loyalty and national security, adulthood, lawful means under the statutory formulation, and conduct or convictions. These are legal standards, not a simple criminal-record checkbox.
A conviction, security issue, inconsistent declaration, or prior adverse finding needs individual review.
Is Romanian language proof required?
Usually for a descendant applicant.
Current rules generally require B1 Romanian or an accepted record of at least three years of study in Romanian. The applicant who personally was Romanian and an applicant aged 65 or older at filing have current exemptions. A child or grandchild does not inherit the former citizen's personal exemption.
Read the language and oath guide before relying on any exemption or temporary supplementation rule.
Can the applicant keep another citizenship?
Article 10 permits retaining foreign citizenship under Romanian law. The other country's law may impose a different rule or consequence, so check it separately.
When is citizenship acquired?
Filing does not grant citizenship. Approval alone is not the final acquisition event.
Citizenship under this reacquisition process is acquired when the oath is taken under the applicable rules. Preserve the order communication and use the live eConsulat oath service.
How is Article 11 different?
Article 11 can reach one degree further, through a great-grandchild. But it requires proof that the former citizen lost Romanian citizenship for reasons not imputable to that person or against that person's will.
Unclear loss does not become Article 11 loss. Review the Article 11 guide.
What should you do next?
Find the former citizen's status and loss records first. Then build the complete civil chain and count the degree from that person.
After the route is credible, download Form 3 and the checklist from ANC or use the competent eConsulat service. Do not rely on a third-party form or a promised result or processing time.
Sources checked: 27 August 2026. Romanian official text and current authority instructions control.