For many individuals reclaiming their Romanian citizenship by descent, the path back to their ancestral roots can be both emotional and bureaucratic. While Romania offers a generous legal framework—particularly under Article 10 and Article 11 of the Romanian Citizenship Law (Law no. 21/1991)—the actual application process is often lengthy, opaque, and frustratingly slow.
However, what most applicants are not told is that there is a legal pathway to expedite the process, particularly for those whose applications are already pending. This legal remedy is not widely known, especially among clients who have submitted their files through generic citizenship agencies that do not offer legal representation. In collaboration with Andreea Memet Law Firm, our team at Door to Romania specializes in accelerating citizenship-by-descent applications using court-mandated procedures—all without requiring the applicant to appear in court themselves.
Below, we explain how this mechanism works, who it applies to, and how it can reduce waiting times by 6 to 12 months—or more.
Understanding Articles 10 and 11: A Legal Foundation
Romanian citizenship by descent is governed by two primary provisions:
Article 10 – Restoring Citizenship to Former Romanian Citizens
This article applies to individuals whose ancestors (parents, grandparents) lost Romanian citizenship or renounced it, such as due to emigration, changes in national borders, or political exile.
Importantly, Article 10 does not stipulate a legal deadline for the authorities to issue a decision. While administrative practice often results in cases being resolved within 2–3 years, Romanian court precedent increasingly suggests that such a timeframe exceeds what can be considered “reasonable,” particularly in the absence of justifiable delays
Article 11 – Citizenship for Descendants of Those Born in Historical Romanian Territories
Article 11 is tailored for individuals whose parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents were born in territories that were historically part of Romania during the period 1918–1940, such as regions of modern-day Moldova and Ukraine.
Unlike Article 10, Article 11 does contain a statutory timeframe: the National Authority for Citizenship (Autoritatea Națională pentru Cetățenie, or ANC) is legally obligated to process these cases within 5 months of submission. However, due to the sheer volume of applications filed under this article, actual processing times often exceed 2 to 3 years.
The Legal Solution: Court-Enforced Acceleration
Applicants stuck in this administrative backlog are not without recourse. Romanian administrative law permits the filing of a court petition (known as a contencios administrativ) to compel the ANC to resolve the pending citizenship application within a court-ordered timeframe.
Key Conditions for Acceleration:
- The applicant must have already submitted a complete file under Article 10 or 11.
- At least six months must have passed since submission.
- The file must be otherwise proper and complete, with no outstanding documentation issues.
If these conditions are met, the applicant (via legal representation) can initiate a court case that does not challenge the content of the citizenship file but instead asks the court to compel ANC to issue a decision—positive or negative—within a defined period.
Expected Results:
In our legal experience at Door to Romania, these court interventions typically result in the application being resolved 6–12 months faster than it would through standard channels. In many cases, once the court issues its ruling, the ANC responds promptly to avoid legal penalties or further litigation.
Why Legal Review Before Filing Matters
It is critical to note that a court cannot force the ANC to grant citizenship—only to issue a decision. Therefore, if your file is incomplete or improperly prepared, a court ruling may accelerate a negative decision.
To mitigate this, our legal team prepares a preliminary audience (hearing) with ANC before filing any lawsuit. During this hearing, the authorities review the file and inform us if any documents are missing or require clarification. Only after this pre-litigation step do we move forward with a court petition—ensuring the case is fully defensible and positioned for success.
Real Outcomes: What We’re Seeing in Practice
In most Article 11 cases, the law permits a court petition after 5 months, but given current backlogs, it’s common to file after 6–8 months for strategic reasons. Once the file has been pending for over 18 months, especially under Article 10, the court is far more likely to rule in the applicant’s favor and oblige the ANC to act within 30–60 days.
Furthermore, we handle all legal proceedings on the client’s behalf. There is no need to attend court, file paperwork in person, or translate documents—our attorneys manage the process from end to end in coordination with the Andreea Memet Law Firm.
Why Most Agencies Don’t Offer This (And Why That Matters)
Most “citizenship-by-descent” agencies are not equipped to explore legal pathways beyond the standard application process. As a result, many clients are left waiting—sometimes for years—without any clear way to move forward or apply pressure on the authorities.
At Door to Romania, thanks to our close legal partnerships and deep understanding of the Romanian legal framework, we’ve identified powerful procedural remedies that can be used on behalf of our clients. Through these established collaborations, we’re able to represent our clients throughout the entire process, including in court when necessary—without requiring them to appear in person.
These legal strategies aren’t just theoretical—they’ve worked. And they can significantly reduce the timeline of an application when used appropriately.
Who Can Benefit from This Process?
This legal remedy is ideal for:
- Applicants who submitted their citizenship file over 6 months ago.
- Individuals under Article 10 with files pending for more than 1.5 years.
- Descendants under Article 11 experiencing delays well beyond the 5-month legal limit.
- Clients who want peace of mind, clarity on their case status, and a defined resolution timeline.
If you’ve already submitted your citizenship application and are waiting indefinitely, we may be able to dramatically speed up your approval—legally and without travel or court attendance.
Final Thoughts
The Romanian legal system provides clear, actionable routes to accelerate pending citizenship applications. Whether you applied under Article 10 or Article 11, you are not powerless in the face of long delays and administrative silence.
Through legal representation, court petitions, and proactive file management, it’s possible to significantly reduce your wait time and move closer to reclaiming your Romanian citizenship.
Want to speed up your application? Our legal team can do this on your behalf—email us today at office@doortoromania.com
This service is offered exclusively by Door to Romania in collaboration with Andreea Memet Law Firm, one of Romania’s most trusted legal teams in citizenship and immigration law.
