Article 11 of Law 21/1991 covers people who lost citizenship involuntarily and their descendants up to the third degree.
Since Law 14/2025, most applicants under Articles 10 and 11 must prove knowledge of Romanian with a recognised certificate.
People regaining their own citizenship, applicants aged 65 or over and minors in a parent's file are among those exempt.
The authority has up to two years from registration to decide, with a possible six-month extension.
An EU citizen can register land in their own name; a non-EU buyer uses a route such as superficies or a company.
Romanian citizenship for Israelis: the short answer
Yes, in many cases. Article 11 of Romania's citizenship law (Law 21/1991) lets people who lost Romanian citizenship for reasons not attributable to them, and their descendants up to the third degree (children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren), apply to regain it while keeping their current citizenship. Since Law 14/2025, most applicants must also prove knowledge of Romanian, and the authority has up to two years to decide.
In meetings with Israeli buyers, the conversation about a villa often drifts to the family album. "My grandmother was born in Iași." "My father came from Bucharest in 1961." Then comes the question: "Can I get a Romanian passport?" It is a fair question, with a legal answer. Let me lay it out, with one note up front: citizenship is a separate process from buying property, and one does not depend on the other.
Who qualifies under Article 11?
Article 11 of Law 21/1991 on Romanian citizenship covers three groups:
- People who acquired Romanian citizenship at birth or by adoption and lost it for reasons not attributable to them, for example through the emigration regime of the communist period.
- People whose citizenship was withdrawn against their will.
- Their descendants up to the third degree: children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Many Jews who emigrated from Romania to Israel in the decades after the Second World War left under conditions that involved giving up or losing their Romanian citizenship. That is why so many Israeli families have a potential route under this article. Whether your family fits is decided by the documents, not by the family story.
Applicants can keep their Israeli citizenship: Romania does not require you to renounce it, and the citizenship can be held with a domicile in Romania or abroad.
Article 10 or Article 11: what is the difference?
| Article 11 | Article 10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | People who lost citizenship involuntarily, and descendants up to the third degree | Former citizens who lost citizenship for other reasons (for example, by request), and descendants |
| Typical Israeli case | Emigrants of the communist period and their families | Less common for Israeli families |
| Romanian language | Required since Law 14/2025, with exemptions | Required since Law 14/2025, with exemptions |
| Domicile | Romania or abroad | Romania or abroad |
The National Authority for Citizenship (ANC) decides which article applies, based on the documents.
What changed in 2025: the Romanian language requirement
Law 14/2025, in force since March 2025, made knowledge of Romanian a condition for granting or regaining citizenship under Articles 10 and 11.
- How it is proven: with a language certificate issued by an institution the law lists, such as accredited Romanian universities running the preparatory Romanian-language year, the Romanian Language Institute or the Romanian Cultural Institute, or by proof of studies in Romanian. The ANC has published which certificates it accepts.
- Who is exempt: among others, people who personally held Romanian citizenship and are regaining it, applicants aged 65 or over at the time of application, minor children included in a parent's application, and people with documented medical conditions that prevent them from learning the language.
- Longer decision time: the deadline for the authority to process an application was extended to two years from registration, with a possible extension of up to six months in justified cases.
For a grandchild or great-grandchild applying today, the language is usually the longest part of the preparation. Plan for it from the start.
Whether your family fits is decided by the documents, not by the family story.
Which documents to prepare
The exact list depends on the case, and the ANC publishes the forms and requirements. In most Article 11 cases you need to show three things:
- That your ancestor was a Romanian citizen. Typically a Romanian birth certificate, a marriage certificate or other civil-status records of the ancestor.
- That the citizenship was lost involuntarily. Documents from the emigration period, where they exist.
- The family chain from the ancestor to you. Birth certificates for each generation, including name changes, which are very common in Israeli families.
Documents issued in Israel must usually carry an apostille and a certified Romanian translation. Romanian civil-status records can be requested from the local civil-status office (Starea Civilă) in the town where the event was registered, and old records are sometimes held in the National Archives of Romania.
The process, step by step
- Check eligibility. Gather what the family already has and identify the ancestor who was a Romanian citizen.
- Collect and translate documents. Romanian records, Israeli records with apostille, certified translations.
- Prepare the language requirement, unless you are exempt.
- Submit the application to the ANC in Bucharest or through a Romanian consulate, including the Romanian Embassy in Tel Aviv.
- Wait for the decision. Under the law the authority has up to two years.
- Take the oath of allegiance, after which the citizenship certificate is issued.
- Register civil status in Romania and only then apply for a Romanian identity card or passport.
What citizenship changes, and what it does not, for a property buyer
| Topic | Israeli citizen | Israeli with Romanian (EU) citizenship |
|---|---|---|
| Buying an apartment or a house | Allowed | Allowed |
| Registering land in your own name | Restricted for non-EU citizens | Allowed, as for any EU citizen |
| Living in Romania beyond 90/180 days | Needs a residence permit | No permit needed |
| Living and working anywhere in the EU | Needs a permit in each country | Freedom of movement |
| Taxes in Romania | Depend on the transaction and on tax residency, not on citizenship | Same |
The most practical difference for a villa buyer is the land. A non-EU buyer chooses a route such as a superficies right or a company; an EU citizen registers the land directly. We explain the options in our article on land ownership in Romania. Tax residency, by contrast, is decided by where you live, not by your passport. For the Israeli side, see our article on the Israel-Romania tax treaty.
Frequently asked questions
Can Israelis get Romanian citizenship?
Yes, if they or an ancestor up to great-grandparents were Romanian citizens who lost the citizenship for reasons not attributable to them. The route is Article 11 of Law 21/1991, and the Israeli citizenship can be kept.
Do I need to speak Romanian to get Romanian citizenship?
Since Law 14/2025, applicants under Articles 10 and 11 must prove knowledge of Romanian with a recognised certificate or proof of studies. People regaining their own former citizenship, applicants aged 65 or over and minors in a parent's file are among those exempt.
How long does Romanian citizenship take?
The law gives the authority up to two years from registration of the application to decide, with a possible extension of up to six months. Preparing the documents and the language certificate usually takes months before that.
Do I have to live in Romania to apply under Article 11?
No. Under Article 11 citizenship can be granted with a domicile in Romania or abroad.
Does Romanian citizenship help me buy a villa?
You can buy without it. Its main effect on a villa is that an EU citizen can register the land in their own name, while a non-EU buyer uses a route such as a superficies right or a company.
The bottom line
For many Israeli families, Romanian citizenship is a real right, not a dream. But since 2025 it takes more preparation: complete documents, the language requirement for most applicants, and patience of up to two years.
You do not need it to buy a home in Romania. If you are checking both at once, citizenship and a villa, book a 30-minute call with me. We will go through the property side together, and what changes, if anything, once a Romanian passport is in the family.
Moti Azulay, Compass Group Romania
Sources and data: Law 21/1991 on Romanian citizenship, legislation portal · Law 14/2025 amending the citizenship law · National Authority for Citizenship (ANC) · ANC notice on accepted language certificates · National Archives of Romania.
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Every citizenship file is decided individually by the Romanian authorities. Before applying, check your case with a lawyer who specialises in Romanian citizenship.
Now you know more.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult local professionals before any transaction.
