Romania Simplifies Citizenship Proceedings

15 apr. 2009, 20:05, English

The government adopted an ordinance amending Law of 1991 with respect to citizenship, at the request of President Traian Basescu.

Under the act, former Romanians who gained citizenship by birth and then lost it or it was lifted for reasons independent of their will, as well as their descendants up to the third degree can reacquire or can obtain Romanian citizenship upon request, provided they meet the legal requirements – excepting the requirement to take an interview in Romanian.

“Obviously, they knew and know Romanian and the interview is no longer required,” Boc said.

However, the interview still stands for people who never had Romanian citizenship, Boc mentioned.

The term to verify the requirements to give Romanian citizenship will be of maximum five months since the application form is submitted.

Romanian President Traian Basescu told the parliament on Tuesday that he asked the government to amend the Law on citizenship immediately, so that people of Romanian origin who live in neighboring Moldova can obtain Romanian citizenship at a swifter pace, upon request.

Basescu said the Romanian embassy in Moldovan capital Chisinau received 650,000 envelopes with application forms for Romanian citizenship and estimations show the number of actual applications is of at least 800,000 or one million.

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