Justice Ministry discloses irregularities at the National Citizenship Authority

Justice Ministry released the results of the check ordered at the National Citizenship Authority on Thursday, pointing to some legality irregularities, high delays in solving the citizenship requests and other administrative problems.

The ministry’s control body discovered extremely high delays in solving the requests filed by those wanting to become Romanian citizens, considering that the legal deadline is 5 months. During 2013-2015 the highest delays have been reported. The average time to solve such requests was 18.21 months in 2013. In 2014, the average time was 14.63 months, while in 2015, there was a shorter period of time- 9.6 months.

The control body also noticed public communication and transparency problems.

The Justice Ministry was notified ex-officio and ordered checkings after five heads within the Authority had resigned.

In 2014, Romania granted over 61,000 citizenship certificates, most of them being issued based on the articles of law which stipulates regaining the citizenship for those who lost it.

Individuals applying for Romanian citizenship should have knowledge of the Romanian language (writing and reading), the Constitution of Romania and the national anthem and basics of the Romanian culture and civilization (history and geography of Romania, Romanian art and literature).

Applications may be submitted to the headquarters of the National Citizenship Authority in Bucharest, to the Territorial Offices in Iasi, Galati, Suceava and Timisoara, as well as to the Romania’s diplomatic mission in the country of domicile or in the country where the person has a legal residence permit.