Romania DNV → Citizenship

How Romania citizenship works for DNV holders

Romania grants citizenship by naturalisation after 8 years of legal residence on qualifying permits (reduced to 5 years for spouses of Romanian citizens). Time on the DNV does count toward this clock, provided the holder converts to a long-term residence permit and maintains continuous residence; the DNV itself is the entry point rather than the full settlement track.

Romanian naturalisation requires A2 Romanian language proficiency, demonstrated through a state-administered language test, plus a basic knowledge assessment covering Romanian history, geography, and constitutional structure. Romanian is a Romance language, generally accessible to Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese speakers, with materially easier acquisition than Hungarian, Estonian, or Greek.

Romania permits dual citizenship without restriction. Americans, Britons, Canadians, and most other applicants keep their original passport.

For Romanian-descent applicants (jure sanguinis), citizenship is available with significantly reduced residence requirements and is processed by the National Citizenship Authority (ANC). Romania operates a generous policy for descendants of ethnic Romanians abroad, particularly in Moldova, Ukraine, and the broader diaspora. The process is well-trodden and many Moldovan citizens use it to acquire EU passport rights.

For DNV holders without Romanian heritage, the citizenship path is materially longer than Spain (10y), Portugal (10y new rule), Italy (10y), or Greece (7y), but Romania's lower cost of living and 10% flat tax can make the longer wait acceptable depending on the personal optimisation.

Recent changes affecting Romania citizenship in 2026

Full Schengen accession completed January 2025. Romania completed full Schengen Area accession effective 1 January 2025, removing all internal border checks including land borders. The earlier March 2024 partial accession (air and sea only) was superseded. Romania DNV holders now have full Schengen-wide freedom of movement during their permit period.

Dividend tax doubles from January 2026. The Romanian dividend tax rate increased from 8% to 16% effective 1 January 2026. This is the most material 2026 tax change for DNV holders earning dividend income through Romanian or foreign companies. The 10% flat personal income tax on salary remains unchanged.

Income threshold updates. Romania pegs the DNV income requirement to 3× the gross average monthly salary, which the INS (National Statistics Institute) updates monthly. The threshold has moved upward steadily through 2024–2025–2026 as Romanian salaries rose. The early 2026 figure is approximately €5,800/month (29,604 RON), substantially higher than the €3,700 cited in older guides.

Renewal threshold remains 1× average salary. At first renewal and subsequent renewals, the income requirement drops to 1× average gross monthly salary (approximately €1,900/month at current levels). This is one of the more generous renewal structures in the EU and remains a structural feature for 2026.

Law 69/2023 tax exemption stable. The DNV tax exemption (no Romanian income tax and no social contributions on foreign-source income for stays up to 183 days in 12 months) introduced by Law 69/2023 remains fully in force in 2026 with no proposed amendments.

Tech ecosystem maturation. Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca continued growing as tech hubs through 2025–2026, with coworking infrastructure, international school options, and English-language professional services expanding materially. UiPath, Bitdefender, and a growing cohort of mid-stage Romanian startups have attracted talent infrastructure.