Romania citizenship test: format, requirements and practice quiz
Romania has an official citizenship knowledge test. This page explains the test format and the naturalisation rules, links to the official source, and offers a free 23-question practice quiz on the content areas it covers. The quiz is not the official exam.
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Is there an official Romania citizenship test? Yes. The format, who must take it, exemptions and the official source are summarised below. The quiz on this page is an independent practice quiz on the same content areas and is not linked to any official process.
The Romania citizenship test and how naturalisation works
Last reviewed: October 22, 2026 · Checked against the official source linked on this page.
Romania tests citizenship applicants at an oral interview, not with a written exam. Article 8 of Law 21/1991 requires applicants to know Romanian, to have “elementary notions of Romanian culture and civilisation”, and to know the Constitution and the national anthem. These are checked by the Citizenship Commission (Comisia pentru cetăţenie) of the National Authority for Citizenship (ANC), part of the Ministry of Justice, in Bucharest.
What happens at the interview
You draw a “ticket” of roughly twelve questions on Romanian history, geography, the Constitution and culture and answer them orally in front of a panel. The language part includes a dictation of a text of up to fifteen lines and reading and explaining a short text. You are expected to know the anthem Deșteaptă-te, române! and the national symbols. There is no published pass mark or question bank: the Commission issues a favourable or unfavourable opinion, and a negative opinion leads to rejection, after which a new application is possible. The interview itself has no fee.
Language certificate for re-acquisition cases
Law 14/2025, in force since 15 March 2025, added a formal language requirement for people re-acquiring citizenship under Articles 10 and 11 (former citizens and their descendants, including many applicants from the Republic of Moldova): a B1 Romanian certificate from an accredited university, the Romanian Language Institute or the Romanian Cultural Institute, or proof of three years of study in Romanian. Ordinary Article 8 applicants are still assessed at the interview.
Residence and other requirements
The general route needs eight years of legal residence, or five years from marriage if you are married to and live with a Romanian citizen. Periods are halved for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, people born in Romania and recognised refugees who have made integration efforts, and since 2025 people with exceptional cultural or sporting merit need no residence period at all. Applicants must also be 18, have lawful means of support, have no convictions that make them unworthy, and show loyalty to the Romanian state.
Procedure, fees and timing
The application is free; since 1 September 2024 a 90 lei fee is paid for the citizenship card and biometric data are collected. Law 14/2025 raised the legal deadline from five months to two years (extendable by six months) and introduced strictly chronological processing; applicants report two to three years in practice, plus a wait for the oath ceremony. The ANC President issues the order on the Commission’s proposal, and the oath must be sworn within six months. Romania allows dual citizenship.
Our questions are written in English on the topics the Commission asks about — the Constitution, institutions, history, geography and symbols — so that you know the material; prepare to answer in Romanian.
| Official citizenship test | Yes: Oral interview before the Citizenship Commission of the National Authority for Citizenship (Autoritatea Națională pentru Cetățenie, ANC). See the format and official source below. |
|---|---|
| How naturalisation works | An oral interview in Romanian before the Citizenship Commission in Bucharest, not a written multiple-choice exam. You draw a set of about a dozen questions on Romanian history, geography, the Constitution and culture, answer them orally, take a short dictation (a text of up to 15 lines) and read and explain a text. You must know the national anthem and the national symbols. There is no published pass mark: the Commission gives a favourable or unfavourable opinion. No separate interview fee. |
| Language requirement | Romanian, assessed at the interview (dictation, reading and conversation). Since Law 14/2025 (15 March 2025), applicants for re-acquisition of citizenship under Articles 10 and 11 must present a B1 certificate from an accredited university, the Romanian Language Institute or the Romanian Cultural Institute, or show three years of study in Romanian. |
| Who it applies to | Foreign nationals applying under Article 8 of Law 21/1991: 8 years of legal residence in general, or 5 years from marriage if married to and living with a Romanian citizen. Periods are halved for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, people born in Romania and recognised refugees who have made integration efforts. Since 2025 there is no residence period for people with exceptional cultural or sporting merit. |
| Exemptions | No exemptions from the interview are provided for Article 8 applicants. Re-acquisition applicants (former citizens and their descendants) follow a different procedure with the B1 certificate requirement. Romania allows dual citizenship. |
Content areas in the official test (and in this quiz)
- Constitution and governmentHead of state, parliament, courts and the constitution.8 questions
- History and national symbolsIndependence, key dates, flag, anthem and other national symbols.9 questions
- Geography and societyCapital, geography, languages, currency and public holidays.6 questions
- Naturalisation rulesWhat the law requires for citizenship: residence, language, tests, fees and dual nationality.0 questions
Sample questions
Answer: 1991, revised in 2003. The Constitution was adopted by referendum on 8 December 1991 and revised by referendum in October 2003.
Answer: Moldoveanu (2,544 m). Moldoveanu is in the Făgăraș Mountains.
Answer: 1991. The current Constitution was approved by national referendum in December 1991. It was later revised in 2003.
How to prepare
Learn the anthem Deșteaptă-te, române! and the national symbols by heart – the law names them explicitly.
Practise dictation and reading aloud in Romanian; the language part is as important as the knowledge questions.
Study the 1991 Constitution (revised 2003): Parliament, the President, the Constitutional Court and the 41 counties come up often.
Romania citizenship FAQ
Is there a citizenship test in Romania?
There is no written multiple-choice exam. Applicants under Article 8 attend an oral interview at the National Authority for Citizenship in Bucharest covering the Romanian language, the Constitution, the national anthem and basic history, geography and culture.
What is asked at the Romanian citizenship interview?
You draw a set of roughly a dozen questions on history, geography, the Constitution and culture, answer orally, take a short dictation and read a text aloud. You are expected to know the anthem Deșteaptă-te, române! and the national symbols.
Do I need a Romanian language certificate?
Since Law 14/2025 (March 2025), applicants for re-acquisition of citizenship (Articles 10 and 11) must present a B1 certificate from an accredited university, the Romanian Language Institute or the Romanian Cultural Institute. Standard naturalisation applicants are assessed at the interview.
How long do you have to live in Romania to get citizenship?
Eight years of legal residence in the general case, or five years from marriage if married to a Romanian citizen; periods are halved for EU citizens, people born in Romania and recognised refugees.
How long does Romanian citizenship take?
The statutory deadline is now two years (extendable by six months) from registration; in practice applicants report two to three years, plus a wait for the oath ceremony.