The legal regime governing citizenship is regulated by Law no. 21/1991 on Romanian citizenship, which establishes both the methods of acquisition and the cases of loss of Romanian citizenship. The law sets forth a strict legal framework in which the rights and obligations arising from the acquisition of citizenship in Romania are protected, and any alteration of this legal status may occur only under expressly and exhaustively regulated conditions. From this perspective, the loss of Romanian citizenship does not represent a discretionary measure, but rather a legal consequence that may be ordered solely following a rigorous assessment of compliance with statutory requirements. In practice, issues related to the cancellation of Romanian citizenship or the withdrawal of Romanian citizenship arise primarily in connection with administrative procedures through which citizenship in Romania was obtained and the subsequent review of their legality. This article examines the legal distinction between cancellation of Romanian citizenship and withdrawal of Romanian citizenship, the situations in which the latter may be ordered, as well as the legal effects and remedies available under applicable legislation.

In recent practice, Romanian authorities have intensified reviews concerning the legality of citizenship in Romania acquired by foreign nationals, initiating administrative and judicial actions aimed at the annulment of transcribed Romanian birth certificates, the cancellation of Romanian citizenship, or the withdrawal of Romanian citizenship in cases involving suspicions of fraud, inaccurate declarations, or the use of non-genuine documents. These actions directly affect the legal status attached to Romanian citizenship and may ultimately lead to the loss of Romanian citizenship if the statutory conditions are met.

In this context, Pavel, Mărgărit and Associates Romanian Law Firm provides specialized legal assistance in the field of immigration law through an immigration lawyer, offering legal advice and representation by a citizenship lawyer in Romania, supporting foreign nationals in administrative procedures and disputes related to citizenship application in Romania, acquisition of citizenship in Romania, compliance with the citizenship cancellation procedure, as well as matters involving the immigration office, immigration services in Romania, and interactions with public authorities responsible for Romanian citizenship.

From a legal standpoint, the cancellation of Romanian citizenship and the withdrawal of Romanian citizenship constitute distinct mechanisms governed by different legal regimes and producing different legal effects. The withdrawal of Romanian citizenship is expressly regulated by Law no. 21/1991 as a form of loss of Romanian citizenship, having the nature of an administrative sanction applicable only in strictly and exhaustively defined situations. It may be ordered as a consequence of serious conduct or following the finding that Romanian citizenship was obtained fraudulently, being formalized through an individual administrative act issued by the competent authority.

By contrast, the cancellation of Romanian citizenship is not regulated as an autonomous legal institution within the statute, but occurs in practice in the context of judicial review of administrative acts or as a consequence of special legal situations in which the acquisition of citizenship in Romania is deemed not to have validly subsisted. Such circumstances may arise, for instance, where a child is considered never to have validly acquired Romanian citizenship following the annulment of an adoption, in which case the act granting citizenship in Romania loses its legal basis and ceases to produce effects. Accordingly, the cancellation of Romanian citizenship concerns the validity of the administrative act itself, whereas the withdrawal of Romanian citizenship presupposes the existence of a valid act whose effects are terminated only for the future.

An immigration lawyer in Romania or a citizenship lawyer in Romania can provide specialized legal advice regarding the risks associated with the loss of Romanian citizenship and ensure representation in proceedings involving the cancellation of Romanian citizenship or the withdrawal of Romanian citizenship, including assistance offered by an immigration lawyer near me or an experienced immigration attorney in Romania.

Administrative lawyer. Cases of withdrawal of Romanian citizenship under Law no. 21/1991

The cases of withdrawal of Romanian citizenship are exhaustively regulated by law within the chapter addressing the loss of Romanian citizenship. Withdrawal may occur, in essence, where an individual abroad enlists in the armed forces of a state with which Romania has severed diplomatic relations or is at war, where there are connections to terrorist entities or involvement in activities threatening national security, or where Romanian citizenship was obtained fraudulently through false information, concealment of relevant facts, or other fraudulent means.

This latter hypothesis is particularly relevant, as it entails a reassessment of the procedure through which citizenship in Romania was acquired and a verification of compliance with statutory requirements applicable at the time of acquisition. In such cases, the citizenship cancellation procedure or withdrawal proceedings may be initiated ex officio or following a written notification. The person concerned and the notifying party are summoned and heard by the competent commission, which examines the factual and legal circumstances and issues a reasoned report.

Where statutory conditions are met, the competent authority issues an order for the withdrawal of Romanian citizenship, which constitutes an individual administrative act subject to judicial review. The order may be challenged before the competent court, and the loss of Romanian citizenship takes effect as of the issuance date of the withdrawal order. Importantly, birthright citizenship in Romania remains protected, as the law expressly excludes individuals who acquired Romanian citizenship by birth from withdrawal measures.

In such circumstances, an immigration lawyer, an immigration attorney in Romania, or a citizenship lawyer in Romania can assess whether the legal conditions for withdrawal of Romanian citizenship are fulfilled and provide legal representation in matters involving immigration services in Romania, the immigration office, residence status such as a residence permit, and the risk of loss of Romanian citizenship affecting access to eu citizenship.

Immigration lawyer. The citizenship cancellation procedure and competent authorities

From a procedural perspective, the verification of compliance with the conditions for acquiring and maintaining Romanian citizenship is carried out by the specialized structures of the competent authority through a strictly regulated administrative procedure. The competent commission examines the documentation submitted, requests information from other public institutions, and assesses the individual legal situation prior to issuing a proposal. The resulting order constitutes an individual administrative act subject to legality and judicial review.

Where irregularities are identified in the acquisition of citizenship in Romania, proceedings may be initiated aiming at the cancellation of Romanian citizenship, either administratively or through judicial review. The analysis focuses on compliance with statutory requirements, document authenticity, and procedural correctness, without exceeding the legal framework established by law. Under Law no. 21/1991, the annulment of a marriage between a Romanian citizen and a foreign national does not, in principle, affect Romanian citizenship, unless the marriage is proven to have been fictitious and intended to circumvent the law.

An immigration lawyer in Romania or immigration attorney in Romania may provide assistance throughout the citizenship cancellation procedure, including representation before authorities, cooperation with the immigration office, and advisory services regarding immigration services in Romania, residence status, and the prevention of loss of Romanian citizenship.

The loss of Romanian citizenship, whether resulting from the cancellation of Romanian citizenship or from the withdrawal of Romanian citizenship, produces significant legal effects on the individual’s legal status. Upon the definitive application of the measure, the person ceases to benefit from the rights and obligations attached to Romanian citizenship, including political rights and state protection. In cases of cancellation, effects derive from the invalidity of the administrative act, whereas withdrawal operates prospectively as an administrative sanction.

Legal remedies against the loss of Romanian citizenship are governed by Law no. 21/1991 in conjunction with administrative litigation rules. The act ordering the cancellation of Romanian citizenship or the withdrawal of Romanian citizenship may be challenged before the competent court, which examines procedural legality, respect for the right of defense, and the validity of the reasons for cancellation of citizenship invoked by authorities.

Recent practice shows that Romanian authorities have launched extensive verification campaigns concerning citizenship in Romania, particularly for foreign nationals, targeting cases involving fraudulent acquisition or invalid documentation. These actions involve the citizenship cancellation procedure, annulment of civil status documents, and proceedings leading to the loss of Romanian citizenship.

Criminal complaints for forgery, use of forged documents, or fraud have also been initiated, with verifications conducted at civil status offices and other institutions involved in the administrative process. Given the profound legal consequences, it is essential to assess the legality of administrative acts and pursue all available remedies.

“Measures leading to the loss of Romanian citizenship must be based on a strict interpretation of legal norms and full compliance with administrative procedure, considering the legal consequences on the individual’s status,” stated Dr. Radu Pavel, Managing Partener at Pavel, Mărgărit and Associates Romanian Law Firm.

Pavel, Mărgărit and Associates Romanian Law Firm has extensive experience in matters concerning Romanian citizenship, offering specialized legal assistance through a citizenship lawyer in Romania, an immigration lawyer, and an immigration lawyer near me, assisting clients with procedural strategy, litigation, and interaction with immigration services in Romania and the immigration office.

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In conclusion, Law no. 21/1991 treats the withdrawal of Romanian citizenship as a distinct mechanism of loss of Romanian citizenship, applicable only in strictly regulated cases, while discussions regarding cancellation of Romanian citizenship must be correctly framed within administrative legality review or special legal effects. For foreign nationals seeking citizenship in Romania or concerned with maintaining Romanian citizenship, timely legal intervention by an experienced immigration lawyer in Romania or citizenship lawyer in Romania is essential to safeguard rights and prevent irreversible consequences, including the loss of Romanian citizenship and its impact on eu citizenship and legal residence status.

Pavel, Margarit and Associates Law Firm is one of the top law firms in Romania, providing high-quality legal services. The firm’s clients include multinational and domestic companies of great magnitude. In 2025, the law firm’s success stories brought it international recognition from the most prestigious international guides and publications in the field. As a result, Pavel, Margarit and Associates Law Firm ranked 3rd in Romania in the Legal 500’s ranking of business law firms with the most relevant expertise. The law firm is internationally recognized by the IFLR 1000 Financial and Corporate 2025 guide. Additionally, Pavel, Margarit and Associates Law Firm is the only law firm in Romania recommended by the international director of Global Law Experts in London in the Dispute Resolution practice area. All relevant information about Pavel, Margarit and Associates Law Firm can be found on the website www.avocatpavel.com.

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