Do you need Romanian for residence or citizenship in Romania in 2026?

Many temporary work, study, family, and remote-work routes do not impose a general Romanian language exam at the IGI gate. The employer, university, or regulated profession may still set its own language condition. Confirm the exact residence purpose on igi.mai.gov.ro and with the territorial IGI office handling your file: Apply for a residence permit.

English can carry early errands in Bucharest and Cluj while you build a CNP or temporary ANAF NIF and address proof, yet clerks and forms still lean Romanian: English in Romania and Romanian bureaucracy without Romanian. First-month document order sits in Paperwork after moving.

Long-term residence (often framed as permanent stay after continuous lawful residence, commonly around five years with limited absences) generally requires proof of Romanian at least at a satisfactory level, alongside housing, health insurance, means, and public-order checks. EURAXESS and IGI guidance describe an internal interview to assess that level after the file is registered. Do not invent a public CEFR cut-score or named civic exam brand for that interview; verify the live IGI list for your category and any exemptions (for example some family members of Romanian citizens).

Citizenship under Articles 10 and 11 of Law no. 21/1991, as amended, conditions granting on Romanian knowledge. ANC accepts a linguistic competence certificate at least at CEFR B1 issued by accredited Romanian universities that run the preparatory Romanian year, by the Romanian Language Institute (Institutul Limbii Române), by the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR), or by Romanian cultural institutes abroad. A legalised school transcript proving at least three years of Romanian-taught study can also qualify. Former Romanian citizens and applicants aged 65 or over seeking reacquisition under Article 11 can be exempt from submitting language proof; transitional filing windows change, so read the live cetatenie.just.ro notice before you book an exam.

Build toward the certificate with a real course rather than hoping Floreasca English equals exam readiness: Learn Romanian in Romania. ICR and Babeș-Bolyai University jointly run proficiency sessions, and mere course attendance does not automatically produce the PDF ANC wants.