If you were born to a parent who was a citizen of the Republic of Moldova, but you did not receive a Moldovan identity card or passport before the age of 18, your case may fall under the new rules for confirming Moldovan citizenship.

It is important to understand that this is not about obtaining citizenship from scratch. It is about confirming an existing legal connection with the Republic of Moldova. In other words, a person may have been a Moldovan citizen by birth but, due to the absence of documents, was unable to effectively use that status.

The new amendments are aimed specifically at such cases. They are designed to simplify the procedure for people who have a legal basis for citizenship by birth but were not previously documented as Moldovan citizens.

What Has Changed in the Moldovan Citizenship Confirmation Procedure

The main change concerns people who are considered citizens of the Republic of Moldova by birth but did not obtain Moldovan documents before reaching the age of 18.

Under the new rules, belonging to Moldovan citizenship may be confirmed if it is established that, at the time of the applicant’s birth, at least one of the parents was a citizen of the Republic of Moldova.

This change is especially important for:

  • people born after 1991 to Moldovan citizen parents;
  • applicants who grew up or live outside Moldova;
  • children of the Moldovan diaspora;
  • people who have never had a Moldovan passport or identity card;
  • applicants whose cases are already under review.

Who Can Confirm Moldovan Citizenship by Birth

Confirmation of citizenship may be relevant if the following conditions apply:

  1. The person was born to a parent who was a citizen of the Republic of Moldova on the date of the applicant’s birth.
  2. The person did not receive a Moldovan identity card or passport before the age of 18.
  3. The applicant can provide documents proving birth, family relationship, and the parent’s Moldovan citizenship.
  4. There are no legal grounds for refusal or state security-related risks.

In practice, the key issue is proving the connection between the applicant and the parent who was a Moldovan citizen. If this connection is properly documented, the procedure may be clearer and more straightforward than other routes to Moldovan citizenship.

Is This Citizenship Acquisition or Confirmation of an Existing Status?

This procedure is not classic naturalization and should not be confused with obtaining citizenship on other grounds.

When confirming citizenship by birth, the state verifies whether Moldovan citizenship already arose at the moment of the person’s birth.

Put simply:

if the right to citizenship already existed at birth, the applicant asks the state to officially confirm that fact and allow the issuance of Moldovan documents.

That is why this procedure differs from naturalization, restoration of citizenship, or other forms of acquiring Moldovan citizenship.

Where to Submit the Application

The application may be submitted depending on where the applicant is located:

Applicant’s location Where to submit the application
In the Republic of Moldova To the Public Services Agency — ASP
Outside Moldova To a Moldovan diplomatic mission or consular office

For applicants abroad, the possibility of applying through a consulate is an important advantage. It means that travelling to Moldova may not always be necessary simply to initiate the procedure.

Is the Romanian Language and Constitution Exam Required?

For confirmation of citizenship by birth, the Romanian language and Constitution exam is not required in cases where the applicant proves that at least one parent was a Moldovan citizen at the time of the applicant’s birth.

This exception must be understood correctly. It applies specifically to the confirmation of belonging to Moldovan citizenship by birth, not to all procedures for obtaining Moldovan citizenship.

If a person applies for citizenship on other grounds, additional requirements may apply, including proof of knowledge of the Romanian language and the Constitution.

What Happens to Applications Already Submitted

If an application is already under review by ASP or another competent authority, but no final decision has yet been issued, the case may be examined under the new rules after they enter into force.

This means that the applicant does not necessarily have to restart the procedure from the beginning. However, the result will depend on the documents provided, the applicant’s legal situation, and the absence of grounds for refusal or additional checks.

What Role Will Security Checks Play?

Alongside simplifying the procedure, the authorities are strengthening the applicant verification mechanism. Having a citizenship basis by birth does not exclude checks by the competent institutions.

Confirmation of citizenship may be suspended or refused if circumstances are identified related to:

  • threats to the security of the Republic of Moldova;
  • participation in terrorist activities;
  • involvement in illegal military formations;
  • military service in the army of an aggressor state;
  • war crimes;
  • inclusion on national or international sanctions lists;
  • submission of false or incomplete information in documents or autobiography.

Therefore, the application file must be prepared carefully, and all information submitted to the authorities should be consistent, complete, and verifiable.

Are Residents of the Transnistrian Region Affected?

Yes, the new rules may also be relevant for residents of the Transnistrian region if they have grounds to confirm citizenship by birth.

The decisive factor is not only the place of residence, but the existence of a legal basis and the absence of circumstances that may be considered risks to state security.

Therefore, a person who can prove birth, parentage, and the parent’s Moldovan citizenship should not be automatically excluded solely because of the region where they live. However, in sensitive cases, the authorities may request additional checks.

What Documents Should Be Prepared?

Before submitting the application, it is advisable to review the entire document file. As a rule, the following may be required:

  • the applicant’s birth certificate;
  • documents confirming the parent’s Moldovan citizenship on the applicant’s date of birth;
  • marriage, divorce, or name change certificates, if applicable;
  • the applicant’s passport or other identity document;
  • documents related to other citizenships, if the applicant holds any;
  • autobiography;
  • additional documents requested by ASP, the consulate, or other competent authorities.

Special attention should be paid to differences in names, transliterations, dates of birth, and places of birth. Even a seemingly minor discrepancy may lead to delays or additional document requests.

What Should the Applicant Do Now?

If you believe you may have the right to Moldovan citizenship by birth, it is not advisable to submit documents without a preliminary review.

A reasonable action plan would be:

  1. Check whether one of your parents was a citizen of the Republic of Moldova on your date of birth.
  2. Prepare documents proving your family relationship.
  3. Check whether there are inconsistencies in names, dates, or places of birth.
  4. Determine where the application should be submitted: to ASP or through a consulate.
  5. Prepare an autobiography and explanations if the case contains sensitive or unclear elements.
  6. Request a legal review before submitting the documents.

Assistance With Confirming Moldovan Citizenship

The team at moldovacitizenship.md assists applicants who want to verify their legal basis for Moldovan citizenship, prepare the required documents, and choose the correct submission strategy.

We can help if:

  • you were born to a parent who was a Moldovan citizen;
  • you do not have a Moldovan passport or identity card;
  • you live abroad and want to apply through a consulate;
  • there are discrepancies or errors in your documents;
  • your application has already been submitted but additional questions have arisen;
  • you want to understand whether the new rules apply to your situation.

Request a consultation — we will review your legal basis and explain which documents are required to confirm Moldovan citizenship.

FAQ

Who can confirm Moldovan citizenship under the new rules?

People who acquired Moldovan citizenship by birth but were not documented before the age of 18 may confirm their citizenship if at least one parent was a citizen of the Republic of Moldova on the applicant’s date of birth.

Can the application be submitted from abroad?

Yes. Applicants outside Moldova may submit the application through a Moldovan diplomatic mission or consular office.

Is the Romanian language exam mandatory?

For confirmation of citizenship by birth, if at least one parent was a Moldovan citizen at the time of the applicant’s birth, the Romanian language and Constitution exam is not required. Other citizenship procedures may have different requirements.

How long does the application review take?

The review period may depend on the specific case, the completeness of the documents, and whether additional checks are required. If the file contains discrepancies or sensitive elements, the procedure may take longer.

Can confirmation of citizenship be refused?

Yes. Refusal is possible if the documents do not confirm the legal basis, or if state security-related grounds, false information, or other legal impediments are identified.

What if the parent’s documents have been lost?

In this case, the documentary chain must be reconstructed. Civil status certificates, archive extracts, proof of the parent’s citizenship, and documents confirming the family relationship may be required.

Can residents of the Transnistrian region apply?

Yes, if they meet the legal conditions for confirming citizenship by birth. However, in certain cases, additional security checks may be carried out.