Romanian citizenship administrative court: when ANC drags out the case
In 2026, the administrative court for Romanian citizenship has become one of the most pressing topics for applicants who have already submitted their documents and have been waiting years for an ANC decision.
The problem has become widespread.
People received a dosar number, went through the filing, are waiting for movement on their case, but see no result for years.
As of today, according to current analysis and market practice, the cases that increasingly get into active review and reach the citizenship order are those about 5 years old from the date the dosar number was issued.
For a person this means one simple thing: if the case was filed long ago and there is no movement, passive waiting may drag on for an indefinite period.
That is exactly why more and more applicants are starting to consider an administrative lawsuit against ANC.
But one dangerous myth needs to be dispelled right away.
A court case is not buying a passport. A court case is not a guarantee of citizenship. A court case is not a promise that the order will come out tomorrow.
An administrative court case is a lawful instrument for protecting the applicant when a state body excessively delays the review of a case.
WHAT AN ADMINISTRATIVE LAWSUIT AGAINST ANC IS
When applicants say “sue ANC,” they usually mean contencios administrativ — administrative proceedings against a state body.
In such cases, the court does not replace ANC and does not grant citizenship instead of ANC.
The court examines a different question: whether the reasonable time for reviewing the case has been violated and whether the state body must take action on the applicant's file.
That is why the administrative court needs to be understood correctly.
It is not a separate program for obtaining citizenship.
It is a legal instrument for addressing inaction or excessive delay in the procedure.
WHY THE TOPIC OF COURT HAS BECOME ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IN 2026
In recent years, the Romanian citizenship system has become considerably more complex.
ANC has tightened its checks of:
- the origin of documents
- the archival base
- the chain of evidence
- surnames
- translations
- apostilles
- the B1 certificate
- biometrics
- risks of fraud and fals
On the one hand, this explains why cases take longer to review.
On the other hand, the applicant cannot remain in limbo forever.
If a person has been waiting 4–5 years, has a dosar number, and there is no movement on the case, the question of an administrative court becomes not an emotional reaction but a real legal instrument.
WHAT CURRENT ANALYSIS SHOWS
According to current market analysis, as of today ANC is actively reviewing and bringing to the citizenship order primarily very old cases — roughly 5 years or more since the dosar number was issued.
This does not mean that every case will automatically reach the order after exactly 5 years.
But it shows the overall picture: the queue is long, the workload is high, and the wait can be very long.
That is why it is important for the applicant not simply to wait, but to understand:
- what stage the case is at
- how much time has passed since the dosar number was issued
- whether there have been requests from ANC
- whether there are problems in the documents
- whether there are grounds for an administrative lawsuit
- how strong the legal position is
Without such an analysis, a person does not understand what is more advantageous: to keep waiting, to strengthen the documents, or to prepare an administrative court case.
CAN YOU WIN A LAWSUIT AGAINST ANC
According to current practice, a significant share of administrative lawsuits against ANC are won if the case is prepared correctly and there is a strong legal position.
As a rough estimate, about 70% of such court proceedings have a positive outlook with competent preparation.
But this should not be taken as a guarantee.
Why?
Because the court assesses not the applicant's emotions but the legal position.
What matters:
- how much time has passed
- how objectively delayed the timeline is
- whether there are problems in the file
- whether there are requests from ANC
- whether there are weak documents
- whether there is a risk of fraud or fals
- whether the applicant is ready for additional requirements
- whether the chain of evidence is intact
If the position is strong, an administrative court case can become a real instrument that forces the case to move.
In practice, with a positive court outcome, the applicant may reach the citizenship order within about one year of the start of the court proceedings.
But this always depends on the specific case, the stage of the file and the quality of preparation.
WHY COURT DOES NOT WORK WITHOUT A STRONG FILE
The main mistake applicants make is thinking that the court will solve all their problems by itself.
That is wrong.
If the file has weak documents, gaps in the chain, surname errors, outdated extracts, missing apostilles, translation problems, or B1 has not been prepared, the court does not turn a weak case into a strong one.
Moreover, a weak file can create additional risks.
That is why a sound strategy does not start with a lawsuit.
It starts with checking the file itself.
HOW ALLIANCE / ARMONIE WORKS BEFORE GOING TO COURT
Alliance / Armonie does not take a client to court automatically.
First, a legal assessment of the file is carried out.
We look at:
- the dosar number
- the filing date
- the waiting time
- the stage of the case
- the applicant's documents
- the parents' documents
- the ancestors' documents
- the archival base
- the chain of evidence
- surnames
- translations
- apostilles
- how recent the documents are
- B1
- possible weak points
- the court outlook
If we see that the documents are weak, important elements are missing or there are legal gaps, we strengthen the file first.
If documents are missing, we help complete them.
If archival confirmation is needed, we organize the archival work.
If there are problems with surnames, we prepare an explanatory documentary logic.
If the documents are old, we check which ones need to be updated.
If there is no B1, we explain how to build language preparation into the overall route.
Only after that can a decision about court be made.
This approach is fundamentally important.
Because an administrative court case should strengthen an already prepared position, not cover up a weak case.
WHEN COURT CAN BE A REASONABLE DECISION
An administrative lawsuit against ANC may make sense if:
- the case was filed long ago
- there is a dosar number
- the waiting time is clearly excessive
- the documents are in order
- the file is legally strong
- there are no critical gaps in the chain
- there is readiness for court proceedings
- the applicant understands that the court does not guarantee a passport but protects the right to have the case reviewed
This is especially relevant for cases that have already been waiting several years with no clear movement.
But each case must be analyzed individually.
WHEN YOU FIRST NEED NOT COURT BUT MORE WORK ON THE FILE
Sometimes a person wants to file a lawsuit right away, but the check shows that the problem is not only the timeline.
For example:
- documents are missing
- there are errors in surnames
- the documents have not been updated
- there are no apostilles
- the translations are weak
- the archival base is incomplete
- B1 has not been prepared
- the chain of kinship looks unconvincing
In this situation, the case itself must be strengthened first.
And only after that should an administrative court case be considered.
This is an honest and professional model.
Because the task of Alliance / Armonie is not simply to sell a person a court case.
The task is to build a route that genuinely protects their position.
WHY IT IS DANGEROUS TO BELIEVE PROMISES OF A “100% WIN”
There are many promises on the market:
- “we will definitely win”
- “you will get a passport through the court”
- “there will be an order in a year”
- “the court will solve everything”
Such wording is dangerous.
The correct legal position sounds different: with a strong file, a long wait and a properly prepared lawsuit, an administrative court case can significantly increase the chances of the case moving forward and reaching the citizenship order.
But the decision always depends on the specific situation.
That is why an assessment is needed first.
FAQ
What is the administrative court for Romanian citizenship?
It is court proceedings against a state body when the review of a case is excessively delayed.
Does the court grant Romanian citizenship?
No. The court does not grant citizenship instead of ANC. It can oblige the state body to review the case or to take the necessary administrative actions.
How long is the wait for a Romanian citizenship order now?
According to current analysis, the cases being actively reviewed and reaching the order are those about 5 years old from the dosar number.
Can you win a lawsuit against ANC?
According to current practice, a significant share of cases are won. As a rough estimate, one can speak of about a 70% positive outlook with a strong legal position, but this is not a guarantee.
Can you reach the order within a year after going to court?
With a positive court outcome and strong preparation, this is possible within about one year, but it depends on the specific file and the stage of the case.
What does Alliance / Armonie do before going to court?
We check the file first. If the documents are weak, something is missing or there are legal gaps, we help complete and strengthen the documents, and only then do we consider the court route.