Why ANC started checking documents so strictly in 2026
In 2026, one of the most common questions Ukrainians ask sounds the same every time:
"Why is ANC taking so long to review my Romanian citizenship case?"
People receive a dosar number, complete the filing, and then wait a month, a year, two, three, and sometimes much longer.
Against this background, panic sets in:
"they lost the case"
"there are problems"
"there will be a refusal"
"the documents are bad"
"everyone else has already got it, but I haven't"
But reality is much more complicated.
In 2026, long waits have become part of ANC's general practice.
That is why it is important to understand what exactly is happening with the file, why delays occur, and when waiting actually becomes a legal problem.
WHY PROCESSING TIMES BECAME MUCH LONGER IN 2026
The main reason is that the system of checks has become sharply more complex.
Today ANC analyzes cases much more deeply than it did a few years ago.
It checks:
the origin of the documents
the archival base
the chain of evidence
surnames
translations
apostilles
B1
biometrics
fraud and fals documentar risks
whether all the data is consistent
That is why files no longer follow the old model: "submit the documents, wait for the order."
Today every case goes through a much deeper review.
WHY ANC CHECKS ARCHIVES ESPECIALLY CAREFULLY
One of the main reasons for delays is the archival check.
Very many cases are built on:
old documents
archival extracts
reissued certificates
Soviet-era documents
documents with different surnames
ANC checks:
the authenticity of the records
whether the dates match
the link between generations
the legal logic of the chain
the absence of forgeries
That is why even a strong file can be reviewed for a very long time.
Especially if the chain contains:
gaps
different surnames
old records
archival complications
WHY CHECKING SURNAMES CAN TAKE MONTHS
In 2026, ANC analyzes surnames especially carefully.
Problems arise because of:
marriages
divorces
Russification
Ukrainization
Romanian spelling
Latin transliteration
Soviet-era errors
For example: the grandfather's surname is spelled one way, the mother's another, the applicant's a third, and the archival documents a fourth.
Even when it is one and the same family, ANC must see a legal link between all the documents.
That is why surname checks can take a very long time.
WHY B1 AND THE OATH ALSO AFFECT THE PROCESS
Many people think: "the language is already the final step."
But in 2026, ANC treats B1 as part of the overall check of the applicant's readiness.
So the language is now connected with:
the procedure
the oath
identification
communication
the readiness assessment
That is why weak language preparation can also affect the overall course of the case.
WHY ANC HAS TIGHTENED CONTROL OVER FRAUD AND FALS
In recent years the market has faced a large number of:
weak files
fake documents
fraud
fals documentar
unconfirmed archival records
translation errors
That is why ANC began checking the origin of documents and the legal structure of a case much more strictly.
This is one of the main reasons for long processing times.
WHY YOU SHOULD NOT COMPARE YOUR CASE WITH SOMEONE ELSE'S
Very many Ukrainians make the same mistake.
They start comparing their file with other people's:
"he already has an order"
"he applied later"
"his went faster"
"so I must have a problem"
But in 2026, every file is reviewed individually.
Even two similar cases can have completely different levels of complexity:
different archives
different surnames
a different family line
different translations
different documents
different risks
That is why a direct comparison often creates unnecessary panic.
WHEN A LONG WAIT CAN BECOME A PROBLEM
It is important to understand that not every long wait means a problem.
But in certain situations the legal prospects already need to be analyzed.
For example:
the case has been waiting for many years
there is no movement on the dosar
ANC sends no requests
the timeframe clearly goes beyond what is reasonable
the file looks strong
there are no obvious problems with the documents
In such situations, the following may be considered:
a strategic assessment
strengthening the file
updating the documents
an administrative court case against ANC
But the decision should be made only after the case has been analyzed.
WHY IT IS DANGEROUS TO PANIC OR ACT CHAOTICALLY
During a long wait, very many people start to:
send requests chaotically
change documents without a strategy
order unnecessary translations
file unfounded complaints
believe rumors
turn to random intermediaries
This is a dangerous approach.
Because the problem may lie not in the timeframe but in the quality of the legal structure itself.
That is why analysis comes first, not emotions.
HOW ALLIANCE / ARMONIE WORKS
Alliance / Armonie treats an ANC delay not emotionally but as a legal situation that needs to be analyzed.
We check:
the dosar number
the waiting time
the stage of the case
the archival base
surnames
translations
B1
apostilles
the chain of evidence
ANC risks
the prospects in court
If we see weak points, we explain how to strengthen the file.
If the documents are outdated, we explain what needs to be updated.
If there are grounds for an administrative court case, we assess the prospects.
The main goal is not to create panic.
The main goal is to understand the real state of the case and build the right strategy.
WHY A STRATEGY IS WHAT YOU NEED IN 2026
The Romanian citizenship market has changed.
Today it is no longer enough to:
"submit the documents"
"wait for the order"
"compare processing times"
ANC checks much more deeply.
That is why a strong route should include:
an analysis of the right to citizenship
the archival outlook
surnames
B1
apostilles
translations
how current the documents are
a risk analysis
an understanding of how ANC works
Only this approach creates a solid position