Why some wait 2 years for an ANC order and others 5 years

In 2026, one of the most painful topics among applicants for Romanian citizenship is ANC’s timelines.

People compare their cases en masse:

• “he applied later and has already received the order”
• “my dosar is older, but there’s no movement”
• “why do some wait 2 years and others 5 years”
• “so there must be a problem with my case”

It is exactly these comparisons that create a huge amount of panic today.

But it is important to understand the main thing.

ANC does not review all cases the same way.

In 2026, the timelines depend on more than just the filing date.

A great deal depends on the complexity of the file itself.

That is why two people who applied at about the same time can end up with completely different waiting times.

WHY ANC NO LONGER WORKS THE OLD WAY

Many Ukrainians still see Romanian citizenship through the old model:

• “we submitted the documents”
• “we joined the queue”
• “we’re waiting for the order”

But ANC’s practice has long since become much more complex.

Today the following are checked:

• the chain of evidence
• the archival basis
• surnames
• translations
• apostilles
• B1
• biometrics
• fraud and fals documentar
• whether the documents are consistent with one another

That is why every case has become an individual legal structure.

WHY SOME FILES GO THROUGH FASTER

There are several factors that can make a case “simpler” for ANC to check.

For example:

• a clean chain of evidence
• identical surnames
• a minimal number of archival gaps
• recent documents
• strong translations
• no contradictions
• B1 prepared
• a clear family line

Such cases usually raise fewer additional questions.

But this does not mean an automatically fast decision.

It only means a simpler check.

WHY OTHER CASES CAN WAIT FOR YEARS

There is also the opposite situation.

A great many files contain complex elements:

• USSR archives
• lost documents
• reissued certificates
• different surnames
• Russification
• Ukrainization
• errors by Soviet authorities
• weak translations
• unconfirmed links

It is exactly these cases that ANC checks especially carefully.

Sometimes the problem may not even lie in a single document but in the overall logic of the chain of evidence.

WHY SURNAMES CAN SLOW A CASE DOWN

In 2026, ANC pays enormous attention to surnames.

For example:

• the grandfather has one spelling
• the mother has another
• the applicant has a third
• the archive has a fourth

Even if it is the same family, ANC must see the legal link between all the generations.

That is why surname checks can take a very long time.

WHY ARCHIVES HAVE BECOME ONE OF THE MAIN CAUSES OF DELAYS

Today a huge number of cases are built on archival documents.

But ANC checks:

• the origin of the archives
• the authenticity of the records
• whether the dates match
• the logic of the family line
• the absence of fraud and fals documentar

That is why an archival check can take months and even years.

Especially if:

• the archives are old
• the records are hard to read
• there are contradictions
• the documents were reissued later
• part of the chain is missing

WHY B1 ALSO AFFECTS THE OVERALL ROUTE

A great many people think: “the language is already the finish line.”

But in 2026, B1 has become part of the overall check of the applicant’s readiness.

That is why ANC assesses not only the documents but also the person’s overall preparation for the procedure.

Weak language preparation does not always slow the case down directly on its own, but it often shows that the route as a whole is underprepared.

WHY YOU SHOULD NOT PANIC OVER OTHER PEOPLE’S DOSAR

This is one of the most dangerous mistakes.

People start living by other people’s timelines:

• “he’s already got it”
• “he applied later”
• “his is going faster”

But in reality no one sees the full picture of someone else’s case.

No one knows:

• how strong the chain is
• which archives were used
• whether there were surname problems
• whether ANC sent requests
• how strong the translations are
• whether there is B1
• whether there were additional checks

That is why comparing dosar numbers head-on often wrecks a person’s peace of mind.

WHEN IT IS TIME TO THINK ABOUT COURT

This is the main practical question.

According to current analysis and market practice, the cases that increasingly reach active review and the order are those about 5 years old from the date the dosar number was received.

That is why many applicants start considering an administrative court case.

But it is important to understand here: going to court is not an emotion.

Going to court is a legal strategy.

That is why you first need to understand:

• how strong the file is
• whether there are weak points
• whether the documents need strengthening
• whether there are surname problems
• whether the chain of evidence is strong enough
• whether the case matches ANC practice in 2026

WHY ALLIANCE / ARMONIE STRENGTHENS THE FILE FIRST

This is one of the main principles of our work.

Alliance / Armonie does not take people to an administrative court automatically.

A strategic assessment is carried out first.

We analyze:

• the dosar number
• the waiting times
• the archival basis
• surnames
• translations
• B1
• apostilles
• the chain of evidence
• weak points
• ANC risks

If documents are missing, we help restore them.

If the chain is weak, we strengthen the legal structure.

If there are surname errors, we build the evidentiary logic.

And only after that is an administrative court case considered.

This is fundamentally important.

Because the court should reinforce a strong position, not rescue an unprepared file.

CAN YOU WIN A COURT CASE AGAINST ANC

Under current practice, a significant share of administrative proceedings against ANC has a positive outlook when the legal position is strong.

As a rough guide, one can speak of about a 70% positive outlook with a competently prepared file.

But this is not a guarantee.

That is why the quality of preparation is critically important.

When the court case develops positively, many applicants see movement on their case and can reach the order within about one year of the start of the proceedings.

But again: this depends on the quality of the file itself.

WHY A STRATEGY IS WHAT YOU NEED IN 2026

The Romanian citizenship market has changed a great deal.

Today it is no longer enough to:

• “submit the documents”
• “wait for the order”
• “compare timelines”

ANC checks cases much more deeply.

That is why a strong route must include:

• an analysis of the dosar
• the archival outlook
• the chain of evidence
• surnames
• B1
• translations
• apostilles
• an analysis of the court outlook
• strengthening the file

Only this approach creates a strong legal position.