Investigation Uncovers Large-Scale Fraud in Romanian Citizenship-by-Descent Program

A major investigation has revealed that thousands of individuals from Russia, Ukraine, and Moldova fraudulently acquired Romanian citizenship through forged ancestral documents, granting them European Union rights based on fabricated heritage claims. The findings expose a broad criminal network and serious administrative vulnerabilities in Romania’s citizenship-by-descent system.

How the Fraudulent Scheme Worked

According to an investigative report highlighted by Le Monde, nearly 18,700 people from former Soviet republics managed to register fictitious residences in Romania, with hundreds ultimately receiving Romanian passports. These forged applications exploited gaps in the official process and were supported by networks of corrupt officials and criminal intermediaries.

The central deceit involved submitting fabricated genealogical records claiming descent from ancestors born in areas that were part of Romania in the early 20th century despite no genuine links. Local authorities in neighboring countries issued certified documents based on these false claims, which were then used to obtain legitimate citizenship certificates from Romania’s National Authority for Citizenship.

Criminal Networks and Counterfeit Documents

In response to a growing volume of questionable applications, Romania introduced new requirements in 2024, including mandatory Romanian language testing, to deter abuses. However, sophisticated fraud networks adapted by generating counterfeit citizenship certificates that waived the normal two-year legal process. Some of these counterfeit certificates were reportedly sold for tens of thousands of euros, with one intermediary charging around €75,000.

Prosecutors noted that organized crime groups exploited administrative and legislative loopholes and used social-media advertising, targeting Russian speakers with offers of a “European passport” for as little as €4,000 to €7,000, sometimes with discounts.

Unusual Population Patterns Raise Red Flags

The fraud came to light in part due to anomalous demographic data in the northern Romanian commune of Vârfu Câmpului. Between 2011 and 2021, the recorded population more than doubled without any corresponding social or economic indicators to suggest real growth. By 2024, close to 10,000 individuals appeared on local electoral rolls, yet turnout during municipal elections was extremely low — just 2% in some polling stations — prompting further scrutiny.

Police search-and-seizure operations in November 2024 uncovered that approximately 10,000 individuals from Moldova, Ukraine, and Russia had obtained Romanian identity documents tied to fictitious addresses, often without property owners’ consent.

Organized Fraud Rings Identified

Romania’s General Prosecutor’s Office has also identified organized groups behind the scheme. One such group, comprised of seven Ukrainian nationals residing in Romania, submitted more than 900 fraudulent applications in 2025 alone, primarily on behalf of Russian citizens. According to the investigation, these groups worked with notaries, translators, and legal intermediaries to process dubious applications with forged documentation.

In some cases, applicants allegedly used identities of Ukrainian soldiers killed in the war to support citizenship claims.

Exploiting Romania’s Citizenship-by-Descent Framework

Romania’s citizenship-by-descent program, in place since 1991, enables individuals who can demonstrate ancestry in territories that belonged to the Kingdom of Romania between 1918 and 1940 to reclaim citizenship. These areas today include parts of Moldova and Ukraine. Over the past 30 years, the policy has helped about one million Moldovans and thousands of Ukrainians obtain Romanian passports.

Before recent scrutiny, Russian applications were relatively limited. But after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, demand for Romanian citizenship surged as a pathway to EU access. Reported figures from Romania’s citizenship authority show a sharp rise in Russian applications — 6,658 in 2023 and 4,574 in 2024 — compared to just 5,262 between 2012 and early 2022. Applications from Belarusian citizens also climbed significantly in the same period.

EU Membership and the Value of Romanian Citizenship

Romania’s accession to the European Union in 2007 means that Romanian citizens can live, work, and travel freely across all EU member states. This makes Romanian citizenship especially valuable for non-EU nationals who gain it through descent or naturalization.

Authorities have stressed that the investigation remains ongoing. Officials have promised to continue uncovering fraudulent citizenship grants while tightening verification processes within the citizenship-by-descent program to safeguard its integrity.