The Parliament of the Republic of Moldova plans to make substantial changes to the country’s citizenship legislation to close legal loopholes, prevent fraud, and align procedures with European standards. The Legal, Appointments and Immunity Committee and the National Security, Defense, and Public Order Committee reviewed the draft of the new Citizenship Law during a joint session.
Lawmakers intend to introduce a mandatory requirement for applicants to demonstrate knowledge of the Romanian language and the Constitution. They aim to strengthen the civic and cultural integration of new citizens and to uphold constitutional values.
The draft allows individuals to acquire Moldovan citizenship through birth, recognition, adoption, guardianship, curatorship, reacquisition, or naturalization. Parliamentarians plan to standardize all acquisition procedures to eliminate discrimination and ensure equal treatment for all applicants, with clear age-based distinctions.
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To combat fraud, the draft establishes a strict document verification mechanism. Authorities will review international travel history, financial background, health status, and the applicant’s integrity. Authorities recently uncovered about 100 cases of attempted citizenship fraud.
The draft requires individuals to submit applications in person, eliminating the use of powers of attorney or intermediaries. Authorities will reject applications that contain technical errors or do not meet the required legal criteria. They will also deny applications submitted by individuals who are subject to international sanctions.
A group of PAS party MPs drafted the proposed changes and will present the bill for debate in a full parliamentary session. The authors say these reforms are vital due to migration, dual citizenship issues, and Moldova’s path toward EU integration.