The procedure for granting Moldovan nationality will become easier. A bill to this effect stipulates that the power to grant nationality will be exercised by the ICT Ministry and the presidential institution, IPN reports.

According to a communiqué from the Ministry, the institution will be unable to take decisions. It will perform only technical duties, including receiving applications, verifying the applicant’s documents and sending them to the President of Moldova. Even if the person does not meet all the conditions needed to obtain nationality, the set of documents accompanied by an informative note will be submitted to the presidential institution for examination.

Under the changes, the list of persons that can seek the nationality of Moldova by naturalization includes the beneficiaries of political asylum and humanitarian protection. These persons will have to prove that they stayed legally and continuously on Moldova’s territory for eight years. The naturalization term will be counted from the day the person receives authorization to stay on Moldova’s territory.

The changes exclude the obligation that those who wants to renounce the Moldovan nationality must be older than 18.

The bill was approved by the Government and is to be examined by Parliament. More than 2,000 persons gained Moldovan nationality by naturalization since the proclamation of independence.