The Council for the Issues of Romanian Abroad was established in 1995 directly subordinated to the Prime Minister and was the first structure for supporting the Romanian communities abroad.

In 1998, the Under – Secretariat of State for Romanians Abroad was established and in 1999 it was transformed into the Department for Relations with Romanians Abroad. In January 2001, it was renamed the Department for Romanians Abroad (DRA) – and was integrated within the Ministry of Public Information.

In 2003, the DRA has been transferred under the authority of the General Secretariat of the Government, and in March 2004, under the authority of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister.

Beginning with March 2005, the DRA activities and funds were ascribed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, institution which developed and implemented the state’s policy regarding the relations with Romanian communities outside the national borders through the Department for Relations with Romanians Abroad. As of December 29, 2009, according to the Government Emergency Ordinance no.115/2009 regarding the establishment of restructuring measures within the central public administration, the Department for Romanians Abroad was established as a structure with legal personality within the Government, under the coordination of the Prime Minister.