Bulgarian Citizenship

Everything you need to know to apply for Bulgarian citizenship

Gaining Bulgarian citizenship is an attractive prospect for all sorts of reasons. In addition to the beauty of the country itself, many people love the idea of maintaining dual citizenship…

This opens wide horizons for exploring and doing business in multiple countries, thanks to Bulgaria’s membership of the EU.

If you’re thinking about applying for Bulgarian citizenship, we do everything necessary to simplify the process for you.

What are the benefits of Bulgarian citizenship?

Bulgaria is a member of the European Union, which guarantees its citizens all the rights and freedoms enshrined in European law. In addition, Bulgarian citizens are endowed with the following rights:

You can work in any country in the European Union
You can live in any country of the European Union without restrictions on the number of days
You can gain dual citizenship, providing you gain Bulgarian citizenship on the basis of Bulgarian origin or investment programs
You can study in any European country
You access Visa-free navigation through the countries of the European Union

How to get Bulgarian citizenship

You need to submit a package of documents for consideration by the Ministry of Justice, the department of Bulgarian citizenship. Documents submitted, if they are not in Bulgarian, must be translated and legalized. A review can take up to 2 years.

In order to submit documents for review, you need to have already been a resident for fie years on the basis of a Permanent or Long-Term Residence permit.

The most popular ways to apply for Bulgarian citizenship are:

1. By Naturalisation

One of the simplest and relatively affordable routes to applying for citizenship is naturalisation.

Provided for by the Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Bulgaria, the term required to obtain citizenship by naturalisation is about 2-3 years. With the right documents, it can be reduced to one year.

2. By Investment

Another route, only really available to people with financial resources, is the purchase of debt obligations of the Republic of Bulgaria in the amount of 2 000 000 leva or €1 000 000.

Firstly, it’s important to note that the program is entirely safe. Bonds are issued by the state and are backed by all its assets and liabilities. In addition, you get a small percentage on these bonds – about 3.5% – and it is not difficult to sell them if you wish to.

In this case, citizenship will also be obtained by the titleholder’s spouse and unmarried children under 18 years of age.

3. By marriage

If you are married to a Bulgarian citizen, you can also apply for citizenship.

4. By Bulgarian origin

To obtain Bulgarian citizenship on grounds of being of Bulgarian descent, you must prepare the following documents:

A copy of your domestic and foreign passports
A certificate from the Agency for Bulgarians Abroad (to apply for the issuance certificate, you must register on the Agency’s website several months before visiting)
Several matte colour photographs
Your birth certificate
The birth certificate of your mother or father – depending on which of them is a person of Bulgarian origin
A certificate of no criminal record
Your marriage certificate, if any
Birth certificates of any children
A brief autobiography
Medical certificates (displaying negative test results for AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, a certificate of the absence of disability or serious psychiatric issues)

You may also need other papers confirming your ethnicity, family ties or other reasons that serve as the basis for obtaining citizenship of the Republic of Bulgaria.

How we help you gain Bulgarian citizenship

Obtaining Bulgarian citizenship through any route – based on ethnic roots, naturalisation, marriage or investment – can be a long, complex and complicated process.

Why not let us handle the process for you? We ensure that everything goes smoothly and easily and that experts will always be on hand to prepare your documents and advise you on any issues.

Contact us in the way which is most convenient for you. We will help you through every stage of the immigration process and your application for citizenship of Bulgaria.

A note on Bulgarian Citizenship by Naturalization

In order to apply for citizenship by naturalization, it’s important to understand the official requirements. Here are the relevant articles of the Law of Bulgarian Citizenship:

Art. 12. A person who is not a Bulgarian citizen can acquire Bulgarian citizenship if by the date of filing the application for naturalization:

he has become of age;

before no less than 5 years has been given permit for permanent stay in the Republic of Bulgaria;

has not been convicted for premeditated crime of general nature by a Bulgarian court and against him criminal prosecution has not been instituted for such crime, unless rehabilitated;

has income or occupation which enables his support in the Republic of Bulgaria;

has control of the Bulgarian language which shall be ascertained according to an Ordinance by the Minister of Education, Youth and Science and

who is released from his present citizenship or will be released from it by the moment of acquiring Bulgarian citizenship.

Art. 12a A person who has obtained Bulgarian permanent residence or as a family member of such person, can acquire Bulgarian citizenship if he meets the requirements.

Art. 13 A person who is not Bulgarian citizen, meets the requirements and, for no less than 3 years by the date of filing the application for naturalization has obtained permit for permanent stay in the Republic of Bulgaria, can acquire Bulgarian citizenship if he meets one of the following requirements:

he has and maintains legally concluded marriage with Bulgarian citizen for a period no less than 3 years;

was born in the Republic of Bulgaria;

the permit for permanent stay was given before coming of age;

Art. 13a (1) A person who has obtained a refugee or protection status not later than three years by the date of filing the application for naturalization can acquire Bulgarian citizenship if he meets the requirements. Any person, who has been granted humanitarian status before at least five years from the date of submission of the application for naturalization, may obtain Bulgarian citizenship.