Bulgarian Citizenship: Requirements, Benefits, and Application Process

Bulgarian citizenship is a legally recognized relationship between an individual and the state, implying a defined set of rights and obligations. The status may be obtained on simplified terms by descendants of Bulgarian citizens (by origin), as well as by individuals who move to the country for work, studies, business activities, or other grounds under the general naturalization procedure. The timeframe for acquiring citizenship varies depending on the chosen pathway and may range from 12 months to 10 years.

The Republic of Bulgaria has been a member of the European Union since 2007, which means that holding a Bulgarian passport automatically grants EU citizenship. At the same time, obtaining Bulgarian citizenship with the assistance of immigration specialists is often simpler and faster than in many other EU countries, such as Germany or France. In this article, we will take a closer look at the key features of the application process, its advantages and disadvantages, available grounds, timeframes, and other important aspects.

What Does Bulgarian Citizenship Offer: Pros and Cons of Obtaining It

Obtaining Bulgarian citizenship offers significant opportunities both within Bulgaria and across the European Union. However, like any legal status, it comes with not only advantages but also certain considerations that should be carefully evaluated before starting the application process. Below, we outline the main pros and potential cons of acquiring a Bulgarian passport to help you make an informed decision.

• Employment Opportunities in Europe.
  With a Bulgarian passport, you can work in any European Union country without obtaining a separate work permit or meeting additional employment requirements.
• Visa-Free Travel to Most Countries Worldwide.
  As of 2022, a Bulgarian citizen has the right to travel freely to 173 countries, including 53 destinations offering visas on arrival and 7 providing electronic visas.
• High-Quality Healthcare Services.
  With a Bulgarian passport, you have access to medical treatment in leading European clinics under the terms of basic health insurance or, in certain cases, at the expense of the state healthcare system.
• Favorable Business Conditions.
  Bulgarian citizenship provides access to the largest unified European market, making it possible to expand a business to the international level. The corporate tax rate in Bulgaria is only 10%, which is significantly lower than the EU average of around 24%.
• Access to Quality Education.
  With a Bulgarian passport, you can study in any EU country, including tuition-free programs with scholarship opportunities.
• The Opportunity to Purchase European Real Estate.
  Bulgarian citizens have the right to buy residential and commercial property, as well as land, in any European Union member state.
• Social Guarantees.
  Bulgarian citizenship entitles individuals to state benefits and social support, such as unemployment assistance, and—provided there is the required minimum work record—to pension coverage.
• Full Access to European Banking Services.
  EU citizenship ensures unrestricted access to loans at favorable interest rates (typically from 1.5% to 5%), as well as deposits and other financial products offered by leading banking institutions across the EU.

In addition to its advantages, obtaining a Bulgarian passport also has certain drawbacks. Under the general naturalization procedure, the process may take up to 10 years, during which the applicant must reside in the country and learn the official language.

Those who seek a faster route through citizenship by origin often face difficulties when independently searching for documents that prove their ethnic background. However, these challenges can be addressed with the assistance of experienced immigration specialists who help locate and restore the necessary supporting records.

Legal Ways to Obtain Bulgarian Citizenship

There are three main ways for citizens of non-EU countries to obtain citizenship of the Republic of Bulgaria:

• By Origin.
  This option is suitable for adult foreign nationals who have at least one Bulgarian relative in their family line up to the third degree (for example, a parent or grandparent), have no criminal record, and are not subject to an entry ban to the country.
  The main advantage of this pathway is its speed: a passport can be obtained in as little as one year from the start of the procedure, and there is no requirement to know the official language. In addition, children of Bulgarian citizens automatically acquire their parent’s status.
  The cost of the process depends on the applicant’s citizenship and on whether the procedure is completed independently or with the support of immigration lawyers.
• Through Investment.
  The Bulgarian government is interested in attracting foreign capital and offers investors the opportunity to obtain residence under a simplified procedure. To become a permanent resident of Bulgaria and later qualify for citizenship, an applicant must invest at least 512,000 EUR in the local economy, for example in government securities or other approved financial instruments. Permanent residence is granted approximately six months after relocating to Bulgaria, and citizenship may be requested after five years of residence. If the investment is doubled compared to the minimum amount, the applicant may become eligible for citizenship after two years of residence.
  The program also allows the investor’s family members to relocate together — including a spouse and minor or unmarried children. The state fee for permanent residence is 500 EUR, plus 5 EUR for submitting the application and 22 EUR for issuing the residence card.
• Through Naturalization.
  Individuals who do not have Bulgarian ancestry and do not possess sufficient funds for investment may obtain Bulgarian citizenship through long-term residence in the country.

At the initial stage, the foreign national enters Bulgaria on a national Type D visa based on employment, studies, business activities, humanitarian grounds, family reunification, or financial independence (a suitable option for well-supported retirees). After arrival, the applicant applies for a residence permit. Following five years of legal residence, they may become eligible for permanent residence or, depending on their individual circumstances, apply directly for citizenship.

To obtain a Bulgarian passport through naturalization, an adult applicant must have permanent residence, a stable source of income, no criminal record, and conversational knowledge of the Bulgarian language.

The government fees amount to 250 EUR for a residence permit (valid for up to 12 months, with renewal fees payable annually), 500 EUR for permanent residence, and 5 EUR per application submitted (with the exception of family members of Bulgarian citizens).

Citizenship by Origin

Under Article 15 of the Law on Bulgarian Citizenship, individuals who have at least one Bulgarian ancestor — a mother, father, grandmother, or grandfather — may obtain a passport through a simplified procedure. This pathway is available to citizens of non-EU countries who can prove their Bulgarian origin.

The key requirement is documentary evidence confirming affiliation with the Bulgarian people. This may include a birth certificate (of the applicant or their ancestor) or other official documents, such as a military ID, an archival extract from the place of residence, or a certificate of forced resettlement.

Repatriation to Bulgaria is carried out in several stages:

• Search and Preparation of Supporting Documents.
  Immigration specialists submit requests to state archives to collect the necessary records, arrange for their translation into Bulgarian, and have them notarized.
• Appointment for Submission.
  Specialists coordinate a convenient date with the applicant and schedule an appointment at the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice.
• Visit to the Government Authority.
  The applicant, accompanied by a lawyer, visits the Ministry of Justice of Bulgaria, submits the documents, and attends an interview.
• Waiting for a Decision.
  The status of the citizenship application can be tracked using a unique registration number issued at the time of document submission.
• Receiving the Citizenship Certificate.
  The applicant must personally collect the citizenship certificate from the Ministry of Justice of Bulgaria.
• Issuance of Internal Documents.
  Based on the citizenship certificate, the new citizen may apply for a passport, ID card, and other national documents.

On average, the entire repatriation process with the assistance of immigration lawyers takes from 12 months. The cost of services is calculated individually in each case.

Investment

A simplified naturalization pathway is available to participants in the Bulgarian Investment Immigration Program (BIIP), commonly referred to as citizenship by investment. By investing at least 512,000 EUR in a Bulgarian commercial company, a foreign national may obtain permanent residence and, after five years, apply for citizenship. If the investment amounts to 1,024,000 EUR or more, the timeframe for obtaining citizenship may be reduced to two years.

The applicant receives a Class A Investment Certificate in accordance with the Law on Investment Promotion, approved by the Ministry of Economy. The company receiving the investment must meet several requirements:

• it must not be bankrupt or undergoing bankruptcy proceedings;
• it must not be in the process of liquidation;
• it must have no outstanding financial obligations to the state (such as unpaid loans or taxes);
• it must regularly pay salaries to its employees.

The investment is refundable, meaning that the shares in the company may be sold after Bulgarian citizenship is obtained, allowing the investor to recover the invested funds.

To enter Bulgaria for investment purposes, the applicant must first obtain a visa. After receiving the Class A certificate, they may apply for permanent residence. The applicant must be an adult, have no criminal record, and must not pose a threat to public order, health, or national security in Bulgaria.

Business

Foreign nationals may pursue Bulgarian citizenship by establishing a company within the country. The business must create at least 10 jobs for local residents. The entrepreneur is granted a residence permit and may relocate to Bulgaria together with their family, later becoming eligible to apply for citizenship under the general naturalization procedure.

The applicant must provide documentary proof of a registered business operating in the Republic of Bulgaria. Sole ownership is not mandatory — the individual may be one of several partners or shareholders.

To enter the country, the foreign national must first obtain a national visa. After registering the company, they may apply for a residence permit. From the moment the residence permit is granted to the acquisition of a passport, the process takes on average around 10 years — five years of residence with a temporary permit, followed by another five years with permanent residence.

Employment

Foreign nationals may relocate to Bulgaria for work, obtain a residence permit, and later apply for citizenship through naturalization. A residence permit may be issued to the following categories of applicants:

• individuals officially employed by Bulgarian companies;
• employees seconded from foreign branches;
• applicants for seasonal work;
• individuals entering the country to carry out research activities.

In certain cases, relocation requires authorization from the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy in accordance with the Law on Labour Migration and Labour Mobility. When applying for a residence permit — and later extending it with the intention of obtaining citizenship through naturalization — the applicant must provide an employment contract or another official document confirming hiring by a Bulgarian employer.

To enter Bulgaria, the foreign national first obtains a national work visa and, upon arrival, applies for a residence permit. From the moment the residence permit is granted to the acquisition of citizenship under the general naturalization procedure, the process typically takes 10 years.

Education

Students admitted to Bulgarian higher education institutions for full-time study are entitled to apply for a residence permit, allowing them to legally stay in the country for the entire duration of their studies. Among the required documents, the applicant must provide a certificate of enrollment or an equivalent official confirmation from the university. For minor students, the application is submitted by their parents.

When holding a student residence permit, only half of the time spent in Bulgaria counts toward the period required for permanent residence. For example, if a foreign national studies in Bulgaria for five years, they will need to work in the country for an additional 2.5 years after graduation in order to qualify for permanent residence.

Graduates of Bulgarian universities may apply for a temporary residence permit valid for nine months to search for employment. If they successfully secure a job, they can change their residence status on the new legal grounds. Citizenship may be requested after five years of residence with permanent resident status.

Family Reunification

Family members of Bulgarian citizens, as well as of individuals holding permanent residence in the country, may relocate to Bulgaria and eventually obtain citizenship. Eligible applicants include:

• a spouse (legally married);
• unmarried children under 21 who are not employed;
• unmarried children aged 21 to 26 who are enrolled in full-time studies at a Bulgarian university;
• other relatives who are objectively unable to support themselves due to health conditions and require personal care.

For the initial entry into Bulgaria, the applicant must obtain a national family visa. On the basis of family reunification, a foreign national may receive a residence permit valid for one year and subsequently apply for permanent residence. After residing in Bulgaria with permanent resident status for three years, the applicant becomes eligible to apply for a Bulgarian passport.

Right of Birth

A Bulgarian passport may be granted to anyone born on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, provided that at least one parent is a Bulgarian citizen and the child does not automatically acquire another citizenship by origin.
Citizenship is also granted to a child found in Bulgaria whose nationality cannot be determined.

An applicant may apply for a Bulgarian passport upon reaching the age of 14.

Adoption

Foreign nationals who have been legally adopted by Bulgarian citizens may acquire Bulgarian citizenship. A passport is issued once the child reaches the age of 14, without the need for additional supporting documents beyond those confirming the adoption.

Immigration for Pensioners

Citizens of non-EU countries who are of retirement age and receive a pension at or above the average level in Bulgaria (approximately 1,020 EUR as of 2022) may apply for a residence permit and later for citizenship. Pension payments may come either from the applicant’s country of origin or from the Bulgarian state budget, provided the individual has worked in Bulgaria for at least six months.

A residence permit may also be granted to pensioners who have at least 12,200 EUR in a personal bank account, calculated to cover one year of residence in the country. The permit can be extended as long as the grounds remain valid. After five years, it may be converted into permanent residence, and after an additional 60 months, the applicant becomes eligible to apply for citizenship.

EU Citizenship

Citizens of other European Union countries have the right to reside in Bulgaria without time restrictions and enjoy the full range of rights available in the country, including employment, education, and access to banking services.

For citizens of non-EU countries, there are accelerated pathways to obtaining an EU passport, details of which can be clarified during a consultation with an immigration specialist.

Other Grounds

Individuals who first reside in Bulgaria with a residence permit and later obtain permanent residence may also qualify for citizenship if they fall into one of the following categories:

• Refugees and victims of human trafficking.
  Bulgaria grants protection to those who were forced to leave their home country due to persecution, harassment, or threats to their lives. If the circumstances justifying their stay in Bulgaria persist for three years, the foreign national may apply for citizenship.
• Individuals in need of medical treatment.
  A residence permit may be issued to third-country nationals who come to Bulgaria for long-term medical care. However, obtaining citizenship on this ground is not possible.
• Volunteers.
  Foreign nationals entering the country to participate in volunteer activities may apply for a residence permit and later for permanent residence and citizenship under the general naturalization procedure. In practice, this means that acquiring a passport takes around 10 years.

When applying for a residence permit, the foreign national must provide documentary proof of the grounds for stay — for example, a medical certificate from a hospital, an agreement with a volunteer organization, or an official letter from a competent authority confirming eligibility for a specific protection status.

Required Documents for Obtaining Bulgarian Citizenship

The general list of documents required to obtain Bulgarian citizenship includes the following:

• International passport and copies. The document must remain valid for at least three months beyond the expiration date of permanent residence status.
• National passport, with copies of all completed pages.
• Application form, completed in Bulgarian. For minors, the application is submitted and signed by the parents.
• Photograph (3.5 × 4.5 cm).
• Criminal record certificate, issued in the country of permanent residence.
• Medical certificate confirming the absence of mental and physical illnesses listed in the Law on Public Health.
• Declaration of income and property, demonstrating that the applicant’s monthly income is not lower than the minimum subsistence level in the country (332 EUR as of 2022).
• Proof of accommodation in Bulgaria, such as a property ownership certificate or a rental agreement.

The full set of documents depends on the chosen pathway to citizenship. For example, applicants applying by origin must provide proof of Bulgarian ancestry, while those applying through naturalization must submit evidence of lawful residence in the country and compliance with the required period of stay.

Refusal to Grant Citizenship

An applicant may be refused Bulgarian citizenship for one of the following reasons:

• knowingly providing false or misleading information;
• submitting an incomplete set of documents;
• violating Bulgarian or EU legislation;
• posing a threat to public order, morality, public health, or national security;
• demonstrating insufficient integration into society due to a lack of knowledge of Bulgarian history or the official language.

A refusal to grant Bulgarian citizenship may be challenged in court; however, such cases are rarely decided in favor of the applicant. For this reason, it is advisable to seek assistance from immigration specialists in advance to minimize the risk of a negative decision.

Dual Citizenship in Bulgaria

When obtaining a Bulgarian passport through naturalization or investment, the applicant is generally required to renounce their previous citizenship. This requirement does not apply to those acquiring citizenship by origin.

Although there are no bilateral agreements on dual citizenship between Bulgaria and certain non-EU countries, individuals applying by origin are allowed to retain their current citizenship. A person holding two passports — Bulgarian and, for example, from a non-EU country — is regarded under Bulgarian law solely as a Bulgarian citizen, with the corresponding rights and obligations.

Legislation in many non-EU countries does not prohibit holding a second citizenship; however, the legal implications should always be verified individually in the applicant’s country of origin.

Procedure for Obtaining a Bulgarian Passport

Obtaining a Bulgarian passport through naturalization involves several consecutive stages:

Repatriation applicants follow a significantly faster process. They are not required to obtain temporary or permanent residence or to live in the country before applying. The applicant submits documents directly to the Ministry of Justice, attends an interview (an interpreter may be present), and waits for a decision. On average, the process takes around 12 months when handled by experienced immigration lawyers.

Citizenship by investment is also faster than general naturalization. The applicant first obtains a national visa, travels to Bulgaria, and receives a Class A certificate confirming the investment. On this basis, they may apply directly for permanent residence, bypassing the temporary residence stage. Depending on the investment amount, eligibility for citizenship arises after two or five years of residence with permanent status.

Bulgarian Passport: Visa-Free Countries

With Bulgarian dual citizenship, a citizen of an applicants from outside the European Union gains significantly broader opportunities for international travel. Holders of a Bulgarian — and therefore EU — passport enjoy visa-free access (including electronic visas and visas on arrival) to more than 170 countries worldwide.

Bulgarian citizenship grants the right to visit and reside in any European Union and Schengen Area country without time limitations (although if staying in another state for more than 90 days, it is necessary to register a place of residence in accordance with local regulations).

There is no routine border control between most EU countries, so there is no need to apply for a visa or undergo standard passport checks when traveling within the Union. A Bulgarian citizen may move freely across the EU using a national ID card, without the need for an international passport.

Assistance with Obtaining Bulgarian Citizenship

Immigration specialists support clients at every stage of obtaining Bulgarian citizenship. The assistance provided by qualified lawyers includes:

• selecting the most suitable legal pathway for citizenship based on the applicant’s individual circumstances;
• preparing the required documents, including searching for and restoring archived records, arranging translations into Bulgarian, and completing apostille formalities;
• scheduling a convenient appointment with the migration authority for document submission;
• preparing the applicant for the interview and, where necessary, arranging interpreter services;
• accompanying the client during the submission of documents to the relevant authority;
• monitoring the status of the citizenship application;
• assisting with the issuance of Bulgarian internal documents, such as the ID card, passport, birth certificate, and others.

Immigration specialists aim to ensure that clients obtain Bulgarian citizenship within the shortest possible timeframe, while minimizing unnecessary expenses and administrative difficulties.

Reviews on Obtaining a Bulgarian Passport

In their feedback, individuals who have already obtained a Bulgarian passport most often emphasize the importance of proper document preparation and the interview at the Ministry of Justice. Applicants who go through the procedure independently frequently encounter various difficulties as early as the stage of collecting the required supporting documents.