Bulgaria
Last Updated: 2026-03-31
Official Portal: Ministry of Justice — Bulgarian Citizenship
Embassy Finder: Bulgarian Embassies and Consulates
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Residency for naturalization | 5 years lawful residence (standard); 3 years for spouses of Bulgarian citizens; none for persons of Bulgarian origin |
| Language requirement | Bulgarian language proficiency required (no formal CEFR level specified in statute; assessed during interview) |
| Civics test | No formal written test; applicants are interviewed by the Citizenship Council at the Ministry of Justice |
| Processing time | 12—24 months (significant backlogs are common) |
| Naturalization fee | BGN 100 (approximately EUR 50) for the application |
| Dual citizenship | Fully permitted — no restrictions for Bulgarian citizens or naturalizing foreigners |
| Citizenship by birth in Bulgaria | Limited jus soli — only to prevent statelessness |
| Citizenship by descent | Yes (jus sanguinis) — automatic if at least one parent is a Bulgarian citizen |
| Governing law | Zakon za balgarskoto grazhdanstvo — Law on Bulgarian Citizenship (last major amendment 2021) |
Dual Citizenship
Bulgaria fully permits dual and multiple citizenship without restriction.
- Bulgarian citizens who acquire a foreign nationality do not lose their Bulgarian citizenship.
- Foreign nationals who naturalize as Bulgarian are not required to renounce their prior nationality.
- This has been the position since the 1999 Law on Bulgarian Citizenship entered into force.
Bulgaria is notably liberal in this regard and has actively used its citizenship-by-descent and citizenship-by-origin pathways to maintain connections with the Bulgarian diaspora across the Balkans, Moldova, Ukraine, and beyond.
Acquisition of Nationality
By Birth (Jus Soli)
Bulgaria does not apply a general jus soli principle. Birth on Bulgarian territory does not in itself confer citizenship.
Exceptions:
- A child born in Bulgaria who would otherwise be stateless acquires Bulgarian citizenship at birth (Article 10 of the Law on Bulgarian Citizenship).
- Foundlings discovered on Bulgarian territory are deemed Bulgarian citizens until another nationality is established.
By Descent (Jus Sanguinis)
Bulgarian citizenship is acquired automatically at birth if:
- At least one parent is a Bulgarian citizen at the time of the child’s birth (Article 8).
- This applies regardless of whether the child is born in Bulgaria or abroad.
- No registration or declaration is required for the citizenship to take effect, though registration at a Bulgarian consulate is necessary for documentation.
No generational limit: Bulgarian law does not impose a generational cutoff. As long as the parent-child chain of Bulgarian citizenship remains unbroken, descendants born abroad continue to acquire Bulgarian citizenship by descent.
By Adoption
A child under 18 adopted by a Bulgarian citizen acquires Bulgarian citizenship upon the adoption becoming effective under Bulgarian law (Article 9).
- Applies to full adoption only.
- The child must be a minor at the time of the adoption order.
- Adults adopted by Bulgarian citizens do not acquire citizenship through adoption.
By Marriage
Marriage to a Bulgarian citizen does not automatically confer citizenship. However, the foreign spouse benefits from a reduced residency requirement:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Residence | 3 years of lawful continuous residence in Bulgaria (reduced from the standard 5 years) |
| Marriage duration | Must have been married to the Bulgarian citizen for at least 3 years |
| Language | Bulgarian language proficiency (assessed during interview) |
| Criminal record | No convictions for intentional crimes in Bulgaria or country of origin |
| Financial self-sufficiency | Must have a legal source of income or financial support |
| Renunciation | Not required — dual citizenship is permitted |
By Naturalization (Residency)
Standard pathway (Article 12):
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Lawful residence | 5 years of continuous lawful residence in Bulgaria (holding a permanent or long-term residence permit) |
| Language | Bulgarian language proficiency (no formal CEFR requirement; assessed by interview at the Citizenship Council) |
| Criminal record | No convictions for intentional crimes under Bulgarian law; no pending criminal proceedings |
| Financial self-sufficiency | Legal source of income or financial support in Bulgaria |
| Release from prior citizenship | Not required (dual citizenship permitted) |
| Fee | BGN 100 application fee |
Fast-track for persons of Bulgarian origin (Article 15):
This is one of Bulgaria’s most significant provisions. Persons who can prove Bulgarian origin (at least one parent or grandparent of Bulgarian ethnicity) may acquire citizenship without any residency requirement:
- No minimum residence in Bulgaria required.
- Bulgarian language proficiency still assessed.
- Must prove Bulgarian origin through birth certificates, baptismal records, or other official documents demonstrating Bulgarian ancestry.
- No criminal record requirement in Bulgaria.
- This pathway has been widely used by ethnic Bulgarians from North Macedonia, Moldova, Ukraine, Serbia, and other neighboring states.
Investors and significant contributors (Article 14a):
Persons who have made a significant contribution to Bulgaria in economic, scientific, cultural, or sporting domains may be naturalized at the discretion of the Ministry of Justice with reduced or waived requirements. An investment pathway existed historically but was reformed and restricted following EU concerns about citizenship-by-investment schemes.
Loss and Renunciation
Voluntary Renunciation
A Bulgarian citizen may renounce citizenship by filing an application with the Ministry of Justice (Article 20), provided:
- They hold or have been assured another nationality.
- Renunciation will not render them stateless.
The process takes 6—12 months. The decision is made by the Vice President of the Republic upon proposal by the Ministry of Justice.
Involuntary Loss
| Ground | Details |
|---|---|
| Acquisition by fraud | Citizenship obtained through false documents, fraudulent declarations, or concealment of material facts may be revoked (Article 22). The revocation must occur within 10 years of the grant. |
| Acts against Bulgarian sovereignty | Persons who engage in acts incompatible with the interests of the Bulgarian state may have citizenship revoked by presidential decree. This provision is rarely invoked. |
Important: Bulgaria does not revoke citizenship for voluntary acquisition of a foreign nationality.
Restoration of Nationality
Former Bulgarian citizens who lost their citizenship (by renunciation or deprivation) may apply for restoration (Article 26):
- Must file an application with the Ministry of Justice.
- No minimum residency in Bulgaria is required for restoration.
- Must not have been convicted of an intentional crime in Bulgaria.
- The process follows the same administrative path as naturalization (Citizenship Council review, Vice President decree).
- Dual citizenship is permitted upon restoration — no need to renounce the current nationality.
- Processing time: 12—18 months.
Stateless Persons and Foundlings
- Foundlings discovered on Bulgarian territory are deemed Bulgarian citizens until proven otherwise (Article 10(2)).
- Stateless children born in Bulgaria acquire Bulgarian citizenship at birth (Article 10(1)).
- Stateless adults may apply for naturalization after 3 years of lawful residence (reduced from the standard 5 years) under Article 13(1).
- Bulgaria is a party to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.
Document Checklist
Application form for Bulgarian citizenship (obtained from the Ministry of Justice or consulate)
Valid passport and Bulgarian residence permit
Birth certificate (apostilled + certified Bulgarian translation)
Marriage certificate (if applying via spousal pathway)
Criminal record certificate from country of origin (apostilled + translated)
Criminal record certificate from Bulgaria (if resident)
Proof of lawful residence in Bulgaria (residence permit copies, registration)
Proof of income or financial support
Proof of Bulgarian language ability (no formal certificate required; demonstrated at interview)
Proof of Bulgarian origin (for Article 15 pathway: birth certificates, baptismal records, or other documents proving Bulgarian ancestry)
Biometric passport photos
Application fee receipt (BGN 100)
Sources
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Zakon za balgarskoto grazhdanstvo — Law on Bulgarian Citizenship, as amended. https://www.lex.bg/laws/ldoc/2134446592
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Ministry of Justice — Citizenship Directorate. https://www.justice.government.bg/bg/services/citizenship/
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Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Embassy finder and consular services. https://www.mfa.bg/en/embassyinfo
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Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria — Citizenship decrees. https://president.bg/
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European Commission — Bulgaria country profile. https://ec.europa.eu/info/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/eu-citizenship_en