Having Bulgarian citizenship, you can move freely within the EU, get a job without additional permits and enjoy social benefits on an equal footing with other citizens of the European Union. The duration and peculiarities of the process of obtaining the status depend on the chosen method: through naturalization, repatriation or investment. One of the most attractive options for foreigners is repatriation, which allows you to become a passport holder within 12 months if you have Bulgarian roots.

The demand for Bulgarian citizenship continues to grow as the state offers simple conditions for anyone who wants to enjoy the benefits of a second EU passport. No need to move to Bulgaria and the right to retain primary citizenship upon repatriation, as well as free access to more than 160 visa-free countries make the Bulgarian passport particularly popular among citizens of non-EU countries.

Advantages of Bulgarian citizenship

Having Bulgarian citizenship opens up many opportunities for you:

  1. visa-free travel within the EU and to more than 160 countries around the world, including Canada, Caribbean states, Japan;
  2. official employment in every EU state without the need for permits;
  3. social guarantees: the right to pension, unemployment and disability benefits, childbirth benefits;
  4. access to free medicine in state clinics in Bulgaria and the EU;
  5. the right to enter EU universities on favorable terms, to apply for scholarships and grants.
You can find out how to obtain a civil status in Bulgaria in 12 months by consulting an immigration specialist. The professional will suggest the best way of legalization in the EU, taking into account your personal preferences and available documents.

Main ways of obtaining a Bulgarian passport

There are three main ways to obtain Bulgarian citizenship: naturalization, repatriation and investment. Before choosing one of the immigration options, it is worth understanding the pros and cons of each.

Naturalization

Naturalization is a process that involves obtaining a visa to Bulgaria, followed by temporary and permanent residency statuses and finally citizenship. To apply for naturalization, it is necessary to have lived in the country for at least 5 years with a permanent residence permit. Immigrants must meet the following conditions:

  1. reach the age of 18 years;
  2. demonstrate fluency in the Bulgarian language;
  3. have no criminal record;
  4. prove financial independence;
  5. renounce the existing citizenship.

Grounds for obtaining a residence permit with the prospect of naturalization include:

  1. employment;
  2. education;
  3. running a business;
  4. purchase of real estate;
  5. making investments;
  6. family reunification;
  7. asylum.

Repatriation

Repatriation is anshortened procedure to restore citizenship for descendants of ethnic Bulgarians (children and grandchildren). The immigration program allows applicants to obtain a Bulgarian passport without having to undergo the lengthy naturalization process. The status is usually granted within 9 months after the registration of the application. The advantages of repatriation include the absence of the obligation to:

  1. have a residence permit/permanent residence permit;
  2. to pass language and legislative examinations;
  3. renounce first citizenship.

Investments

Since 2022 the program of obtaining a Bulgarian passport for investments is closed. However, the authorities have retained the possibility to obtain a residence permit for financial investments. In order to request temporary residence, the investor must acquire 50% of shares of a local operating company for the amount of 127 558 EUR and create at least 5 jobs. If the goal is to obtain permanent residence, the minimum investment amount increases to 511 281 EUR.

To qualify for the civil status, investors with residence permit must live in the country for a total of 10 years, and with permanent residence - 5 years. In both cases, it is important to maintain investments and meet the requirements for naturalization.

In 2025, repatriation is the most convenient and fastest way to immigrate to Bulgaria. Obtaining the civil status does not require capital investments, and time takes several times less than passing all stages of naturalization: from 4 to 12 months against 5-10 years.

Requirements and procedure for obtaining a Bulgarian passport

The length and stages of the immigration procedure vary depending on which method of obtaining a Bulgarian passport you choose. In 2025 it is possible to apply for citizenship by repatriation and naturalization.

Citizenship by repatriation

To apply for Bulgarian citizenship, a repatriate needs to collect the following documents:

  1. application for status;
  2. proof of ethnic ties (e.g., birth certificate of an ancestor);
  3. certificates of criminal record in the home country and in Bulgaria (if the applicant resides on Bulgarian territory);
  4. medical certificates of absence of infectious and mental diseases;
  5. passport;
  6. applicant's birth certificate
  7. autobiography;
  8. declarations according to the form (Annexes No. 4 and No. 4a to Regulation No. 1);
  9. photo 3.5 x 4.5 cm;
  10. a receipt for payment of the state duty.

The formalization of civil status by repatriation is a simplified process consisting of 5 key steps:

  1. Analyzing your family tree and preparing documents. First of all, it is necessary to make sure that you have family ties that entitle you to obtain Bulgarian citizenship by descent. All necessary documents should be prepared in advance: they should be translated into Bulgarian, notarized and, if necessary, apostilled. The more thoroughly the dossier is prepared, the higher the chances of success.
  2. Submission of the dossier and the interview. In order to submit the documents, it is necessary to register the petition at the Ministry of Justice in Sofia - this can be done by an immigration lawyer under the client's power of attorney. The applicant will also have to undergo an interview to test their knowledge of the local language, culture and history.
  3. Decision on the case. For about 9 months, the authorities analyze the file. One can check the status of the Bulgarian citizenship application by case number online at the state portal. If all requirements are met, the Bulgarian president issues a decree granting the status.
  4. Processing of local documents. Once you have received the original citizenship decree, you are entitled to apply for local documents - ID card and passport. The processing of requests for issuance of local ID cards is handled by the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior Affairs.

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Obtaining citizenship by naturalization

The standard naturalization procedure allows you to become a Bulgarian passport holder even if you have no family ties with Bulgarians. First you need to determine the basis for immigration, for example, to get a job in a local company, to study at a university or to register a company.

The choice of the program determines the contents of the dossier. You collect the documents in advance, have them translated into the national language and apostilled if necessary. Together with the request for granting civil status through naturalization, you should submit:

  1. copy of the birth certificate;
  2. certificate of residence permit from the Ministry of Internal Affairs;
  3. proof of no criminal record in Bulgaria and in the home country;
  4. a copy of a foreign passport;
  5. certificate of absence of criminal cases (issued by the Prosecutor's Office);
  6. proof of income or a certificate from the employer;
  7. declarations in the form according to Annexes No. 4 and No. 4a to Decision No. 1;
  8. a medical certificate of absence of infectious and mental diseases;
  9. autobiography;
  10. receipts for payment of state fees;
  11. certificate of Bulgarian language proficiency;
  12. photograph 3.5 x 4.5 cm;
  13. proof of withdrawal from the existing citizenship in the home country.

The naturalization procedure takes on average 8 to 10 years and consists of the following stages:

  1. Opening a D visa. Long-term D visa is needed to arrive in the country and request a residence permit. The application is filed at the Bulgarian consulate in the territory of the country where you permanently reside. Registration of the dossier is carried out on condition of personal presence of the candidate. The timeframe for granting the entry permit is about one month.
  2. Registration and extension of residence permit. A residence permit is issued for a period of 1 year and can be extended. In order to obtain a residence permit you need to apply to the territorial office of the Ministry of Interior of Bulgaria. It takes from 14 to 60 days for the application to be processed.
  3. Applying for a permanent residence permit. A five-year stay in the country as a temporary resident gives you the right to apply for permanent residence. The process of applying for a long-term residence permit is carried out by the regional office of the Ministry of Interior and takes 2 months.
  4. Applying for citizenship. After 5 years of residence in the state on the basis of a permanent residence permit (3 years for spouses of Bulgarian citizens) you can apply for citizenship. The petition is submitted to the Ministry of Justice, where it is considered for 12 months. Then the President signs a decree granting the status.
  5. Registration of local documents. After successfully passing all the stages, you can issue an ID-card and a passport. If necessary, you also have the right to exchange your driver's license for a local one or get a new one.

Obtaining citizenship through investments

After the abolition of the citizenship by investment program in 2022, you can immediately obtain Bulgarian permanent residence permit by investing at least 510,228 EUR in the economy of the country. Thus, you reduce the required period of residence in the country from 10 to 5 years.

How much time and money it takes to obtain a Bulgarian passport

The duration and price of civil status in Bulgaria varies depending on the chosen basis, as well as your personal preferences. It should be understood that the cost of the procedure includes not only state fees, but also the cost of moving, renting/purchasing accommodation, food, other household expenses, notary, interpreter and other specialists if necessary.

The amounts of state fees for each immigration program are as follows:

  1. Naturalization. The process takes 8–10 years, with fees starting from 769 EUR.
  2. Repatriation. The process takes 4–12 months, with fees starting from 15 EUR.
  3. Investments. The process takes 5–10 years, with fees starting from 127,558 EUR.

What doesn't work: how you can't get a Bulgarian passport

A Bulgarian passport cannot be requested to bypass immigration laws. The country's authorities carry out a thorough check of each file and reject those that do not meet the requirements. You should immediately refuse to cooperate with an immigration specialist if he offers:

  1. Buy a Bulgarian passport for investment in the economy or real estate. In 2022, direct acquisition of citizenship for financial investments was canceled. Now foreigners can legally buy for investment only permanent residence permit, and citizenship is issued by the general procedure of naturalization.
  2. Register a fictitious marriage. The presence of a spouse with a Bulgarian passport does not automatically entitle to citizenship. Before obtaining the status, one should live in the country for at least 8 years. Besides, local authorities thoroughly check all candidates, especially if there is a suspicion in the fictitiousness of the registered union.
  3. Give birth to a child on the territory of Bulgaria. Bulgaria does not grant automatic citizenship to those born on its territory if their parents are foreigners. Only children whose father or mother is a Bulgarian citizen become Bulgarians by birth.
  4. Use of false documents. Any attempt to falsify the contents of a dossier, such as a certificate of local origin, employment certificate or criminal record, can lead to serious consequences. All documents are thoroughly checked by the country's security service.

The path to civil status must be legal. Violation of the law can lead to revocation of the existing status, fines, deportation and a lifetime ban on entry into the state.

Migration lawyers can help you choose the best way to apply for citizenship in the EU, avoid mistakes and prepare a complete set of documents. Cooperation with a specialist will help you become a Bulgarian passport holder quickly and with minimal costs.

Dual citizenship in Bulgaria

It is not possible to have dual citizenship in Bulgaria. This legal status is available only in the presence of an international agreement between the two states. Under the terms of the agreement, such countries recognize a person as a citizen with equal opportunities under both legal systems. The citizen, in turn, must comply with the laws of the two states, including tax obligations and military service, if any. As of 2025, Bulgaria has no such treaties with any country in the world.

Second citizenship is different in that it is not always recognized by both countries that granted civil status. Each country may consider you only as its own citizen, ignoring the presence of a passport of the other power.

Native Bulgarians are allowed to have a second citizenship. But those undergoing naturalization procedures will have to give up their primary status. Only when moving by repatriation, as a refugee or as a spouse of a local citizen can a foreigner obtain a Bulgarian passport as a second one. This option is also available to citizens of EU countries.

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Refusal to grant a Bulgarian passport: main reasons and solutions

The most common reasons for refusal to grant Bulgarian citizenship are related to:

  1. incorrect execution of documents.
  2. provision of false information.
  3. the presence of a criminal record;
  4. violation of migration legislation.

If your file has been rejected, you should contact lawyers who will help you correct mistakes and submit an appeal. However, the easiest way to succeed is to start cooperating with professionals already at the stage of preparation for immigration to the EU.

How to get a Bulgarian passport quickly and without mistakes

Registration of Bulgarian citizenship by repatriation is a chance to obtain an EU ID-card without the need for long-term residence in the country and knowledge of the local language, preserving the already existing legal status in the home country. However, even the simplified procedure requires careful preparation of documents, searching for proof of Bulgarian origin, and passing an interview at the Ministry of Justice.

Applying to experienced immigration specialists will help you to create a perfect dossier and obtain a civil status in Bulgaria in the shortest possible time. We will provide comprehensive support:

  1. verify family ties;
  2. request lost documents from archives;
  3. prepare you for the interview;
  4. compile a dossier in strict compliance with the legal requirements.

Entrust EU immigration to professionals to save time, effort and money. You can make an appointment for a consultation with a specialist by leaving a request on the website.