Bulgarian Citizenship Services
Bulgarian citizenship can be acquired through Bulgarian origin, a Bulgarian parent, marriage or residence. The application goes to the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice and in practice takes 1.5 to 3 years in total. No Bulgarian language test applies to applications based on Bulgarian origin. The result is an EU passport: the right to live, work and travel in the EU.
Bulgarian citizenship means an EU passport that gives you the right to live, work and travel in the European Union. Above all Bulgarian emigrants and their descendants, but also Turkish citizens who meet the conditions, can apply. At BulgaristanVatandas.com, we manage your application on your behalf, from the first assessment to the citizenship decision.
What is Bulgarian citizenship?
A Bulgarian citizen receives a Bulgarian ID card and a Bulgarian passport. Because Bulgaria is an EU member, the passport lets you live and work in every EU country without a separate visa or residence permit. The rules are set out in the 1999 Bulgarian Citizenship Act. Citizenship by investment was abolished in 2022; we do not offer it, and we base every application only on lawful grounds.
If you wonder what dual citizenship would bring you, see the advantages of Bulgarian dual citizenship.
Who can get Bulgarian citizenship?
Your route depends on your family background. There are four main routes:
| Route | Who it is for | Related guide |
|---|---|---|
| Bulgarian origin | Children, grandchildren and more distant descendants of families who emigrated from Bulgaria | Who can get citizenship? |
| Mother or father | People whose mother or father is a Bulgarian citizen | Through my mother, through my father |
| Marriage | People married to a Bulgarian citizen | Through my spouse |
| Residence | People who have completed the lawful period in Bulgaria | Conditions for becoming a citizen |
Applications based on Bulgarian origin
This is the most common route. If a grandparent or an earlier ancestor was born in Bulgaria and emigrated, you can apply on the basis of origin. First you obtain a certificate of Bulgarian origin. Since 2025 it has been issued by the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad (ИАБЧ), under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You can apply in person in Sofia, by post or through the e-government portal, and the decision takes 14 days. See the certificate of Bulgarian origin guide. To prove origin you need records of your grandparents and earlier ancestors; citizenship through a grandfather covers this.
Your position depends on the year of emigration. For specific groups, read:
- 1989 emigrants and citizenship
- Can 1951 emigrants get citizenship?
- If the emigrant has died, can I become a citizen?
Applicants with a Bulgarian mother or father
If your mother or father is a Bulgarian citizen, the route to citizenship is usually shorter. The same right may apply to your child through birth registration. We explain it in birth registration and Bulgarian citizenship for children and citizenship for adult children.
Marriage and residence routes
Marriage to a Bulgarian citizen, or lawful residence in Bulgaria for a certain period, can also be grounds for citizenship. The periods and conditions depend on your personal situation, so we state exact terms in the preliminary assessment after reviewing your documents. If you want to live in Bulgaria first, see our residence permit service.
Do I need to speak Bulgarian?
Applications based on Bulgarian origin do not require Bulgarian language skills. For other types, a document proving knowledge of Bulgarian may be requested. We clarify which group you are in during the preliminary assessment. For more, see the Bulgarian language requirement for citizenship.
Certificate of Bulgarian origin or citizenship: are they the same?
No, they are two different procedures and are often confused. The certificate of Bulgarian origin shows that your ancestry is Bulgarian. It does not give citizenship by itself; it is the basis for the citizenship application. Citizenship is the decision of the Ministry of Justice and gives the right to an ID card and a passport. In short, you first document your origin, then apply for citizenship with that document. We handle both parts of the process.
The application process step by step
- Preliminary assessment: we review your family history and documents and determine the right route. This stage is free.
- Clarifying origin and records: if needed, the certificate of Bulgarian origin is obtained. Civil registry records and name differences are checked.
- File preparation: documents are collected, apostilled, sworn-translated into Bulgarian and notarised.
- Application: the file is submitted to the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice (Sofia) or through consulates.
- Review and interview: the Ministry reviews the file and in some cases holds an interview. Read interview stages and interview questions.
- Decision, ID card and passport: after a positive decision you obtain your Bulgarian ID card and passport. See how to get a Bulgarian passport.
How long does it take?
The total duration of an application is 1.5 to 3 years in practice. It varies with how complete the file is, how busy the institutions are and the type of application. More detail is in the assessment process and expected times. You can also follow your file through the file tracking system.
Documents required
Depending on the type of application, all or some of the following documents are required:
- Passport-size photograph
- Copy of passport
- Notarised birth certificate
- Full civil registry record (going back to the earliest ancestor)
- Name equivalence certificate from the district civil registry office
- Marriage registration record
- Detailed CV written in Bulgarian
- Criminal record certificates from the Bulgarian and Turkish authorities
- Notarised certificate from the Bulgarian Ministry of Education proving knowledge of Bulgarian
- Medical board report
- Statement of a bank account opened in Bulgaria
- Declaration, certified by a Bulgarian notary, that you will reside permanently in Bulgaria
- Rental contract for your residential address in Bulgaria
Civil registry records and name differences cause most problems. We have prepared these guides:
- Civil registry extract and apostille guide
- What is a name equivalence certificate?
- Required documents and points to watch
- Filling in the application form: tips
If you grant us a power of attorney, our experienced and authorised team handles all the paperwork on your behalf. We also explain the Bulgarian personal number in what is the EGN and how do you get one?
What to check before applying
Most delays come from preparation, not from the application itself. Before you start:
- Map your family tree. Which ancestor was born in Bulgaria, when did they emigrate and in which documents do they appear? Keep any old ID cards, title deeds or emigration papers.
- Identify name differences. If names were changed at emigration, Bulgarian and Turkish records may not match. The difference must be documented.
- Check document validity. Dates matter on criminal records and civil registry extracts; an expired document delays the file.
- Get translations right. Documents are apostilled and translated into Bulgarian by a sworn translator. A misspelt name affects later procedures too.
- Avoid contradictory statements. The information on the form must match the documents exactly.
We go through all of these points with you in the preliminary assessment.
Can you apply by yourself?
Yes. An application does not depend on an adviser, and anyone can prepare and submit their own file. But the file needs documents from several institutions, apostilles, sworn translations and correspondence in Bulgarian. One missing or contradictory document can add months. We take that burden: we collect and check the documents, make the application and keep you informed step by step. In the preliminary assessment we can decide together what you do yourself and what you leave to us.
What changes after citizenship?
After a positive decision, the ID card and passport are issued. As a Bulgarian citizen you can live, work and study freely in the EU. New routes also open for your family: your child can receive citizenship by birth registration, and your foreign spouse can obtain residence in Bulgaria through family reunification. To register your marriage or your child’s birth in the Bulgarian records, use our birth and marriage registration service. For visa questions, see our visa service.
What happens if the application is refused?
Applications can be refused because of missing documents, inconsistent records or insufficient proof of origin. A refusal is not always final; depending on the reason there may be an appeal or a new application. Details are in citizenship refused: what to do?. Preparing the file carefully from the start keeps refusals to a minimum; see the most important points in an application.
Additional services
We also provide the travel health insurance required for the application, notarisations and your sworn translations, all in one place. For fees and payment procedures, see citizenship fees and payment procedures.
Why BulgaristanVatandas.com?
- Four offices in three countries: besides our head office in Lüleburgaz, our offices in Kırcaali and Şumnu in Bulgaria and Bucharest in Romania follow your case on the ground.
- Free preliminary assessment: we tell you which route suits you before you start.
- End-to-end management: documents, translation, notary, application and follow-up in one team.
- Plain explanations: we tell you what will happen at every step.
- Service in four languages: Turkish, Bulgarian, Romanian and English.
Related guides
All our guides on the process:
- How to apply for Bulgarian citizenship
- Legal requirements and current legislation
- Rights and obligations after the application
- Procedures for revoking citizenship
- Which countries can Bulgarian citizens travel to?
- Does a child born in Bulgaria become a citizen?
- Can Bulgarian emigrants get citizenship?
Frequently asked questions
Where is the application submitted?
We submit all applications in Bulgaria. For those who wish to apply from Turkey, we submit the application on your behalf through the Bulgarian Embassy in Ankara or the Bulgarian Consulates General in Edirne, Istanbul and Bursa, and you attend your appointment together with our consultants.
How are applications by Turkish citizens assessed?
Bulgaria assesses the grounds of the application and decides positively or negatively. The Bulgarian Citizenship Act, adopted in 1999 and still in force, clearly sets out the conditions and grounds on which one may apply; revocation and restoration of citizenship are covered by the same law. Applications on different grounds may require different procedures, and we determine the right one with you.
Do I need to speak Bulgarian?
Applications based on Bulgarian origin do not require a language test. For other types, a document proving knowledge of Bulgarian may be requested. We clarify which group you are in during the preliminary assessment.
How long does Bulgarian citizenship take?
The total duration of an application is 1.5 to 3 years in practice. Document preparation is outside this period. The time depends on how complete the file is and how busy the institutions are.
Is the preliminary assessment really free?
Yes. When you fill in the form, our specialist calls you, listens to your family history and documents, and explains the right route. The call does not commit you to anything.
Can I get citizenship by investing?
No. Citizenship by investment was abolished in 2022. We apply only on lawful grounds such as origin, parents, marriage and residence.
Fill in the form below for a free preliminary assessment; our specialist will call you and explain the route for your file. If your documents are ready, you can also upload them for a free document review. You can also book an online appointment or reach us on the contact page.