If you were released from Bulgarian citizenship, you can apply to have it restored. People of Bulgarian origin only need a clean criminal record and no security concerns. Everyone else also needs at least 3 years of permanent or long-term residence in Bulgaria. There is no language exam and no need to give up your other citizenship. You apply in person in Sofia or at a Bulgarian consulate, and the President decides by decree, within a 6-month time limit for the Ministry.
Last Updated on November 8, 2026 by Immigration Team
At a glance
| Who can apply | Former Bulgarian citizens who were released from Bulgarian citizenship |
| Bulgarian origin | Only two conditions: no conviction for an intentional offence, and no threat to public order or security |
| Everyone else | The same two conditions, plus permanent or long-term residence in Bulgaria for at least 3 years |
| Where to apply | In person at the Ministry of Justice in Sofia, or at a Bulgarian embassy or consulate |
| Time limit | 6 months for the Minister of Justice to put your case to the President |
| Result | A decree of the President; your children under 14 can be included |
Who this is for
Restoration is for people who were Bulgarian citizens and gave it up. Most often, they had to renounce Bulgarian citizenship to naturalise in a country that does not allow dual citizenship. Now that country’s rules have changed, or they have moved back, and they want their Bulgarian passport back. Law
Check first: you may never have lost it
Restoration only applies if your release was granted by a presidential decree. Taking another citizenship does not, by itself, end your Bulgarian citizenship. And anyone with at least one Bulgarian parent is Bulgarian by birth. If you are not sure, the Ministry of Justice issues a certificate of citizenship within 30 days, which shows whether you are still a Bulgarian citizen. Law
The conditions
| Condition | Bulgarian origin | Everyone else |
|---|---|---|
| No final conviction for an intentional offence, in Bulgaria or where you live | Yes | Yes |
| No threat to public order, public morals, public health or national security | Yes | Yes |
| Permanent or long-term residence in Bulgaria for at least 3 years before applying | Not required | Required |
Unlike naturalisation, there is no language exam, no income requirement and no need to give up your other citizenship. Law
If your Bulgarian citizenship was taken away by the state, rather than given up at your request, it can be restored when there were no grounds for it, or when the grounds no longer apply. Law
How to apply
- Prepare the documents. The application and every document must be in Bulgarian, so foreign documents need a certified translation and, where required, legalisation or an apostille. Law
- Apply in person. You submit the application yourself at the Ministry of Justice in Sofia, or at a Bulgarian embassy or consulate, which gives its own opinion on your application. Law
- The interview. When you submit the documents, you have a short interview. For children under 14, the parents attend. Law
- Review. The Citizenship Council at the Ministry of Justice gives its opinion after checks by the Ministry of Interior and the State Agency for National Security. Law
- The decree. Within 6 months, the Minister of Justice proposes a decree to the President. Your citizenship is restored on the day the decree is issued. Law
While your application is pending, you must tell the Ministry of Justice about any change in your circumstances within one month. Law
Your children
When parents have their Bulgarian citizenship restored, their children under 14 become Bulgarian too. Children aged 14 to 18 become Bulgarian if they also ask for it. If only one parent applies, the other parent must agree. Law
After the decree
Once restored, you are a Bulgarian and an EU citizen again, and you can apply for a Bulgarian passport and ID card. Check what your other country says: some countries allow dual citizenship, others do not.
Questions
I gave up Bulgarian citizenship to become German or Austrian. Can I get it back?
Yes, through restoration. If you are of Bulgarian origin, you do not need to live in Bulgaria first. Check your other country’s rules on dual citizenship before you apply.
Do I need to pass a Bulgarian language exam?
No. Restoration has no language requirement. You will still have an interview when you submit your documents.
My parents emigrated and gave up their citizenship. Can I restore it?
Restoration is for the person who was released. If you were never a Bulgarian citizen yourself, the right route is usually citizenship by origin. If a parent was still Bulgarian when you were born, you may already be Bulgarian by birth.
Can I apply from abroad?
Yes, in person at a Bulgarian embassy or consulate.
Not sure whether you lost it?
Tell us when and how you gave up Bulgarian citizenship, or send us the decree. We will tell you whether you need restoration, a certificate of citizenship or a different route, and prepare the application. Ask an advocate
Related routes
Legal basis
- Law
- Law
- Law
Sources
This page gives general information and is not legal advice. Immigration rules change and individual circumstances matter. Reading it does not create a lawyer–client relationship.