Bulgaria no longer grants citizenship in return for investment. The accelerated investor route was repealed in 2022. Investors can obtain permanent residence through a qualifying investment, known as the Bulgaria Golden Visa, and may later apply for citizenship by naturalisation. Naturalisation requires, among other conditions, at least five years with a permanent residence permit, A1 in Bulgarian language, for most applicants, release from their previous citizenship.
Last Updated on October 16, 2026 by Immigration Team
At a glance
| Citizenship for investment | No longer available. The accelerated investor route was repealed in 2022 |
| What investors can obtain now | A permanent residence permit through a qualifying fund investment, known as the Bulgaria Golden Visa Law |
| Minimum investment (fund route) | €512 000 |
| Path to citizenship | Naturalisation under Article 12 of the Bulgarian Citizenship Act, five years after the permanent residence permit was granted |
| Bulgarian language | Required for all applicants for naturalisation except those by descend under Art. 15 of the Citizenship Act |
| Previous citizenship | Most applicants must give it up. There are exceptions, for example for EU citizens and spouses of Bulgarian citizens Law |
| Investors with residence obtained before 2021 | A transitional rule may apply. See below Law |
What changed
Bulgaria used to offer an accelerated route to citizenship for people who made and maintained a qualifying investment. That route no longer exists. Investment can still lead to permanent residence, and citizenship can follow later through the general naturalisation procedure.
- Until 2021: the Bulgarian Citizenship Act contained special provisions for investors, allowing citizenship in 2 years
- 2021: the Citizenship Act was amended (State Gazette No. 21 of 2021). Paragraph 14 of its transitional provisions deals with investors who already held permanent residence Law
- 2022: the investor citizenship provisions were repealed Law
- 1 January 2026: Bulgaria adopted the euro. Investment amounts in leva are read in euro at the fixed rate of 1.95583 Law
Your pathway now
The investment leads to permanent residence. Citizenship is a separate, optional step with its own conditions.
- Preliminary approval, Bulgarian Investment AgencyRequired · before you invest · decision within 40 days
- Qualifying investmentEligibility threshold · at least BGN 1,000,000 (€511,291.88) in an eligible fund, or another qualifying investment
- Long-stay visa (Visa D)Required · Bulgarian embassy or consulate · [procedure to be verified]
- Permanent residence permitRequired · Migration Directorate, Ministry of Interior
- Five years with permanent residenceTime requirement · plus language, income and other conditions
- Bulgarian citizenship by naturalisationOptional · application to the Ministry of Justice · decided by presidential decree
Required stageEligibility thresholdOptional stage
Each step of the investment route, with documents, deadlines and legal basis, is explained in our Golden Visa guide.
Applying for citizenship after permanent residence
A permanent resident may apply for naturalisation under Article 12 of the Bulgarian Citizenship Act. The main conditions are: [verify against current text]
- AgeYou must be an adult.
- ResidenceAt least five years since you received a permanent or long-term residence permit. The period counts from the date of the permit, not from your arrival.
- No relevant convictionsNo conviction for an intentional offence of a general nature, and no pending criminal proceedings, unless you have been rehabilitated.
- IncomeA source of income or an occupation that allows you to support yourself in Bulgaria.
- Bulgarian languageKnowledge of Bulgarian, assessed under the rules of the Ministry of Education and Science.
- Release from your previous citizenshipRequired for most applicants. Exceptions apply, for example to EU citizens and spouses of Bulgarian citizens.
A shorter period of three years applies in some cases, for example to people married to a Bulgarian citizen for at least three years.
If you obtained residence by investment before 2021
Transitional rule
Paragraph 14 of the transitional provisions of the 2021 amendment (State Gazette No. 21 of 2021) concerns people who obtained permanent residence under Article 25(1)(6) or (7) of the Foreigners Act before the amendment came into force. It allows them to apply for citizenship if they meet the first conditions of Article 12(1) and have maintained the investment for at least five years. [our legal team to confirm the wording]
Practical note
How the authorities apply this rule, in particular to the language requirement, is not settled. If you hold permanent residence obtained by investment before 2021, have your situation assessed before you apply. Practice
Family members
The minor, unmarried children of a permanent resident may obtain permanent residence. A spouse may obtain permanent residence under conditions that depend on the basis of your own permit. Each family member applies for citizenship separately, under the conditions that apply to them. [our legal team to confirm current practice]
Common misconceptions
- Investing €512,000 gives you a Bulgarian passport. It does not. It can give you permanent residence. Citizenship is a separate application with its own conditions.
- Citizenship can be obtained in one or two years through investment. That was possible under the old rules, which were repealed in 2022.
- Older articles and websites still describe the investor citizenship provisions of the Citizenship Act. They no longer apply to new applicants.
- Permanent residence means you can never lose your status. The conditions for keeping it are explained in the Golden Visa guide.
Questions
Can I still buy Bulgarian citizenship?
No. Bulgaria does not grant citizenship in return for investment. You can obtain permanent residence through investment and later apply for naturalisation.
How soon can a Golden Visa holder apply for citizenship?
Under the general rules, at the earliest five years after receiving the permanent residence permit, provided the other conditions are met.
Do I need to speak Bulgarian?
Knowledge of Bulgarian is one of the conditions for naturalisation for most applicants.
Will I have to give up my current citizenship?
Most applicants must be released from their previous citizenship. There are exceptions, for example for EU citizens and spouses of Bulgarian citizens.
I obtained permanent residence by investment before 2021. Does anything special apply to me?
A transitional rule from 2021 may apply. Its application in practice is not settled, so your situation should be assessed individually.
Related routes
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.