There are two routes to Bulgarian citizenship by origin. Under Art. 15, item 1 of the Citizenship Act you prove Bulgarian ethnicity. Under Art. 15, item 3 you prove that a parent is, or died as, a Bulgarian citizen, whatever the family's ethnicity. Neither route requires a language exam, giving up your other citizenship, income or residence in Bulgaria. The main condition is a clean criminal record. The Ministry of Justice stage takes up to 9 months, followed by a decree of the President.
Last Updated on October 18, 2026 by Immigration Team
At a glance
| Two routes | Bulgarian ethnic origin (Art. 15, item 1), or a parent who is or died as a Bulgarian citizen (Art. 15, item 3) Law |
| Not required | Bulgarian language exam, giving up your other citizenship, income in Bulgaria, residence in Bulgaria |
| Main condition | A clean criminal record |
| Procedure | Ministry of Justice, possibly with an interview before the Citizenship Council, then a decree of the President |
| Processing time | The law sets 9 months for the Ministry of Justice stage. The President’s decree usually follows within 3 to 6 months Practice |
| State fee | €512 [verify against the current tariff] |
Your pathway
- Identify your routeRequired · ethnic origin or a Bulgarian parent
- Proof of originRequired · a certificate of Bulgarian origin, or proof that your parent is or was a Bulgarian citizen
- ApplicationRequired · Ministry of Justice in Sofia, or a Bulgarian embassy or consulate abroad
- InterviewPossible · before the Citizenship Council · with a translator if needed
- Ministry of Justice decisionWithin 9 months of the application
- Decree of the PresidentRequired · usually 3 to 6 months later · then you apply for a Bulgarian passport
Required stageLegal deadlineOnly in some cases
Two routes with different rules
The Bulgarian Citizenship Act provides two routes based on origin. They are often confused, but they work differently and need different evidence.
| Bulgarian ethnic origin | Bulgarian parent | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | Art. 15, item 1 | Art. 15, item 3 |
| What you prove | That you are of Bulgarian ethnicity | That one of your parents is, or died as, a Bulgarian citizen |
| Ethnicity of your family | Decisive. It must be Bulgarian | Does not matter |
| Main evidence | A certificate of Bulgarian origin from the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad | An official document from the municipality or the Ministry of Justice confirming your parent’s citizenship |
Route 1: Bulgarian ethnic origin
Under Art. 15, item 1 of the Citizenship Act, you must prove that you are of Bulgarian ethnicity. This is about ethnicity, not about an ancestor who held Bulgarian citizenship. The evidence is a certificate of Bulgarian origin issued by the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad. Law
Why ethnicity matters
During the socialist period, Bulgarian passports and other documents recorded a person’s ethnicity. Someone could be a Bulgarian citizen but recorded as ethnically Turkish, Armenian, Jewish or another ethnicity. If your family’s documents show a non-Bulgarian ethnicity, you cannot qualify through this route. You may still qualify through route 2.
Route 2: a Bulgarian parent
Under Art. 15, item 3, you can apply if one of your parents is a Bulgarian citizen, or died as a Bulgarian citizen. Here the ethnicity of your parents and grandparents does not matter. Law
The route works one generation at a time. If your grandparent was the Bulgarian citizen, your parent applies first. Once your parent is a Bulgarian citizen, you can apply.
Example
Your grandfather was a Bulgarian citizen of Turkish ethnicity. Route 1 is closed to your family, but route 2 is open. First we check that your grandfather is still recorded as a Bulgarian citizen in the Bulgarian registers. If he is, your father applies on the basis that his father was a Bulgarian citizen. When your father has obtained citizenship, you apply on the basis that your father is a Bulgarian citizen.
If your parent was already a Bulgarian citizen when you were born, you may already be a Bulgarian citizen by birth. In that case you apply for a document confirming your citizenship, not for naturalisation. [verify: Art. 8 and Art. 39 procedure]
What you do not need
Compared with ordinary naturalisation, the origin routes are much simpler. You do not need to:
- Pass a language examNo Bulgarian state exam and no A1 certificate. If you do not speak Bulgarian, an interview is held with a translator
- Give up your other citizenshipYou keep your current citizenship
- Prove income in BulgariaNo proof of a source of income in Bulgaria is required
- Live in BulgariaNo residence permit or period of residence is required
The main condition is that you have not been convicted, so you need a clean criminal record. Law
Documents
- Application formOn the official form, in Bulgarian. We prepare it with you
- Proof of originRoute 1: certificate of Bulgarian origin. Route 2: document confirming your parent’s Bulgarian citizenship
- Birth certificateShowing your parents
- Criminal record certificateFrom your country of citizenship, and from any country where you live long term
- Medical certificateIssued by a medical commission
- Declaration and autobiographyOn the prescribed forms
- Name change documentsIf your name has changed
- Photograph and copy of your passportOne passport-sized photo
- Proof of paymentOf the state fee
Practical note
Documents issued abroad need an apostille or legalisation and a certified Bulgarian translation. Old Bulgarian civil records can take time to find, so we usually start by checking the registers.
Procedure and timeline
The procedure has two stages. First, the Ministry of Justice examines the application. The Citizenship Council may invite you to an interview. Second, the President of Bulgaria grants citizenship by decree.
| Stage | Time |
|---|---|
| Checking registers and collecting documents | Depends on your family’s records |
| Ministry of Justice and Citizenship Council | Within 9 months of the application (Art. 35) Law |
| Decree of the President | Usually 3 to 6 months after the Ministry’s proposal Practice |
| Bulgarian ID card and passport | After the decree is issued |
The state fee is €512. [verify against the current tariff]
Questions
My grandparents were Bulgarian. Can I apply directly?
If they were ethnically Bulgarian, you may apply through route 1 with a certificate of Bulgarian origin. If they were Bulgarian citizens of another ethnicity, your parent must obtain citizenship first, and then you apply through route 2.
Do I have to speak Bulgarian?
No. There is no language exam. If you are interviewed and do not speak Bulgarian, a translator is used.
Will I lose my current citizenship?
Bulgaria does not require you to give it up. Check whether your own country allows dual citizenship.
Can I apply from abroad?
Yes. You can apply at a Bulgarian embassy or consulate, or through us at the Ministry of Justice in Sofia.
How long does it take in total?
Usually about 12 to 15 months from the application: up to 9 months at the Ministry of Justice, then 3 to 6 months until the President’s decree. Collecting the documents comes before that.
Not sure which route applies to you?
Tell us what you know about your parents and grandparents: names, places and dates of birth, and any Bulgarian documents. We will check the registers and tell you which route is open to you. Ask an advocate
Related routes
Legal basis
- LawBulgarian Citizenship ActArt. 15, items 1 and 3
- LawBulgarian Citizenship ActArt. 35 (time limits)
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.