Who qualifies
- Bulgarian by originA parent who was Bulgarian when you were bornYou’re Bulgarian from birth. You apply for proof of citizenship and a passport.
- Can applyA parent, grandparent or great-grandparent of Bulgarian originYou need a certificate of Bulgarian origin from the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, then apply to the Ministry of Justice. Your ancestor needn’t have been a Bulgarian citizen.
- Usually notOnly ancestors further backBulgarian origin can be shown back to a great-grandparent.
What “Bulgarian origin” means
The State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad decides whether you’re of Bulgarian origin, mainly from records showing your ancestor was Bulgarian. Changes since 2021 have tightened how this is assessed, after concerns that certificates had been issued without enough proof. Expect to provide documents for every link in your family line. You may also be asked to show you speak Bulgarian; the rules on this have changed, so ask the Ministry of Justice what applies now.
How to apply
- Through a parent: apply for proof of citizenshipThrough a Bulgarian embassy or consulate, or the Ministry of Justice in Sofia.
- Through origin: get a certificate of Bulgarian originFrom the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad in Sofia.
- Apply to the Ministry of JusticeThe application must be in Bulgarian. You can apply through a Bulgarian embassy, though this can add time.
- Wait for the decision and decreeThe Ministry makes a proposal, then citizenship is granted by presidential decree.
Documents
- Your full birth certificate, showing your parents’ names
- Birth and marriage certificates linking you to your Bulgarian parent or ancestor
- Proof of your ancestor’s Bulgarian origin, and a certificate of Bulgarian origin for the origin route
- Criminal record certificates from your home country
- Official Bulgarian translations, legalized or apostilled
For UK, Irish and US certificates, see where to order certificates.
Common questions
Can I keep my other passport?
Yes, if you’re Bulgarian by birth or naturalize as a person of Bulgarian origin.
Do I need to live in Bulgaria?
No, not for the route for people of Bulgarian origin.
Do I need to speak Bulgarian?
Possibly. Applications are made in Bulgarian, and recent changes may require you to show the language. Ask the Ministry of Justice or a Bulgarian embassy.
Is a great-grandparent far enough back?
Yes, a great-grandparent is the furthest back for the origin route.
What a Bulgarian passport gives you
The right to live, work, study and retire across all 27 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. See what an EU passport lets you do.
Living there
A Bulgarian passport lets you live and work in any EU country, and in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Not eligible? The long way round
If descent doesn’t work for you, you can still become a citizen by living in Bulgaria and applying to naturalize. It takes longer, but it’s open to anyone who meets the conditions.
A shortcut for people with Bulgarian roots
People of Bulgarian origin, up to a great-grandparent, don’t need to live in Bulgaria. See the guide above.
- Time living there first
- 5 years with permanent residence.
- Language and tests
- A good command of Bulgarian.
- Keep your current passport?
- Usually no, unless you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, or of Bulgarian origin.
- Main ways to get residence
- Work, business, study and residence by investment.
Already have, or able to get, a passport from an EU country through another family line? Then you can live and work in Bulgaria without a visa. See what an EU passport lets you do.
General information, not immigration advice. Residence rules change often, so check the official source before you plan a move. Sources: Wikipedia: Bulgarian nationality law (secondary source).