Bulgarian Citizenship by Origin (Descent) vs Israeli Citizenship by Law of Return (Aliyah)
Citizenship program comparison: Bulgaria and Israel. Fees, investment, residency requirements, ancestry rules and more.
Overview
 BG
Bulgarian Citizenship by Origin (Descent)
|
 IL
Israeli Citizenship by Law of Return (Aliyah)
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Country | Bulgaria | Israel |
| Program type | Descent | Ethnic return |
| Status | Active | Active |
At a glance
|
BG
Bulgarian Citizenship by Origin (Descent)
|
IL
Israeli Citizenship by Law of Return (Aliyah)
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Program type | Descent | Ethnic return |
| Application fee | $55 | — |
| Minimum investment | — | — |
| Processing time | 365 days | 180 days |
| Dual citizenship | Yes | Yes |
Fees
|
BG
Bulgarian Citizenship by Origin (Descent)
|
IL
Israeli Citizenship by Law of Return (Aliyah)
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $55 | — |
| Passport fee | $30 | $98 |
Residency requirements
|
BG
Bulgarian Citizenship by Origin (Descent)
|
IL
Israeli Citizenship by Law of Return (Aliyah)
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Residency required | — | — |
| Continuous residency | No | No |
| Cohabitation required | No | No |
Requirements
|
BG
Bulgarian Citizenship by Origin (Descent)
|
IL
Israeli Citizenship by Law of Return (Aliyah)
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Interview | Required | Required |
| Source of funds | Not required | Not required |
| Police clearance | Required | Required |
| Medical exam | Not required | Not required |
| Language | Not required | Not required |
| Civics test | Not required | Not required |
| Oath | Required | Not required |
Ancestry
|
BG
Bulgarian Citizenship by Origin (Descent)
|
IL
Israeli Citizenship by Law of Return (Aliyah)
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Ancestor must have been a citizen | No | No |
| Ancestor born in the country | No | No |
| Naturalization breaks the chain | No | No |
| Ethnic origin required | No | Yes |
| Ethnic origin type | — | jewish |
Family and dependents
|
BG
Bulgarian Citizenship by Origin (Descent)
|
IL
Israeli Citizenship by Law of Return (Aliyah)
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Dependents allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Spouse included | No | Yes |
| Spouse eligible | No | Yes |
| Dependent parents | No | No |
| Maximum child age | 18 | — |
| Siblings included | No | No |
Benefits
|
BG
Bulgarian Citizenship by Origin (Descent)
|
IL
Israeli Citizenship by Law of Return (Aliyah)
|
|
|---|---|---|
| EU citizenship | Yes | No |
| Schengen access | Yes | No |
| E-2 treaty country | Yes | Yes |
| Dual citizenship | Yes | Yes |
Restrictions
|
BG
Bulgarian Citizenship by Origin (Descent)
|
IL
Israeli Citizenship by Law of Return (Aliyah)
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Generational limit | 3 | 2 |
| Renunciation required | No | No |
| Renunciation enforced | No | No |
| Revocation possible | Yes | Yes |
Application
|
BG
Bulgarian Citizenship by Origin (Descent)
|
IL
Israeli Citizenship by Law of Return (Aliyah)
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Method | Both | Both |
| Application type | Open | Open |
| Processing time | 180–365 days | 90–180 days |
| Apply from abroad | Yes | Yes |