Bulgarian Citizenship by Origin (Descent)

Country

Bulgaria

Program

Bulgarian Citizenship by Origin (Descent)

Local name

Българско гражданство по произход

Type

Citizenship by Descent

Status

Active

Dual citizenship

Allowed

Visa-free countries

178 destinations

Passport rank

#11 (Henley Index)

Facilitated naturalization for a non-citizen who proves a family relationship to at least one Bulgarian-origin ancestor up to the third degree (great-grandparent). Applicants must apply in person and complete an interview, but need no Bulgarian residence period, income evidence, language exam, or release from their existing citizenship. The Justice Minister has a statutory nine-month deadline to propose a decree for applicants of Bulgarian origin; this is not a guaranteed end-to-end processing time.

Application fee

$172

Passport fee

$30

• Minimum age 18+
• Police clearance required
• Medical exam required
• Interview required

Generational limit

3 generation(s)

Ancestor citizenship

Not required

Method

In person

Apply from abroad

Yes

Application type

Open

Official website

justice.government.bg

Legal basis

Bulgarian Citizenship Act, Articles 15(1)(1), 15(2), 35(1)(2), and 36

Bulgaria joined Schengen (air/sea borders March 2024, land borders January 2025). Article 15(2) requires official documents proving the relationship to an ancestor through the third degree and that ancestor's Bulgarian origin; the ancestor need not be a Bulgarian citizen or born in Bulgaria. Residence, income, language, and renunciation requirements in Article 12(1)(2), (4), (5), and (6) are waived, while the age and criminal-record conditions remain. The Justice Ministry requires an in-person application and interview, criminal records, and a medical document; applications may be submitted at the Ministry or a Bulgarian diplomatic or consular mission abroad. Applications must be written in Bulgarian. The statutory nine-month period applies to the Minister's proposal, not necessarily the full path through the presidential decree and certificate. The published adult application fee is €153.39 (300 leva); equivalent USD values use the 8 October 2026 ECB rate of EUR 1 = USD 1.1186. Adult ordinary passport fee is €27 (USD 30.20), but the Ministry of Interior temporarily suspended 10-year passport issuance on 28 August 2026; passport fees may differ for consular applications and personal circumstances. Spouses and children are not included in an applicant's case and must qualify separately. No oath is specified in the acquisition procedure.

• Digital Nomad Visadigital nomad visa
• Bulgaria Golden Visagolden visa

1. Oct 9, 2026
   • Official page https://www.justice.government.bg/ https://justice.government.bg/home/index/f3655a73-7405-4832-8757-8e68be5d7683
   • Application fee (USD) 55 171.57

   changed passport validity to five years during the temporary suspension of 10-year issuance and rechecked the passport index values (https://www.mvr.bg/press/%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D1%83%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%84%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%8F/%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D1%83%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%84%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%8F/%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B8/92633; https://www.henleyglobal.com/passport-index/ranking?source=email).