The Republic of Bulgaria is a country in Southern Europe that shares borders with five states: Romania to the north, Serbia and the Republic of North Macedonia to the west, and Greece and Türkiye to the south. The Black Sea defines the country’s eastern border. Bulgaria’s capital and largest city is Sofia, with a permanent population of 1,280,000. In 1945, after World War II, Bulgaria became a communist state and was part of the Eastern Bloc until the political changes in Eastern Europe in 1989/1990, when the Communist Party introduced multi-party elections and Bulgaria transitioned to a parliamentary democracy and free-market capitalism with mixed results.
Today, Bulgaria functions as a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic. It is a member of the European Union, NATO, the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and a founding state of the OSCE. Bulgaria has a high Human Development Index of 0.845, ranking 55th in the world in 2023.
Citizenship by Investment
The Bulgaria citizenship by investment program was closed in 2022. At the end of this page, you will find other fast passport programs that Elma Capital can assist you with.
Citizenship in Bulgaria on Other Grounds
Citizenship is regulated by the Law on Bulgarian Citizenship, dated November 1998. Bulgarian citizenship can be acquired by birth, by descent, by naturalization, by special contribution to the Bulgarian State, and on certain other grounds including investment. Below is a brief summary of the grounds for acquiring Bulgarian citizenship.
Citizenship by birth: Birth in Bulgaria does not automatically confer citizenship, except in the case of a child born in Bulgaria to unknown or stateless parents.
Citizenship by descent: A child acquires Bulgarian citizenship if at least one parent is a Bulgarian citizen, regardless of the place of birth.
Citizenship by naturalization: Bulgarian citizenship may be granted if the applicant has resided legally in Bulgaria for at least five years as a Permanent Resident.
Citizenship through special merits is available to individuals in the fields of art, science, philanthropy, etc., who contribute significantly to the interests of Bulgaria. These applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Citizenship of Bulgaria on other grounds: Eligible categories include stateless persons with at least one parent of Bulgarian descent; children under 14 adopted by Bulgarian parents; and refugees fleeing persecution. Dual citizenship is recognized.
Loss of Citizenship
Voluntary renunciation of Bulgarian citizenship is permitted by law. Contact the nearest Bulgarian Embassy for details and proper documentation.
Grounds for involuntary loss of naturalized citizenship include:
- Citizenship obtained through fraud or false statements (revocation applies only to the individual concerned; their spouse and children may retain citizenship);
- Criminal acts against the security of the state committed outside Bulgaria.
Questions & Answers
Q: When visa D is issued, how many days can the applicant stay in Bulgaria? For example, if I want to visit Bulgaria, apply for PR, and wait for the decision while in Bulgaria — is that possible?
A: Visa D is valid for 180 days (6 months), and the holder may stay in Bulgaria during this period. The law requires the PR application to be submitted within the first 3 months of the visa’s validity. The approval term is 3 months, so the applicant has enough time to stay and wait for approval.
Q: What is the standard route for business immigration to Bulgaria?
A: The typical route to permanent residence (without major investments) involves incorporating a Bulgarian company, creating ten jobs for Bulgarian citizens, and obtaining a temporary residence permit renewed annually. Permanent residence can be applied for after 5 years of residence and business activity in Bulgaria.
Q: Once I obtain permanent residence, do I have to pay taxes in Bulgaria?
A: No, unless you conduct business in Bulgaria or reside physically in the country for more than 183 days within 12 consecutive months.
Q: Can you provide more information on Bulgarian citizenship? My daughter is 16 and her father is Bulgarian, but she has not had contact with him since she was 4 months old. Can she apply for Bulgarian citizenship through him?
A: Before the age of 18, she cannot apply without parental consent. Both parents must provide notarized consent. After she turns 18, parental consent is no longer required, and she may apply for Bulgarian citizenship on her own.
Q: Can you assist with applying for Bulgarian citizenship based on ancestry?
A: We do not handle citizenship applications based on ethnic origin. We work exclusively with residence and citizenship by investment programs.
Q: I have been married to a Bulgarian citizen for 22 years, and we have a 19-year-old son. We are still married. My son and I would like to obtain dual citizenship this summer. Is it possible?
A: You are not eligible for Bulgarian citizenship because you do not reside in Bulgaria. If you relocate to Bulgaria, you may apply for permanent residence and, after 5 years of residence, for citizenship. Your son may apply for citizenship based on Bulgarian descent from his father, but he will not be able to obtain a passport this summer. Citizenship applications typically take 24–36 months.
Q: My wife is a Bulgarian citizen. We married in Bulgaria but now live in the Netherlands. Can I obtain Bulgarian citizenship, or how long must I live in Bulgaria to become eligible under marriage?
A: If you do not physically reside in Bulgaria, you are not eligible to apply for citizenship, permanent residence, or even temporary residence based on marriage. To obtain permanent residence through marriage, you must reside in Bulgaria for 5 years. If you have a common child, you may apply for permanent residence immediately. There are no fast-track incentives for citizenship; you will be expected to hold permanent residence for 5 years before applying.
Professional Services
The citizenship program in Bulgaria is now closed. Elma Capital assists international clients with other passport programs (Antigua & Barbuda, St. Kitts & Nevis, El Salvador, Türkiye, Vanuatu, Sierra Leone, etc.). If you need legal assistance, please contact us today.
When sending us an email, please indicate your citizenship, country of residence, and the age of each family member to be included in the application. This information is required to provide an accurate quote of the fees and expenses applicable to your case.