Descent · decided by Ministry of Justice
Bulgarian citizenship by descent
Bulgaria offers facilitated naturalization to people of Bulgarian origin with an ancestor up to the 3rd degree — with no residence, income, or language requirement (Art. 15 waives them). Check whether you qualify, build your lineage, and get a primary-source-backed document checklist and cost estimate.
Grandparent or great-grandparent claim? Complex chain? Skip the research — talk to a Bulgaria citizenship specialist in 30 minutes.
🇧🇬 By origin
Bulgaria offers facilitated naturalization to people of Bulgarian origin — no residence, income, or language test.
Eligibility
Who may qualify
A documented Bulgarian ascendant within the 3rd degree (parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent).
Facilitated naturalization (Art. 15) waives residence, income, and language.
No Bulgarian-language exam for origin applicants — the language test applies only to standard Art. 12 naturalization.
A clean criminal record is required.
A general overview — your eligibility depends on the specifics of your line. The free check gives a personalized answer. EasyPassport is not affiliated with Ministry of Justice. We help you organize and verify your documents. You submit your application to Ministry of Justice directly — we do not file, submit, or act on your behalf with any government authority.
Why Bulgaria
What makes Bulgaria different
Facilitated naturalization, requirements waived
Art. 15 waives the usual residence, income, and language conditions for people of Bulgarian origin.
No language exam for origin claims
The Bulgarian-language test applies only to standard Art. 12 naturalization, not the origin route.
Origin to the 3rd degree
A documented Bulgarian ascendant within parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent supports the claim.
Origin must be proven
You establish Bulgarian origin (often via the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad) and need a clean criminal record.
An in-person interview is part of it
Applications include a mandatory interview at the Ministry of Justice.
By ancestor path
Your relationship to the Bulgarian ancestor determines which rules apply
Through your parent
A Bulgarian parent — the most direct origin claim.
See requirements 02GRANDPARENTThrough your grandparent
Document Bulgarian origin via your grandparent.
See requirements 03GREAT-GRANDPARENTThrough your great-grandparent
Within the 3rd-degree limit, with documented origin.
See requirementsProcess
How to apply
- 1
Confirm Bulgarian origin
Identify a Bulgarian ascendant within the 3rd degree and gather evidence of your origin.
- 2
Obtain an origin certificate
Secure the certificate of Bulgarian origin typically issued by the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad.
- 3
Gather civil and criminal records
Collect birth and marriage certificates linking the line and a clean criminal-record certificate.
- 4
Translate and legalize
Provide Bulgarian translations and apostille/legalize foreign documents.
- 5
File and attend the interview
Submit to the 'Bulgarian Citizenship' Directorate (Ministry of Justice) and attend the mandatory interview; the state fee is ~€150.
- 6
Track to decision
Processing generally runs ~9–24 months.
Choose your path
Do it yourself, or talk to a specialist?
Do it yourself
Free tool- Parent or grandparent claim with clear documentation
- You know your ancestor held Bulgaria citizenship
- Records are legible and translated where needed
- No broken-chain events (renunciation, timing gaps)
Talk to a specialist
- Great-grandparent or further-back claim
- Unsure whether a naturalization broke the chain
- Mixed ancestry — multiple possible pathways
- Want a professional to verify before gathering 10+ documents
At a glance
What you'll need
- Government fee
- ≈ €150 (300 BGN); reduced for minors/students
- Typical timeline
- ~9–24 months
- Where
- Directorate 'Bulgarian Citizenship', Ministry of Justice
Key dates & laws
The rules that decide your case
31 Jan 2026 (SG 61/2025)
Tightened the deadline for terrorism-related revocation of naturalization (Criminal Code Arts. 114а–114т) — it does NOT add a language exam for origin applicants. A separate bill to add a language test for origin applicants passed first reading only and is not in force.
Fee increase (2025)
The state application fee rose from 30 to 300 BGN (~€150); Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 Jan 2026.
1999 — Bulgarian Citizenship Law
Sets the procedure for citizenship by origin (a 1991 constitutional right); applications are filed in person and include a mandatory interview.
Where it's processed
A single national authority
🇧🇬 Directorate 'Bulgarian Citizenship'
Ministry of Justice
Bulgaria processes descent applications centrally through one national authority, rather than routing them through consulates.
See mailing instructionsTools & guides
Plan your application
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
🇧🇬 Not sure where to start?
See if you qualify in about two minutes.
A personalized answer based on your specific line of descent. No passport or ID uploads — ever.