How Bulgarian citizenship by descent works
The eligibility rules for Bulgarian citizenship by descent, in plain English — who may qualify, what disqualifies, and the legal regimes over time, each cited to its primary statute.
Who may qualify
A qualifying path — via the declaration route
Requirements
ALL of the following
the applicant has a qualifying adoption (was finalized). If this fact is absent, the rule treats it as not applying (rather than asking for more information).
- was finalized:
- true
the applicant has a recorded adoption such that adoption type = full. If this fact is absent, the rule treats it as not applying (rather than asking for more information).
- adoption type:
- full
Citizenship must have passed to the applicant through a finalized adoption, with the adoptive parent holding bulgarian citizenship at the time of the adoption.
- required citizenship:
- bulgarian
Primary sources
- § Bulgarian Citizenship Act, Art. 15(1)(2) (as amended SG 41/2001) — facilitated naturalization by full adoption (пълно осиновяване) by a Bulgarian citizen; no Bulgarian biological ancestry required; waives Art. 12(1) items 2/4/5/6 (residence, renunciation, income, language)
A qualifying path — via the declaration route
Requirements
ALL of the following
Must NOT be true
the applicant's link to the qualifying ancestor is by adoption (rather than by birth).
- tie is adoptive:
- yes
ANY of the following
the applicant must be the parent of the qualifying ancestor.
- relationship:
- parent
the applicant must be the grandparent of the qualifying ancestor.
- relationship:
- grandparent
the applicant must be the great grandparent of the qualifying ancestor.
- relationship:
- great_grandparent
ANY of the following
the qualifying ancestor must have held bulgarian citizenship at the moment the applicant was born, passing it down the line by descent.
- required citizenship:
- bulgarian
a qualifying ancestor on any line must have documented bulgarian heritage.
- heritage type:
- bulgarian
Primary sources
- § Bulgarian Citizenship Act, Art. 15(1) — facilitated naturalization (declaration) by Bulgarian origin
- § Bulgarian Citizenship Act, Art. 15(2) + Additional Provisions §2(1) — Bulgarian-origin ascendant up to the 3rd degree (great-grandparent); 'Bulgarian origin' = at least one ascendant who is Bulgarian (ethnicity/national identity, not necessarily a citizenship holder)
See how these rules apply to your family
The free eligibility check walks your own lineage through these rules — no account, no card, about two minutes.
Check your Bulgarian eligibility