How to acquire Bulgarian citizenship? Documents

Bulgarian citizenship is governed by the Bulgarian Citizenship Act, the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria and the international agreements in force at the time of occurrence of the facts or events related to citizenship. The following article represents the different cases and conditions of acquisition of Bulgarian citizenship.

I. List of the documentation to be submitted for acquiring of Bulgarian citizenship through Naturalisation:

1. Application to the Minister of Justice which has to be done in Bulgarian language and has to contain:

• Given name, father's name and family name according to my birth certificate. If there is a change in any of my names, a document has to be submitted to confirm the change - marriage certificate or a court decision.
• My permanent address in Bulgaria or abroad. If I live abroad, I can authorize a person living in Bulgaria and his/her address to receive correspondence relating to the application on my behalf.
• My circumstances motivating to apply for a Bulgarian citizenship.

If I’m under 14 years of age or I’m not capable of taking decisions for myself, the application is submitted by my parents or my legal guardian. The application is submitted by one of my parents, if the other one is deceased or has no parental rights.

If I’m between 14 and 18 years of age or if I’m partially capable of taking decisions for myself, I submit the application by myself. The application has to be signed also by my parents or my legal guardian. The application is signed by one of my parents, if the other one is deceased or has no parental rights.

When my parents disagree on the application between themselves or there is a disagreement between my parents on one hand and me, the matter has to be decided by the competent Bulgarian District Court. The court decision has to be enclosed to the application.

2. Detailed Curriculum Vitae. If I’m up to 14 years of age, both of my parents submit CVs.

3. One photograph.

4. Birth certificate or a notarised / legalised copy of it.

5. Declaration.

6. Document by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Science of the Republic of Bulgaria showing my proficiency in Bulgarian language.

7. Court certificate from the Bulgarian courts of the criminal record - such document has to be submitted also from the competent authority of the country, which citizen I’m. If I reside permanently in a third country, such document has to be submitted also from the competent authority of the latter country.

8. Identity document for a foreign person permanently resident in Bulgaria issued by the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Bulgaria. The document has to show that I have been permitted permanent residence in the Republic of Bulgaria not later than 5 years before the date of submission of the application.

9. Certificate from the Bulgarian Prosecution Service that I’m not prosecuted for a crime of general character, if I live permanently in Bulgaria.

10. A document from the employer that I have an employment or a document from the respective local Tax authority for a declared income from the previous year.

11. Medical document issued by the Doctors' Consultative Committee of the local hospital confirming that I’m free of decease according to Art. 36 and 36a of the Health Act.

12. Receipt from a bank for payment of the charge of 10.00 Bulgarian leva to the Bulgarian National Bank - Headquarters, The Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Bulgaria, account No. 3000173700, Bank Identification No. 6301301084, Bank sort code 66196611.

If I apply any documents in foreign language I have to legalize and present them together with an officially certified translation.

I can submit the applications to the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Bulgaria in person, via post or by a person, holding a power of attorney to do so. Applications can also be submitted through the Bulgarian diplomatic and consular representations.

Applications, which do not contain all of the enumerated documents, will not be considered.

II. List of the documentation to be submitted for acquiring of Bulgarian citizenship by persons of Bulgarian origin:

1. Application to the Minister of Justice.

2. Detailed Curriculum Vitae. If I’m up to 14 years of age, both of my parents submit CVs.

3. One photograph.

4. Birth certificate or a notarized / legalized copy of it.

5. Declaration.

6. Certificate of Bulgarian origin. If the application is on the ground of Article 15, point 2 of the Bulgarian citizenship Act, a court judgment for the adoption, which has entered into force, has to be presented together with a certificate the adoptive parent is a Bulgarian citizen.

7. Document by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Bulgaria showing my proficiency in Bulgarian language or a notarized copy of a degree certificate in the higher education awarded in Bulgaria.

8. Court certificate from the Bulgarian courts of the criminal record.

9. Certificate from the Bulgarian Prosecution Service.

10. Medical document issued by the Doctors' Consultative Committee of the local hospital confirming that the person is free of decease according to Art. 36 and 36a of the Health Act.

11. Receipt from a bank for payment of the charge of 3.00 Bulgarian leva ( If I’m up to 16 years of age or if I’m up to 26 years of age and I study at a recognized institution).

III. List of the documentation to be submitted for acquiring of Bulgarian citizenship if I’m between 14 and 18 years of age and my parents are Bulgarian citizens or only the living one:

1. Application to the Minister of Justice, which has to be done in Bulgarian language and has to contain:

• Given name, father's name and family name according to my birth certificate. If there is a change in any of my names, a document has to be submitted to confirm the change - marriage certificate or a court decision.
• My permanent address in Bulgaria or abroad. If I live abroad, I can designate a person living in Bulgaria and his/her address to receive correspondence relating to the application on my behalf.

If I’m between 14 and 18 years of age or if I’m partially capable of taking decisions for myself, I submit the application by myself. The application has to be signed also by my parents or my legal guardian. The application is signed by one of my parents, if the other one is deceased or has no parental rights.

When my parents disagree on the application between themselves or there is a disagreement between my parents on one hand and me, the matter has to be decided by the competent Bulgarian District Court. The court decision has to be enclosed to the application.

2. Detailed Curriculum Vitae. If I’m up to 14 years of age, both of my parents submit CVs.

3. One photograph.

4. Birth certificate or a notarised / legalised copy of it.

5. Declaration.

6. Certificate for Bulgarian citizenship of my parent/s from the local authority or the Ministry of Justice.

7. Receipt from a bank for payment of the charge of 10.00 Bulgarian leva to the Bulgarian National Bank - Headquarters, The Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Bulgaria.

IV. List of the documentation to be submitted for acquiring of Bulgarian citizenship by persons of up to 18 years of age, one of the parents of whom is a Bulgarian citizen:

1. Application to the Minister of Justice.

2. Detailed Curriculum Vitae, if I’m up to 14 years of age and both of my parents submit CVs.

3. One photograph.

4. Birth certificate or a notarised / legalised copy of it.

5. Declaration.

6. Certificate for Bulgarian citizenship of my parent from the local authority or the Ministry of Justice.

7. Medical document issued by the Doctors' Consultative Committee of the local hospital confirming that the person is free of decease according to Art. 36 and 36a of the Bulgarian Public Health Act.

8. Receipt from a bank for payment of the charge of 10.00 Bulgarian leva to the Bulgarian National Bank - Headquarters, The Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Bulgaria.

(*) The article aims to explain basic rights under Bulgarian law and it is not to be considered as a legal advisor. We strongly advise you to hire a lawyer, if you experience trouble understanding and using these rights. (*)

Author:Reni Hristova[tippy title="SOURSES" height="300" width="450"]§ Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria§ Bulgarian Citizenship Act:Article.12, 13, 13a,14,16 and 18.§ SG No. 41/2000 http://www.justice.government.bg/new/Pages/Citizenship/Default.aspx?evntid=bVoGvsNqSLc%3d[/tippy]