How to Get Bulgaria CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 5 years
- Language
- Required, no test
- Dual citizenship
- Citizens abroad only
- Civic test
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- Income or economic resources must be shown
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Partly accepted: for citizens who naturalise abroad onlyNew citizens must give up their previous citizenship, with major exceptions.Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship.
- Available routes
- Region
- Europe
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024
- Last checked
- Not yet checked by our team
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. A November 2026 search found no later change for this country, but this has not been verified.
Naturalisation (residence)
For foreign nationals living in Bulgaria, this is the ordinary route based on residence. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
- Residence
- 5 years
Person has had permanent residence in Bulgaria for at least 5 years prior to the application.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship, with major exceptions
Person renounces other citizenship (renunciation not required for spouses of Bulgarians and for EEA nationals).
- Language
- Required, no test or certificate specified
Person has command of language of Bulgaria.
- Civic knowledge
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
No convictions of intentional crime and no pending criminal proceedings against the person.
- Income or economic resources
- Income or economic resources must be shown
Person has source of income and occupation sufficient for support.
Marriage or civil partnership
For spouses of citizens of Bulgaria, the rules below set out what this route requires. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person has been the spouse of a citizen for 3 years and has had permanent residence in Bulgaria for 3 years. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation.
Descent (citizen parent)
This route covers children of a citizen of Bulgaria, subject to the conditions below. Citizenship arises directly under the law of Bulgaria, without any authority making a decision.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in Bulgaria to a citizen.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a citizen.
Birth in the country
Birth in Bulgaria is the starting point of this route, together with the conditions below. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person is an adult who is born in Bulgaria and has had permanent residence there for 3 years if they have independent means, no convictions, know Bulgarian and renounce any other citizenship.
Child of a new citizen
A parent acquiring citizenship of Bulgaria is the basis of this route.
Person is under the age of 14 and his/her parents are acquiring citizenship by naturalisation.
Person is between the age of 14 and 18 and his/her parents are acquiring citizenship by naturalisation (declaration required).
Adoption
This route covers people adopted by a citizen of Bulgaria, subject to the conditions below. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person has been adopted by a citizen.
Other family members of citizens
A family tie to a citizen, former citizen or new citizen of Bulgaria is the basis of this route. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person is the child of a deceased citizen.
Former citizens (reacquisition)
Earlier citizenship of Bulgaria is the basis of this route. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person is a former citizen who has had a permanent residence permit for at least 3 years preceding the application (this requirement is waived if the applicant was of Bulgarian descent). Other conditions: no convictions for an intentional crime in the country of residence or in Bulgaria, and does not pose a threat to the public order, public morals, public health or national security.
Ethnic or cultural affinity
An ethnic or cultural connection to Bulgaria is the basis of this route. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person is of Bulgarian descent. Other conditions: no convictions for an intentional crime and no criminal proceeding initiatives against the person.
Refugees
Refugee status in Bulgaria is the basis of this route. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person has a recognised refugee status with at least 3 years of residence prior to the application or person has humanitarian status with at least 5 years of residence prior to the application. No renunciation requirement. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation.
Stateless persons
For people without any citizenship, the rules below show what the law of Bulgaria provides.
Foundlings
Person is found in Bulgaria of unknown parentage.
Otherwise stateless (born in country)
Person is born in Bulgaria and does not acquire citizenship of another country by descent.
Stateless persons
Person has had at least 3 years of residence with a permanent residence permit prior to the application. No renunciation requirement. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation.
Special achievements
This route covers people recognised for special achievements or for contributions to Bulgaria, subject to the conditions below. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person has special achievements in the social and economic sphere, in science, technology, culture or sports. Exemption from the rules for ordinary naturalisation material conditions.
Not available in Bulgaria: Citizens of specific countries, Residence during childhood, Very long residence, Public or military service, Investment. Based on the GLOBALCIT coding of the law, updated with in-force changes.
Dual citizenship
Bulgaria accepts dual citizenship in one direction: citizens who naturalise abroad.
- New citizens
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship, with major exceptions
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship
Compare with neighbours
Among the 10 countries in Eastern Europe with a residence route, 5 years is the most common requirement, and Bulgaria follows it.
Compare Bulgaria with all countries in the residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Belarus | 5 years | Required, no test | Citizens abroad only |
 Czechia | 5 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Hungary | 8 years | Assimilation only | Accepted |
 Poland | 3 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
 Russia | 5 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
 Ukraine | 5 years | Required, no test | Not accepted |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 12, 13.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Bulgaria Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/bulgaria/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/bulgaria/">How to Get Bulgaria Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, retrieved 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become a Bulgarian citizen?
5 years of residence, under the ordinary naturalisation route. The conditions that come with it are listed on this page.
Does Bulgaria allow dual citizenship?
In part. The law of Bulgaria accepts dual citizenship for its citizens who naturalise abroad, not generally for new citizens.
Do I need a language test for Bulgarian citizenship?
Bulgaria requires language skills without naming a particular test or certificate.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Bulgarian citizenship?
Civic knowledge is not assessed as part of the naturalisation process for Bulgarian citizenship.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Bulgarian citizenship?
Giving up your current citizenship is required, with major exceptions.
Can I get Bulgaria citizenship by marriage?
Yes, the law of Bulgaria has a route for spouses. Procedure: discretionary.
Can I get Bulgaria citizenship by descent?
Yes. A child of a citizen can acquire citizenship of Bulgaria by descent. Procedure: automatic.
Can I get Bulgaria citizenship by investment?
No investment route is coded in the law of Bulgaria.
Related pages
Also see: Bulgaria passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.