Lawyer
Specializing in migration law - processing documents on the territory of Ukraine, European Union countries (Poland, Italy, Spain, Hungary, Romania), providing visa assistance for Ukrainian citizens and foreigners.
Obtaining Bulgarian citizenship
Obtaining citizenship of the Republic of Bulgaria — is an effective and legal way to become a full resident of the European Union.
A European passport opens up many unique prospects for Ukrainians and other foreigners: free movement across more than 170 countries of the world without the need for visas, the possibility to live completely legally, work officially, receive a quality education, and conduct your own business unimpeded in any EU state.
In addition, the Bulgarian tax system offers some of the most advantageous and transparent rates on the continent.
That is precisely why it is extremely important to clearly understand how exactly it is possible to obtain Bulgarian citizenship, what specific conditions are put forward by state bodies to applicants, and how to correctly, according to current European laws, go through all stages of this procedure, so that the final legalization process is successful.

Who can obtain Bulgarian citizenship: main legal grounds
In accordance with the current provisions of the Law on Bulgarian Citizenship, today there are several effective mechanisms for obtaining European status:
- By descent (repatriation). This is the fastest path for those Ukrainians who have documented Bulgarian roots. Foreign persons have the right to a passport if at least one of their direct ancestors up to the third generation (parents, grandparents, great-grandparents) was an ethnic Bulgarian. The main advantage of this government program is the complete absence of requirements regarding mandatory multi-year residency in the country before the moment of submitting the application and the absolute exemption of the applicant from taking a state language proficiency exam.
- General naturalization. This classic option is ideally suited for those foreigners who consciously plan to move, get officially employed, and integrate into the new society. The standard procedure requires the applicant to have continuous legal residency with Permanent Residency (PR) status for at least five years.
- Obtaining through marriage. The procedure allows those persons who have entered into an official, government-recognized marriage with a citizen of this state to obtain a Bulgarian passport. The prepared documents can be submitted after three years of continuous cohabitation in marriage and mandatory possession of PR status.
- Government investment programs. The state actively facilitates and supports large investors. Transparent and targeted financial investments in the economy (for example, in government-approved investment funds) provide the right to accelerated PR acquisition with a clear subsequent prospect of rapid citizenship processing.
Main conditions and strict requirements for applicants
To successfully obtain the status of an EU citizen and be guaranteed not to receive a refusal, every candidate must necessarily meet clear government criteria.
Basic requirements include:
- Age of majority. The main applicant must reach 18 years of age (minors go through this procedure directly together with their parents under a significantly simplified scheme).
- Criminal record check. Complete absence of any criminal convictions and open criminal prosecutions both in Ukraine and in all EU states, which is necessarily confirmed by corresponding certificates.
- Financial stability. Possession of a legal source of stable income, which allows one to fully support oneself without any need for social assistance (this is a critically important factor for naturalization).
- Health. Provision of official medical certificates confirming the absence of dangerous infectious diseases and severe mental disorders.
- Linguistic integration. Proficiency in the Bulgarian language at the B1 level. This is a mandatory step for the naturalization procedure, however, it is absolutely not required for repatriates.
- Renunciation of the previous passport. Required only for undergoing naturalization. Persons undergoing legalization by descent or through marriage can legally retain dual citizenship.
Step-by-step procedure: how to obtain status in practice
How to obtain Bulgarian citizenship without unnecessary problems? The standard legal algorithm consists of the following key stages:
- Collection of evidence base. All necessary official papers are collected: birth certificates, marriage certificates, certificates of no criminal record, comprehensive extracts from state archives to prove roots. All collected documents are subject to mandatory notarized translation and apostillization according to international law standards.
- Submission of application. The carefully prepared package of documents is submitted exclusively in person to the Directorate for Citizenship Affairs at the Ministry of Justice in the city of Sofia or through relevant consular institutions abroad.
- Interview. All candidates are obliged to pass an official interview. Questions usually concern personal motivation, knowledge of basic laws, and history. For naturalization, the conversation is conducted exclusively in Bulgarian.
- Government verification. Your personal file is carefully monitored by the State Agency for National Security and the local Ministry of Internal Affairs. The general processing time for the case is from 12 to 24 months.
- Presidential Decree. In the case of a final positive decision, a corresponding state decree is issued, you receive an official certificate, and you can safely obtain an internal ID card and a Bulgarian passport.
Comparison of main legalization programs in the EU
| Grounds for status acquisition | Estimated case processing time | Main and mandatory legislative requirement |
| By Bulgarian descent | 12 – 18 months | Documented and archived confirmed roots |
| General naturalization in the EU | 18 – 24 months | 5 years of legal and continuous residency with PR |
| Obtaining through official marriage | 18 – 24 months | 3 years in legal marriage and possession of PR status |
| Government investment program | From 18 months | Targeted capital investments in the European economy |
How our lawyer can be useful
Independently going through all bureaucratic instances without exception very often ends in disappointing refusals due to trivial errors in filled-out forms or a lack of vitally necessary certificates.
Our law firm “Prikhodko and Partners” provides professional assistance in obtaining Bulgarian citizenship and will reduce all these risks to absolute zero.
Cooperation with specialists will provide you with a comprehensive approach, which includes:
- In-depth legal analysis of your situation and selection of the most optimal legalization strategy.
- Prompt retrieval of lost documents from Civil Registry Offices and state archives for indisputable proof of roots.
- Full support of the apostillization procedure and high-quality notarized translation of documents.
- Professional preparation for passing the interview in government institutions.
- Reliable representation of your personal interests in all state authorities.
Do you wish to guaranteed obtain European status for Ukrainians and ensure a stable and completely safe future for your family?
Do not waste your time on futile attempts to sort through very complex foreign laws. Fill out the feedback form on our website right now!
Our best migration experts will promptly contact you, objectively assess your chances, and develop a detailed step-by-step action plan. Trust your future to true professionals!
Calculate the cost of services
1 question
Are you currently in Ukraine?
2 question
Are you currently in Bulgaria?
3 question
Do you have grounds for obtaining Bulgarian citizenship?
4 question
Do you need legal assistance in obtaining Bulgarian citizenship?
Is it necessary to renounce Ukrainian citizenship during the procedure?
If you are obtaining your status on the basis of proven Bulgarian descent or through a legal marriage with a Bulgarian citizen, you do not need to renounce your Ukrainian passport.
Renunciation of current citizenship is strictly required exclusively when undergoing the standard naturalization procedure.
How much time does the entire procedure of obtaining a European passport take?
On average, the entire process lasts from 12 to 24 months after the successful submission of the full package of documents directly to the Ministry of Justice.
Specific timelines always depend on the basis you have chosen and the promptness of undergoing government verifications.
Is it mandatory to perfectly know the Bulgarian language?
For those applicants who submit official documents under the repatriation (descent) program, the state language proficiency exam is not mandatory.
However, for persons undergoing the general naturalization procedure, it is necessary to mandatorily provide a certificate of language proficiency at the B1 level.
You may also need:
BANK REGISTRATION IN CYPRUS
Read moreREGISTRATION OF A BUSINESS (FIRM) IN THE UK
Read moreOPENING A BANK ACCOUNT IN AUSTRIA
Read moreOPENING A BANK ACCOUNT IN ESTONIA
Read moreREGISTRATION OF A BUSINESS (FIRM) IN POLAND
Read moreBrand name registration
Read moreOpening an account in a foreign bank
Read moreOPENING A BANK ACCOUNT IN GREAT BRITAIN
Read moreREGISTRATION OF A BUSINESS (FIRM) IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC
Read moreOpening a crypto-friendly account
Read moreCompany Registration in the UAE
Read moreCompany Registration in Austria
Read morecall back
during the day
Compensation for moral, material damage
Protection of honour, dignity, and business reputationContract Development for Business and Legal Entities
Licensing of business activities
Compensation for moral, material damage
Legal services in the field of cryptocurrency and blockchain
REGISTRATION OF COMPANIES AND OPENING OF BANK ACCOUNTS
Sale and purchase of ready-made firms
Grants and attracting investment
Business registration and support in Great Britain
Business registration and support in Switzerland
Business registration and support in the EU
Business Registration and Support in the Gulf Countries (GCC)
Business registration and support in Turkey
Business registration and support in USA
Lawyer for administrative cases
Legal services for medical businesses and doctors
Protection of honour, dignity, and business reputation
Real estate transaction support
Escort of the tender participant
Trial lawyer: support and defense in court
European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)
