Bulgarian citizenship for Russian citizens
Last Updated on August 3, 2024 by Bulgarian Citizenship Team
Claiming Bulgarian Origin for Soviet Union-born Ethnic Bulgarians
Bulgaria offers a promising opportunity for ethnic Bulgarians to reclaim their Bulgarian citizenship, provided they can provide substantial evidence of their Bulgarian ancestry.
According to the revised Citizenship Act, applicants must present official documents from Bulgarian or foreign authorities, confirming their familial connection to at least one ancestor up to the third degree, who is of Bulgarian origin. These documents should include detailed information about the names of the ancestor and their relationship with the applicant.
What evidence of Bulgarian origin is required?
To support their claim, applicants must submit their ancestors’ originally issued birth certificates, regardless of the year of issuance. Newly issued certificates are not considered sufficient evidence of Bulgarian origin and are also viewed with caution as they could potentially be “fabricated.”
If any of your ancestors were born in 1940 and are identified as “bolgar,” “bolgarka,” or any other synonymous term indicating Bulgarian heritage, it is crucial to apply with this specific birth certificate. In the event that your original birth certificate is lost, obtaining a duplicate copy is advisable instead of applying with a newly issued certificate.
Bulgarian citizenship by origin remains one of the fastest routes for obtaining Bulgarian citizenship for Russian citizens. If you don’t have Bulgarian origin, you may consider the following options:
Bulgarian Citizenship for Russian Citizens by Naturalization:
To be eligible for Bulgarian citizenship through ordinary naturalization, you need to spend 5 years on temporary residency (with a requirement of residing for 30 months within this 5-year period) and an additional 5 years on permanent residency. This sums up to a total of 10 years to meet the eligibility criteria. You can allocate an extra 12 months for the citizenship application and consideration procedure.
Bulgarian Golden Visa for Russian Citizens:
Following the discontinuation of the bonds program, the option to obtain Bulgarian citizenship within 2 years through a 1,000,000 EUR investment is no longer available. However, you can now invest 512,000 EUR in a Bulgarian Fund and obtain Bulgarian citizenship within 6 years.
