Bulgaria (BG)
Bulgaria is the oldest state in Europe (founded 681 AD), a member of the European Union since 2007, and one of the most affordable countries for expats in the EU.
Capital: Sofia
Region: Europe
Language: Bulgarian
Currency: BGN (лв)
Cost of living: Very affordable (index 37)
Emergency: 112
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Citizenship & Permanent Residency
Long-term settlement options in Bulgaria.
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Permanent Residency
Name
Permanent Residence Permit
Eligibility
Non-EU citizens: 5 years of continuous temporary residence in Bulgaria. EU citizens: 5 years of continuous legal residence (with registration certificate throughout).
Duration
Permanent — valid indefinitely (5-year card, renewed periodically)
Requirements
- ✓5 years of uninterrupted legal residence (absences no more than 6 months per year, no single absence over 10 months)
- ✓Valid accommodation proof
- ✓Stable and sufficient income (above social assistance minimum)
- ✓Health insurance
- ✓Clean criminal record (no convictions in Bulgaria or abroad)
- ✓Registration with NRA
- ✓Application submitted to Migration Directorate with full documentation package
EU citizens apply for "Постоянно пребиваване на граждани на ЕС" at Migration Directorate. Non-EU citizens apply for "Постоянно пребиваване на чужденци". Permanent residence gives access to most social benefits and the right to work without work permit. Processing: ~14 working days. Fee: 110 BGN.
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Citizenship
Name
Bulgarian Naturalisation
Eligibility
Adults who have held permanent residence for 5 years and meet all requirements. Shorter paths available (see additional paths).
Duration
Permanent — Bulgarian citizenship is acquired for life
Requirements
- ✓5 years of continuous permanent residence in Bulgaria
- ✓Released from current citizenship or willing to hold dual citizenship (check home country rules)
- ✓Sufficient income for self-support
- ✓No criminal convictions
- ✓Bulgarian language proficiency: A1 level minimum — assessed by a standardised 20-question multiple-choice exam (12/20 correct required to pass); exempt if graduated from a Bulgarian school or university
- ✓Bulgarian history and culture knowledge (may be assessed)
- ✓No threat to national security or public order
- ✓Application submitted to Ministry of Justice (Министерство на правосъдието)
Bulgarian citizenship grants full EU citizenship rights including freedom of movement across all 27 EU member states, right to live and work in any EU country, and EU passport. Bulgaria joined the Schengen Area on 1 January 2025 and adopted the euro on 1 January 2026. Processing can take 1–3 years. Application fee: 500 BGN. Required documents must be apostilled and translated into Bulgarian.
Other Routes to Residency & Citizenship
Citizenship by Marriage
Eligibility
Spouse of a Bulgarian citizen after 3 years of marriage
Duration / Outcome
Permanent
Requirements
- ✓3 years of continuous legal residence in Bulgaria as spouse of Bulgarian citizen
- ✓Valid marriage certificate (apostilled and translated)
- ✓Proof of shared residence
- ✓Bulgarian language A1 minimum (20-question exam, 12/20 pass)
- ✓Clean criminal record
- ✓Sufficient income
Processing via Ministry of Justice. Faster path than standard naturalisation. The 3-year residence period as a married person must be completed in Bulgaria.
Citizenship by Bulgarian Ancestry (Descent)
Eligibility
Persons of Bulgarian origin (with a Bulgarian parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent)
Duration / Outcome
Permanent
Requirements
- ✓Proof of Bulgarian ancestry (birth certificates, family records, baptismal records)
- ✓Declaration by Bulgarian State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad (ДАБЧ)
- ✓Application to Ministry of Justice
Bulgaria allows citizenship for persons of Bulgarian descent regardless of residency duration. This is a popular path for diaspora Bulgarians in Ukraine, Moldova, and other Eastern European countries. No language test required for descent-based citizenship applications. Evidence of ancestry must be documented and verified.
Permanent Residence by Investment (Bulgaria Golden Visa)
Eligibility
Investors who make a qualifying investment in Bulgaria of at least €512,000 (approximately BGN 1,000,000) may obtain permanent residence directly — bypassing the standard 5-year temporary residence requirement. Qualifying investments include business investments, government bonds, and designated investment funds. Permanent residence then allows the standard 5-year PR-to-citizenship naturalisation pathway.
Duration / Outcome
Permanent residence on approval; citizenship via standard naturalisation after 5 years PR
Requirements
- ✓Qualifying investment of minimum €512,000 in Bulgaria (business capital, government bonds, or approved investment fund)
- ✓No criminal convictions
- ✓Due diligence checks and background verification
- ✓Application to the Ministry of Interior (Migration Directorate)
- ✓Note: this grants permanent residence, NOT citizenship directly
The fast-track investor citizenship programme (direct citizenship for investment) was permanently closed in 2022 following European Commission pressure — it is no longer available. The 2024 Golden Visa scheme replaced it with permanent residence by investment, after which the standard 5-year naturalisation path applies. There is no shortcut to Bulgarian citizenship via investment as of 2026.
🌍 Dual Citizenship
✓
Dual citizenship is allowed — Bulgaria allows dual citizenship — Bulgarian law does not require renunciation of foreign citizenship upon naturalisation. However, your home country may not allow dual citizenship — check your home country's rules before applying. EU citizens naturalising in Bulgaria generally face no restrictions from their home EU country. Non-EU citizens should check carefully — some countries (e.g. China, India, Japan) require renunciation of original citizenship upon acquiring another nationality.
Citizenship & Permanent Residency
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