The government of Bulgaria is offering Bulgarian residency and citizenship (European citizenship) to foreign investors who contribute to the country's economic development. (New SG No. Applying for naturalisation: All applications for Irish citizenship are dealt with by Immigration Service Delivery at the Department of Justice and Equality. A person who is not a Bulgarian citizen may acquire Bulgarian citizenship if on a date of filing the application for naturalization: – is an adult – at least 18 years old – not later than 5 years has been given permission to reside in Bulgaria All applicants who would like to acquire Bulgarian citizenship by naturalization are required to prove their fluency in Bulgarian language subject to obtaining a language proficiency certificate from the Ministry of Education. Tel: +359 2 91408. Be over 18 years old. The amendments to the 1999 Ordinance on the Implementation of the Bulgarian Citizenship Act published on 28 April 2017 in the State Gazette tightens requirements for naturalisation by descent. List of the documentation to be submitted for acquiring of Bulgarian citizenship through Naturalisation. LinkedIn Facsimile: +359 2 9809223. 1040 Sofia. The Bulgarian Citizenship by Investment Program offers straightforward routes to acquiring European Citizenship for the entire family with freedoms to live, work and study in any of the 28 EU member states. The naturalisation authorities will only be able to make a decision about your application when the ... of the EU member states and of Switzerland are allowed to keep their previous nationality when they obtain German citizenship. The process ends with the issue of a Bulgarian citizenship certificate that allows the investors to get a Bulgarian passport. In 2017, the Bulgarian nationality is ranked twenty-sixth in the Nationality Index (QNI). The QNI considers, in addition to travel freedom, on internal factors such as peace & stability, economic strength, and human development as well. 2. The Bulgarian Ministry of Justice is in charge of processing citizenship applications. Since it’s really a hybrid program, not many people linger in the permanent resident stage. The advantages of the "Bulgarian Citizenship by Investment" program Unlimited residency, working & political rights EU-wide (and beyond) One of the major innovations established by the Treaty of Maastricht on European Union is the creation of European citizenship over and above national citizenship. Services include visas, residency permits, citizenship, work permits, and non-profit and missionary permits. Citizenship will no longer be awarded for the purchase of government bonds, investments in intellectual property or bank deposits. [2] Naturalisation is available on the basis of residence in certain types of status; marriage or on the basis of origin or at the discretion of the government of Bulgaria to persons of merit. has been adopted by a Bulgarian citizen on terms of full adoption; or on +359 876 87 4449 for further information on how we can assist. 5 years from Permanent Residence Permit grant. If we have to compare obtaining Bulgarian Citizenship by Origin and the Naturalization route, the latter follows more rigorous process. Refugees may obtain Bulgarian citizenship if they are of over 18 years old and have been recognised for 3 or more years. Legislation favours heavily the ius sanguinis principle: those born on Bulgarian territory gain citizenship only in case they have no access by birth to another nationality. Must have maintained permanent resident status and a valid residential address for the past five years. Bulgarian Citizenship by birth (as per the standard of jus soli) is any individual born inside the Republic of Bulgaria, except if the person in question gains another citizenship by descent. [5][6] Bulgarian citizens can live and work in any country within the EU and EFTA as a result of the right of free movement and residence granted in Article 21 of the EU Treaty.[7]. Because Bulgaria is a member of the European Union, Bulgarian citizenship provides citizenship in the EU. The Bulgarian Citizenship Act allows any person who has resided in Bulgaria for a period of time defined by law and satisfies the requirements in Chapter III of the same Act to obtain Bulgarian citizenship by Naturalization. Since Bulgaria is member of the European Union, Bulgarian citizens are also citizens of the European Union under European Union law and thus have the right of freedom of movement within the EU and have the right to vote in elections for the European Parliament. The Bulgarian Citizenship Actallows any person who has resided in Bulgaria for a period of time defined by law and satisfies the requirements in Chapter IIIof the same Act to obtain Bulgarian citizenship by Naturalization. The Bulgarian law foresees that a person can obtain Bulgarian citizenship by naturalization if the following conditions are met: The applicant is of legal age; The applicant has received permanent residency permit not sooner than 5 years ago 1; The applicant has no criminal convictions; Bulgarian citizenship by naturalisation shall be rejected if, in view of his behaviour, there are serious reasons to believe that the applicant is a threat to the public peace, the public ethics, the public health or the national security. Bulgarian Citizenship Citizenship for Bulgarian citizens. The requirements for those who opt for the regular program are as follows: 1. Step 5. Bulgaria, located in Southeast Europe, at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, is a stable, neutral and respected member of the European Union since 2007. Bulgarian nationality law is governed by the Constitution of Bulgaria (article 25 and 26) of 1991 and the citizenship law of 1999 (with changes made in various years through to 2009). © 2013 - 2020 Bulgarian Citizenship | All rights reserved. This allows unrestricted travel and residence in any of the member states in the EU. [8], Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Rights abroad: Right to consular protection, "Treaty on the Function of the European Union (consolidated version)", "The 41 nationalities with the best quality of life", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bulgarian_nationality_law&oldid=966800009, Pages using collapsible list with both background and text-align in titlestyle, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. (suppl. The biggest draw of the Bulgarian residence-to-citizenship investment program is that it is the fastest way to obtain a European citizenship besides citizenship by investment. Bulgarian Citizenship by Naturalization under Article 12 of the Citizenship Act: has not been sentenced by a Bulgarian court for a premeditated crime of a general nature and has not been the subject of criminal proceedings for such a crime unless the person concerned has been rehabilitated; has an income and occupation enabling him/her to support himself/herself in the Republic of Bulgaria; has a command of the Bulgarian language subject to verification in accordance with a procedure established by an order of the Minister of Education and Culture, and. The application has to be done in Bulgarian language and has to contain: What conditions are required for a foreigner to apply for the Bulgarian citizenship by naturalization: Has reached the age of majority (18 years old); Has acquired a permit for permanent or long-term residence in the Republic of Bulgaria at least five years ago; The applicants also have to prove that they have an income and occupation enabling them to support themselves in the Republic of Bulgaria. The language proficiency certificate is not required if they have studied in a Bulgarian school or university. Bulgarian Citizenship. We can advise you on the eligibility of acquiring Bulgarian citizenship by naturalization, to assist in the sourcing, clarification and preparation of the supporting documents, to assist at each step, including by completing many of the steps on behalf of the applicant, to put together the application and submit and represent in front of the. | Hand Sanitizer Producer in Europe | Brokers traps to avoid when buying a real estate in Bulgaria | Антибактериален дезинфектант | Antibacterial Hand gel Any person who is not a Bulgarian citizen may acquire Bulgarian citizenship through naturalization not subject to the provisions of Article 12, sub-paragraphs 2, 4, 5 and 6 if he/she meets one of the following requirements: Contact our office via our contact form here or on +359 876 87 4449 for further information on how we can assist. has been a holder of a long-term or permanent residence permit for at least 5 years, or 3 years if the applicant is married to a Bulgarian national, was born in Bulgaria, or settled in the country before the age of 18; has not been convicted of a premeditated crime; has a source of income or a trade and can financially support themselves; This page was last edited on 9 July 2020, at 08:16. The acquisition of Bulgarian citizenship by naturalisation, the restoration of Bulgarian citizenship, the release and deprivation of Bulgarian citizenship and the revocation of the naturalisation shall be carried out by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria through a special decree. Naturalised citizens who do not belong to at least one of the aforementioned groups, are required to give up all other nationalities. 1 Slavianska Street. Naturalisation is a process whereby a non-Irish national can apply to become an Irish citizen subject to satisfying certain conditions for naturalisation. adults who have acquired Bulgarian and Japanese citizenship by birth must declare, to the latter's Ministry of Justice, before turning 22, which citizenship they want to keep. Bulgarian citizenship is regulated by the Constitution and the Citizenship law of 1998 as amended in 2018. Bulgarian citizenship is primarily based on jus sanguinis (right of blood). There is furthermore a provision facilitating naturalisation for “persons of Bulgarian origin” (Article 15 (1) of the Citizenship Act), without any residency requirement. permanent residence in the Republic of Bulgaria, one of his/her parents is a Bulgarian citizen or has passed away as a Bulgarian citizen, Bulgaria to retain its Citizenship by Investment program in 2019, Overview of Bulgarian citizenship by investment, Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, Brokers traps to avoid when buying a real estate in Bulgaria. Visa requirements for Bulgarian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Bulgaria. Published 12 April 2019 Options and requirements. Bulgarian Citizenship and Adoption Directorate. A person who is not a Bulgarian citizen can acquire Bulgarian citizenship if by the date of filing the application for naturalisation: 1. he has become of age; 2. [4] When in a non-EU country where there is no Bulgarian embassy or representation, Bulgarian citizens have the right to receive consular protection from the embassy of any other EU country present in that third country. Bulgarian citizenship can be acquired in the following ways: Bulgaria permits dual citizenship only for native-born citizens, citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland, as well as spouses of Bulgarian citizens. How to obtain Bulgarian Citizenship. A better quality of life for the family Bulgaria is a safe country that enjoys a low cost of living index. Every citizen who is a national of a (EU) Member State is also a citizen of the Union (EU). Chapter three. Every Bulgarian citizen is also a citizen of the European Union. Citizenship in Bulgaria is mainly based on the principle of ius sanguinis but can also be granted through naturalisation or birth. Bulgaria had a naturalisation rate of just more than two for every 100 resident foreigners, according to the report. I. Naturalisation is a process whereby a non-Irish national can apply to become an Irish citizen subject to satisfying certain conditions for naturalisation. has been, for at least three years, and still is, was granted permission for permanent residence before he/she became of age, Bulgarian Citizenship by Naturalization for holders of refugee status, Article 13a. [3] Those who previously renounced their Bulgarian citizenship are allowed to get it reinstated. naturalisation – when the primary grounds of acquisition of citizenship is a certain period of residence in the country, and special naturalisation–when the acquisition of citizenship is based on other considerations, such as family links, ethno-cultural connections or special contributions. - Have a combined net worth greater than BGN 2.000.000 (€1.022.000), by doubling their initial investment by investing an additional €511.292 in government bonds or in the capital of a Bulgarian company - Citizenship by marriage: at least three years of legal marriage to a Bulgarian citizen Applying for naturalisation: All applications for Irish citizenship are dealt with by Immigration Service Delivery at the Department of Justice and Equality. Bulgarian citizenship offers full European Union benefits, including Schengen borderless travel. Application to the Minister of Justice. This index differs from the Visa Restrictions Index, which focuses on external factors including travel freedom. Facebook Article 12 of the 1998 Law … In 2015, Bulgarian citizens had visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 150 countries and territories, ranking the Bulgarian passport 18th in the world according to the Visa Restrictions Index. Some countries do not permit multiple citizenship e.g. It is mainly based on jus sanguinis; however, it is possible to obtain citizenship after 5 years of residence in Bulgaria. Citizenship will be granted after a permanent residence permit. The top three recipients of Bulgarian citizenship in 2016 were Russians (30 per cent), Ukrainians (17.1 per cent) and citizens of Turkey (8.9 per cent), Eurostat said. RSS. This means visa-free travel to more than 150 countries in the world. Under the Bulgarian Citizenship Act any person who has been, for at least three years, and still is, legally married to a Bulgarian citizen and not less than three years as of the date of filling the application for naturalization, was granted a permission for permanent residency my acquire Bulgarian Citizenship … There are two ways you can obtain citizenship: – SG 21/2012) before no less than 5 years has been given permit for long term stay in The applicants also have to prove that they have an income and occupation enabling them to support themselves in the Republic of Bulgaria. Bulgarian Citizenship by Naturalization. Article 13 of the Bulgarian Citizenship Act allows any person who satisfies the sub-paragraphs 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of Article 12, and not less than three years as of the date of filling the application for naturalization, was granted a permission for permanent residence in the Republic of Bulgaria may acquire Bulgarian citizenship if he/ she also meets one of the following requirements: Any person who was granted a refugee status not less than three years before the date of filing the application for naturalization may acquire Bulgarian citizenship if he/she meets the requirements under Article 12, sub-paragraphs 1, 3, 4 and 5. A baby found on the region of the Republic of Bulgaria, whose guardians are unknown, is viewed as born by a Bulgarian citizen. Immigration Lawyer in Sofia and Plovdiv, Bulgaria +359 (88) 8872466. Acquisition of Bulgarian citizenship by naturalization. From 1 January 2021, you cannot apply for British citizenship with permanent residence … Subsidiary protection (“humanitarian status”) holders obtain Bulgarian citizenship if over 18 and if they have been granted protection for 5 or more years. Apply for citizenship by naturalisation if you live in the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory or if you live elsewhere and want to apply by post. 12. 1. It is mainly based on jus sanguinis; however, it is possible to obtain citizenship after 5 years of residence in Bulgaria. The language proficiency certificate is not required if they have studied in a Bulgarian school or university. 3. What is naturalisation? We can advise you on the eligibility of acquiring Bulgarian citizenship by naturalization, to assist in the sourcing, clarification and preparation of the supporting documents, to assist at each step, including by completing many of the steps on behalf of the applicant, to put together the application and submit and represent in front of the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice. In accordance with the Bulgarian Citizenship Act, foreign investors who hold a permanent resident permit for at least five years are eligible to apply for Bulgarian citizenship. Bulgarian citizenship can be granted under four main categories stipulated in the Bulgarian Citizenship Act: Bulgarian Citizenship by Origin; Bulgarian Citizenship by Naturalization; Bulgarian Citizenship by Investment; 通過投資獲得保加利亞公民身份; Bulgarian Citizenship by Investment 2019; Bulgarian Citizenship by Marriage Bulgarian nationality law is governed by the Constitution of Bulgaria (article 25 and 26) of 1991 and the citizenship law of 1999 (with changes made in various years through to 2009). The applicant applies in person for the Permanent Residence Permit (PRP) and then obtains a Bulgarian ID card. Changes to permanent residence status from 1 January 2021. Zachary Tsvetkov is an Immigration Lawyer located in Sofia, Bulgaria. Bulgarian nationality law is governed by the Constitution of Bulgaria (article 25 and 26) of 1991 and the citizenship law of 1999 (with changes made in various years through to 2009).[1]. Bulgarian nationality law is governed by the Constitution of Bulgaria (article 25 and 26) of 1991 and the citizenship law of 1999 (with changes made in various years through to 2009).. Other exceptions exist for certain states such as Morocco, Iran and Algeria With the Standard Track you can obtain a second passport in 6 years in exchange for a minimum investment of €512,000. The decree enters into force on the day of its issuance. Bulgaria also permits dual citizenship. Now the citizenship can be applied for after one year under the accelerated procedure or after 5 years under the naturalisation procedure. LOOSING BULGARIAN CITIZENSHIP Section I. 41/2000) was released from his/her previous citizenship or will be released from his/her citizenship as of the moment of acquiring the Bulgarian citizenship (few exceptions are available). | Legal Notes | Site Map | Bulgarian Citizenship Fast Track | Bulgarian Companies | Tax residence of Bulgaria | Contact | 通過投資獲得保加利亞公民身份 | How to buy a property in Bulgaria | Accounting services in Bulgaria | Buying a property in Plovdiv | 購買保加利亞房產 | 在保加利亞購買房產須知 Documents may be sent to the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Bulgaria through submitting at diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Bulgaria abroad for: Еstablishing the existence of a Bulgarian Citizenship; Restoration of a Bulgarian Citizenship Acquiring Bulgarian citizenship by naturalisation Art. That enjoys a low cost of living index you can obtain a second in! To give up All other nationalities certificate that allows the investors to get a school... 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