Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

How to obtain Bulgarian citizenship - procedure explained

Photo: BGNES

In a previous publication Radio Bulgaria offered an overview of the conditions and grounds for acquiring Bulgarian citizenship. In the following lines we will elaborate on the steps of the procedure itself.

The first one is to submit an application for Bulgarian citizenship, which must be written in Bulgarian and submitted in person at:

- The Ministry of Justice, or
- At a diplomatic or consular representation of Bulgaria abroad.

A list of the required documents is published on the Ministry of Justice website and is available in Bulgarian and English.

How are applications filed for persons under 18 years of age?

- For persons up to the age of 14, the application must be submitted by both parents (if one parent is not deprived of parental rights) or by the guardian.
- For persons aged 14 to 18, the application must be submitted in person with the consent of the parents or guardian who sign it.


When the application is submitted, if it is established that all the necessary documents have been submitted, an interview with the applicants is also conducted, which:

- shall be conducted in Bulgarian;
- is on a questionnaire approved by the Minister of Justice.


What is the purpose of the interview?

- To get an idea of the applicant's command of the Bulgarian language, whether he/she is basically familiar with the state structure of Bulgaria, various areas of the country's public life, holidays, famous historical figures, what are his/her motives for wanting to acquire Bulgarian citizenship.


How can one follow the progress of their application for citizenship?

- Through the website of the Ministry of Justice, in the section "Bulgarian Citizenship", by the registration number and PIN received when submitting the documents.


By whom is the citizenship decree issued and when does it enter into force?

- The decree is issued by the President and comes into force on the day it is issued.



Read also:



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Students at the Vasil Aprilov Bulgarian Sunday School in the USA discover the art of the master

Students from the Vasil Aprilov Bulgarian Sunday School in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, learned about the life and art of Vladimir Dimitrov – the Master, BTA reports. During the lesson, the children viewed various paintings by the Master and then..

published on 6/26/25 1:57 PM

Will Bulgaria remain the EU country with the lowest fuel prices after the adoption of the Euro?

Bulgaria is the country with the lowest prices of basic fuels in the EU – petrol and diesel, data show. Yet, as the date of the expected adoption of the single European currency, the Euro, as of 1 January next year draws nearer, people’s fears seem to..

updated on 6/26/25 11:07 AM
Yana Todorova

Hiring remote teachers can help Bulgarian Sunday schools abroad

Yana Todorova is a tour guide and teacher. Since 2019, she has been a member of the Association of Tour Guides in Bulgaria, but has been working as such since 2006. She uses every opportunity to do so today, especially within the framework of the..

published on 6/25/25 11:27 AM