Bulgaria citizenship

1 current source-backed citizenship pathway. Verify the responsible authority before applying.

This page contains 1 current route for this destination, with the available eligibility, requirements and duration details.

Source-backed legal route · Checked 2026-08-28

Current route records

Route	Conditions	Effective or checked	Official source
Citizenship route	General Bulgarian naturalisation normally requires an adult to have held permanent or long-term residence for at least 5 years, have no disqualifying conviction or proceeding, have income or occupation, know Bulgarian and meet the nationality-release rule; statutory exceptions include spouses and EU/EEA/Swiss citizens.	2026-07-13	Official source

Each value as the authority publishes it, in the currency it charges.

Route	Fact	Value	Official source
Citizenship route	Application fee (non bulgarian origin)	511.29 EUR	Official source
Citizenship route	Application fee (standard)	153.39 EUR	Official source
Citizenship route	Application fee (youth student)	51.13 EUR	Official source
Citizenship route	Processing time (standard, legal maximum)	12 months	Official source
Citizenship route	Years of residence required (general)	5 years	Official source
Citizenship route	Years of residence required (refugee)	3 years	Official source
Citizenship route	Years of residence required (spouse of citizen)	3 years	Official source
Citizenship route	Language level required	required, no CEFR level set (Bulgarian)	Official source
Citizenship route	Other citizenship may be kept	Conditional: Renunciation is generally required; exceptions include spouses of Bulgarian citizens, EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, and citizens of reciprocity-treaty states.	Official source
Citizenship route	Where to apply	at a consulate or in the country	Official source

Route-specific work rights and conditions stay separate from shortage-list status and individual eligibility.

Route	Published work answer	Official source
Citizenship route	The Bulgarian Ministry of Labour and Social Policy states that EU citizens may work in another Member State without work permission under the same conditions as nationals, and that Bulgarian workers can exercise this right in all EU countries without a work permit.	Official source