Citizenship by Descent in Bulgaria

Out of all the ways through which a foreigner can obtain Bulgarian citizenship, descent is the easiest one as a person only needs to prove kinship with a citizen of this country. It is also known as citizenship by ancestry, origin, or heritage and the steps to secure it are somewhat different from those of naturalization which may also imply immigration to Bulgaria.

Below, our local lawyers explain how to apply for citizenship by descent in Bulgaria. We can assist with the document drafting and the following stages, as well as with keeping track of your application.

Who is eligible for Bulgaria’s citizenship by descent?

Considering Bulgarian citizenship by ancestry is a direct means to obtain nationality, it is available for certain categories of applicants only. This means that applicants are not required to obtain permanent residency in Bulgaria first. Here is who can apply for nationality by descent:

• people with Bulgarian ethnic links;
• persons adopted by Bulgarian citizens;
• citizens who have or had at least one parent who is/was a Bulgarian citizen.

In the first case, should you need support in tracking ancestors, you can rely on our Bulgarian law firm.

Documents required to obtain Bulgarian citizenship by ancestry

One of the most important documents required to secure a Bulgarian passport by descent is the proof of kinship with a citizen of this country. While for adopted people and Bulgarian parents, it is relatively easy to produce birth certificates, for those interested in tracking down ancestors, the process may be more difficult. It is possible to obtain citizenship by origin based on the relationship with a Bulgarian great-grandparent.

Here is a list of the documents required when applying for Bulgarian citizenship by descent:

• the application form;
• the applicant’s birth certificate;
• proof of kinship;
• marriage certificate in case of married people who have changed their names;
• clean criminal record;
• additional documents, if required (our lawyers in Bulgaria can assist on a case-to-case basis where necessary).

With respect to the proof of kinship, the following papers can be used:

• birth certificates of up to 3 generations of Bulgarian citizens;
• passports and/or other identification documents of Bulgarian ancestors.

These are also the most difficult to obtain, as you need to go through State archives or local municipalities to gather them. Our law firm in Bulgaria can help with this procedure.

How long does it take to obtain Bulgarian citizenship by origin?

A few years back, the Bulgarian authorities announced a reduction of the waiting time related to the citizenship application procedures. In the case of nationality by descent, the statutory deadline is 12 months, compared to up to 18 months for naturalization (in practice, both can take longer). However, the main advantage of obtaining Bulgarian citizenship by heritage is the lack of language requirements.

Applications for Bulgarian citizenship by descent are filed with the Ministry of Justice after making an appointment. To avoid language barriers, our lawyers can assist with document preparation.

Number of inhabitants in Bulgaria

Bulgaria is not a large country, which is why the number of people inhabiting it was 6,423,207 at the end of 2025, according to data here. The population is divided into:

• 48.3% men;
• 51.7% women;
• out of these, 891,674 were children below the age of 15;
• 3,973,682 people are aged 15 to 64;
• 1,557,851 inhabitants are aged 65 or over.

If you consider you have a claim for citizenship by descent in Bulgaria, do not hesitate to contact us for support in filing your application.