Many people who decide to permanently relocate from their country are thinking about obtaining Bulgarian citizenship. There is a good reason for this. After all, Bulgaria provides the simplest conditions among all other countries of the European Union for immigrants who wish to change citizenship.
Getting a D visa
A person issues a permission to enter Bulgaria while in his country. To do this, you need to register at the embassy, and then bring the following package of documents:
- Foreign and civil passports.
- Two photos (3.5x4.5).
- Health insurance.
- Certificate of good conduct.
- Confirmation of financial solvency.
- Application form.
- Confirmation of the availability of real estate in the country (rented or personal).
The issuance of a long-term visa is mandatory for every immigrant who intends to obtain Bulgarian citizenship in the future. It is issued for 180 days, and its production takes about 2 months and an amount of 100 euros. Having obtained a “D” visa, a person can proceed to applying for a residence permit, while already in Bulgaria.
Registration of residence permit
It is necessary to tell about it without fail. After all, this process is the next thing that a person who wants to obtain Bulgarian citizenship will have to face after applying for a visa. To obtain a residence permit, you need a reason. And there are a lot of them. It:
- Investing in the development and economy of the state of personal financial resources.
- Availability of a work permit in Bulgaria.
- Stationary education in the country's universities.
- Family ties with a person who has Bulgarian residence permit or citizenship.
- Official retirement benefits.
- Work at an enterprise that is a subsidiary of a foreign representative office.
- Marriage with a Bulgarian citizen.
- Acquisition of residential real estate in the country. Or commercial, but for entrepreneurial activity.
- Bulgarian roots.
- Marriage with a representative of the European Union.
- Business in Bulgaria, providing for the provision of 10 jobs for residents of this country.
- The need to be in the country in order to undergo treatment in medical facilities at their own expense.
- Availability of special protection status.
Each of the reasons listed is a good reason for obtaining a residence permit. Only it will need to be confirmed by collecting all the relevant documents.
Documents for a residence permit
If a person issues a residence permit, then we can assume that obtaining Bulgarian citizenship is already half implemented. Here is what you need to submit to the migration service:
- The visa "D".
- The basis for obtaining a residence permit (selected on the basis of the reason that a person immigrates).
- Statement.
- Foreign passport, which must still be valid for another year and a half from the date of filing.
- Two photos of the Schengen standard.
- Confirmation of the availability of real estate (as for visa).
- Bank statement. It should have an amount of 12 minimum Bulgarian salaries. But better is more.
- Medical policy.
- Certificate of no criminal record.
- State duty payment receipt.
A package of documents is considered within 120 days. If the application of the immigrant is approved, then he will be issued a personal card, which is a permit for legal stay in the country for 6-12 months. It can be extended, for which you do not have to wait a year - you can do this in advance.
About applicants for permanent residence
The next step, mandatory for the implementation of a person who wants to obtain Bulgarian citizenship, is to obtain a permanent residence.The following categories of foreigners can apply for it:
- Residents of other countries with relatives with local citizenship.
- Minors born in a family of migrants permanently residing within the Republic.
- Foreigners who have existed for more than 5 years in Bulgaria, and who have not left its territory for more than 30 months.
- Persons who have invested at least 1 000 000 leva in the development of the state economy (about 571 000 dollars at the current rate).
- Immigrants married to someone who has either a permanent residence permit or Bulgarian citizenship.
- Parents of a person who has become a resident of this country. But this is only possible if he is their trustee.
- Refugees
Naturally, in order to confirm their compliance with a particular category, you will need certain documents that are collected individually.
Information for businessmen and workers
To apply for permanent residence, you still need the same package of documents as for the “D” visa. Therefore, do not focus on it. It’s better to talk about how to obtain Bulgarian citizenship (and to start permanent residence) on the basis of labor activity.
First you need to get a work permit. It is issued by the Ministry of Social Policy and Labor of Bulgaria. Then it will be necessary to conclude an agreement with the employer (and before that find a vacancy and pass an interview). And then - get a letter of guarantee from him. The person adds these documents to the main package, and is sent to the FMS.
For people intending to open a business in Bulgaria, you will need to have:
- Certificate confirming the registration of his company in the commercial register.
- Certificate of payment of fees and taxes.
- Confirmation that the company employs at least 10 Bulgarians.
If all conditions are met, then registration of permanent residence will not be refused.
Marriage
Many immigrants, having entered into official relations with a local resident, rely on Bulgarian citizenship. Registering with the registry office, however, is far from all that is required to carry out the plan. In addition to all the previously mentioned documents, the FMS will need to provide a certificate of marriage, a passport of the person who has Bulgarian citizenship in a couple, and his letter of guarantee for the entire immigrant.
This is about permanent residence. To obtain citizenship, you will need to live in the country for at least three years. In this case, the marriage, of course, must remain valid.
By blood
Bulgarian citizenship by origin is an option that is not suitable for everyone for a logical reason. In order to use this method, you need to have the appropriate roots.
A birth certificate is added to the standard package of documents. Moreover, not only the applicant, but also his Bulgarian parents. Their testimony will be evidence of the origin of man. A document confirming the marriage of parents must also be presented.
If the Bulgarian origin is of another blood relative (grandparents), then their birth certificates will be needed.
It is worth noting that in this case the process of obtaining citizenship takes the least time - 2-3 years.
Naturalization
This is the name of the legal process, which implies the acquisition by an immigrant of citizenship, the basis of which is his voluntary desire. And this is the most universal option, since not everyone can donate more than half a million dollars or fasten the knot with a local, just to get Bulgarian citizenship.
Documents that need to be submitted to the FMS have remained unchanged for many years. This also applies to requirements. Here is what a person who wants to undergo naturalization needs:
- Be an adult.
- Live in Bulgaria for more than five years.
- Do not have a criminal record, problems with the law, and dangerous diseases.
- Know the Bulgarian language.
- Renounce former citizenship.
A five-year term may be reduced by two years.To do this, you need one of the following reasons:
- Be the parent of a person who has adopted Bulgarian citizenship.
- Marriage with someone who has a local passport.
- Have a baby from a Bulgarian citizen.
And the list of documents is the same as that needed for registration of permanent residence.
Expectation
After a person submits documents to the FMS, he will have to wait until the authorities examine them and make a decision regarding the issue of a local residence passport to him.
As a maximum, this process is delayed for 16 months. The minimum waiting period is one year. And if a person is very nervous about issuing the coveted passport, he can check the Bulgarian citizenship. More precisely, at what stage it is.
The fact is that every immigrant who has submitted an application with documents is given a number by which he can track his turn. Every week and a half on the portal of the Ministry of Justice of the republic, data with lists is updated. They display the numbers of candidates who have received a decree on citizenship. If a person wants to know if he has appeared in this list, he needs to visit the portal and enter a set of numbers in a special line. To find a resource, just enter the phrase “Ministry on Justice” in the search and click on the first link.