How to obtain Bulgarian citizenship: procedure, timeline and features

Foreigners of Bulgarian origin can obtain Bulgarian citizenship relatively quickly, and the procedure for confirming ethnic roots here is much simpler than, for example, in Romania. But what about those who are unlucky to be born into a “Bulgarian” family? How to get Bulgarian citizenship to a Russian citizen? There are several ways. Consider, among other things, obtaining Bulgarian citizenship by origin.

Russian Life in Bulgaria: Diaspora

From 2000 to 2015, 5,200 immigrants from the Russian Federation managed to obtain Bulgarian citizenship by origin. According to the 2011 census, 12 thousand citizens of the Russian Federation lived in a European country, most of which (10 thousand) defined themselves as “Russian”. Russian is native to almost 16 thousand people living in Bulgaria. Most ethnic Russians live in cities (8.3 thousand), some in villages (1.6 thousand). Small towns and villages are chosen, as a rule, by pensioners who immigrated to Bulgaria, and middle-aged people and young people live in cities where there is the opportunity to work, study, and spend leisure time in a variety of ways.

Many Russians who live in Bulgaria compare life in a new place with the realities of the Russian capital. The average cost of a grocery basket does not differ significantly from the grocery set of an average Muscovite. In terms of rubles, bread in large Bulgarian cities costs 35-40 rubles., A kilogram of potatoes - 37-40 rubles., Beef - 350-400 rubles. True, given the rise in inflation, price tags are likely to be rewritten in a larger direction. Regarding the cost of housing, square meters in Bulgaria are relatively cheap. But there are exorbitant costs for the maintenance of houses and apartments. Housekeeping, elevator maintenance, hot and cold water, heating - you need to pay significantly more for all this than in Russia.

The average salary in Bulgaria is comparable to that in Russia. But getting a job here is almost impossible. By the way, this is the main factor in the outflow of the indigenous population to other European countries, as well as the fact that most Russians in Bulgaria are military pensioners, business owners or investors with sufficient passive income.

Features of migration law

How to get Bulgarian citizenship? Obtaining a Bulgarian passport is preceded by a visa, residence permit (residence permit, permit for long-term residence) and permanent residence (permanent residence permit, permit for permanent residence) in Bulgaria. Absolute conditions for issuing a residence permit (and hereinafter permanent residence permit) are the availability of a type D visa for a citizen of another state. Other categories of documents do not give the right to apply for citizenship.

Reasons for obtaining a type D visa

A type D visa is a document that allows a foreign national to stay in Bulgaria for a long time (more than six months), followed by a permit for a long stay. The multivisa validity period is 180 days, the possibility of repeated border crossing is provided.

To obtain a document you need to have a reason. The legal basis is:

1. Higher education in Bulgaria, participation in a student exchange program. Persons who are interns without pay can also apply for a type D visa.
2. Reunion with the family if a relative of a foreigner legally resides in Bulgaria or is a citizen of that country.Also, financially well-off parents of citizens or persons legally residing in the country can apply for a visa.
3. Official employment in the state of a Bulgarian employer or a foreign company (based on international treaties in which Bulgaria is one of the parties).
4. Carrying out entrepreneurial activity in the country with the condition that at least ten full-time jobs for Bulgarian citizens will be created.
5. Long-term treatment (provided that the foreign national has sufficient financial resources to cover the costs of treatment and accommodation).
6. Work as a correspondent for foreign media. A journalist or other media worker must be accredited to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria.
7. Retirement age (if there is sufficient security to stay in the country).
8. Status of a person under state protection, refugee.
9. Investments in economically disadvantaged regions of Bulgaria by making at least 250 thousand leva (the “price” of Bulgarian citizenship is almost nine million rubles).
10. Investments of at least BGN 600 thousand in the acquisition of real estate in Bulgaria or in commercial organizations that have invested a similar amount in real estate.

Visa processing and terms of consideration

The first step towards Bulgarian citizenship is the preparation of documents, applying for a visa, obtaining a document and moving. A package of documents for an immigrant visa is submitted to the diplomatic mission of the country abroad. Required documents:

1. Application form. It is necessary to fill out all the points on the questionnaire in detail, the data must fully comply with what is indicated in the documents.
2. Two photos (35x45 mm). A photo must be taken no earlier than six months before submitting the application. The image of the face should occupy at least 70-80% of the entire photo.
3. Passport valid for the next minimum 18 months.
4. Proof of housing during your stay in Bulgaria. This may be an apartment rental agreement, a voucher from a hotel, proof of ownership of the living space.
5. A health insurance policy with a minimum coverage of 30 thousand euros. The cheapest insurance will cost about 40 euros for the entire stay.
6. Certificate of the presence or absence of a criminal record and involvement in criminal liability. Paper is required only from adults. You can make a reference at the office of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs at the place of residence.
7. Proof of the availability of sufficient funds for living in Bulgaria. Confirmation of financial viability can serve as an extract from a bank account. A minimum of 1 800 BGN (75 thousand rubles) is required.

Also, a foreigner submits additional documents. The list depends on the basis for obtaining a visa:

1. Studying at a university: a certificate stating that a foreign citizen is registered in a higher educational institution and has paid for tuition. Juvenile students will also need a notarized parental permission to leave.
2. Retirement benefits: a document confirming retirement benefits and an account with a Bulgarian bank to receive a Russian pension.
3. Employment: employment contract, work permit, letter of guarantee from the employer.
4. Entrepreneurship: constituent documents of the company, certificate of registration in the commercial register, certificate of payment of taxes and fees.
5. Investments: confirmation of the purchase of real estate or investment in economically disadvantaged regions of Bulgaria.
6. Family reunification: proof of kinship (marriage certificate, birth certificate) and notarized copies of the identity card of a relative who is legally resident in Bulgaria or is a citizen of that country.
7. Long-term treatment: medical certificates, referral.

All documents must be translated into Bulgarian with licensed translators at embassies and consulates, and copies are certified by a notary.

The cost of a type D visa is 100 euros.

Documents are considered within a month.

Permanent Residence Permit

The procedure for obtaining Bulgarian citizenship for Russians is quite lengthy. After applying for a type D visa, you need to enter the country. Documents for residence permits can be submitted two weeks before the expiration of the visa. The list of documents is the same as for a visa. The state fee for the consideration of the case is from 100 to 400 euros. The term for consideration of documents is 14 days, but can be extended up to a month. Residence permit (plastic card) is issued for one year with the possibility of extension.

Permanent Residence Permit

Permanent residence permit (permanent residence) is the last step in the long process of obtaining Bulgarian citizenship. The reasons for permanent residence may be:

1. Living in a legal marriage with a citizen / citizen of Bulgaria or a person who already has a residence permit or permanent residence for a minimum of five years. If a child was born in a marriage with a citizen of Bulgaria, the period of residence for obtaining permanent residence can be reduced to three years.
2. Kinship. Parents can apply for permanent residence (reside in the country for at least three years) of Bulgarian citizens or persons who have permission for a long or permanent stay, as well as children who contain their Bulgarian parents or people with residence permit / permanent residence. Relatives of a Bulgarian citizen who have continuously been in the country for the past five years can also receive permanent residence.
3. Bulgarian origin, which is documented.
4. Investing in the Bulgarian economy of at least 1 million BGN (35.5 million rubles).
5. Investing in the capital of a commercial company whose shares are not sold on the market, at least 6 million BGN (213 million rubles).
6. Investing in the capital of a commercial organization, a participant or shareholder of which is a foreigner, at least 500 thousand BGN (18 million rubles).
7. Birth in Bulgaria (you can not be an ethnic Bulgarian) and the desire to settle in the country for a long time.
8. Continuous stay in Bulgaria for the past five years (you can be absent no more than 30 months) legally. In this case, a foreign national will receive permanent residence and citizenship in the order of naturalization.

The cost of considering documents is from 45 to 1,000 BGN (1.6-35.5 thousand rubles), the term is 7 days.

The most difficult thing is to obtain permanent residence (and subsequently citizenship) for students and retirees. In the first case, tuition is deducted from the period of residence, in the second - the pensioner must be financially independent and have his own real estate. For the elderly, additional difficulties arise at the stage of transfer of permanent residence to citizenship, because before that they received a Russian pension in an account with a Bulgarian bank, and with the renunciation of citizenship they lose their pensions, i.e., means of subsistence.

Bulgarian citizenship through investment

The fastest way to obtain citizenship is to invest at least 35.5 million rubles in five years after receiving a visa (this will give reasons for permanent residence), and after another year, increase the deposit amount by half (at this stage you can already apply for citizenship) . What is noteworthy, the investor invests his own funds in securities, and after five years he gets back all the money and accumulated interest. Together with the investor, his spouse and children of any age can obtain citizenship (based on the parent's citizenship).

Buying property in Bulgaria

How to obtain Bulgarian citizenship when buying real estate? The fact of the acquisition of real estate in the country is the basis for simplified obtaining a residence permit. After the acquisition of property at least 300 thousand.euros (20.8 million rubles), you can apply for a temporary residence permit, but not citizenship. Real estate only affects obtaining a residence permit. To obtain citizenship, you must live with a residence permit in Bulgaria for at least five years, then obtain permanent residence and stay in the country for at least five more years, and only then apply for citizenship. Bulgarian citizenship real estate in itself does not.

Citizenship in the process of naturalization

By way of naturalization, a Bulgarian passport is received by foreign nationals who have lived in the country for at least five years with permanent residence. In this case, you must be an adult, submit the necessary certificates (about the absence of a criminal record, sexually transmitted diseases and mental disorders), know the Bulgarian language and renounce your previous citizenship.

Ethnic Bulgarians Living Abroad

Ethnic Bulgarians who live abroad can obtain a passport upon confirmation of their belonging to the Bulgarian people. It is not necessary to renounce previous citizenship in this case. The possibility of obtaining Bulgarian citizenship can be checked by looking for documents confirming the presence of Bulgarian roots.

Dual citizenship with Russia in Bulgaria

Is dual citizenship with Russia allowed in Bulgaria? There is no agreement on dual citizenship between the Russian Federation and Bulgaria, so if two passports are available, the person will be considered a Russian citizen in his homeland and a Bulgarian citizen in Europe. The second Bulgarian citizenship can only be obtained by ethnic Bulgarians, in other cases, the Russian will have to refuse a Russian passport.