There are two very different ways to “get” Bulgarian citizenship. In naturalisation, a foreigner acquires a citizenship they never had. In the procedure under Art. 39 of the Bulgarian Citizenship Act, nothing new is acquired: the person is already a Bulgarian citizen by birth, and the procedure simply confirms that fact so that it can be recorded and documented.
It is typically used by children born abroad to a Bulgarian parent whose birth was never registered in Bulgaria, by people whose parents emigrated, and by heirs who need a deceased relative’s citizenship confirmed.
How the procedure runs
Application
Filed through the municipality of the person’s permanent address in Bulgaria — or of their last address before leaving the country. People living abroad can file through a Bulgarian embassy or consulate.
Forwarding
The municipality sends the file to the Ministry of Justice together with an extract from the civil-status registers about the person’s citizenship.
Certificate
The Ministry of Justice issues a certificate stating whether the person is a Bulgarian citizen — by law within 30 days of receiving the file. It is valid for one year, so the civil registration should follow promptly.
Civil registration
On the basis of the certificate, a Bulgarian birth certificate and a personal number (EGN) are issued.
Documents
With the birth certificate, the person can apply for a Bulgarian identity card and passport.
If the person whose citizenship is in question has died, an heir can complete and sign the application in their place, giving the deceased person’s details.
The question of timing
Proving the family link to a Bulgarian parent is necessary but not sufficient. What also matters is when the person was born, because citizenship by descent is governed by the law in force at the moment of birth — and Bulgaria’s citizenship legislation has changed several times. A case that would succeed for someone born in one decade may need a different analysis for a sibling born in another.
Finding the documents
The decisive records are often decades old: civil-status books, church registers, municipal archives, old passports or certificates. Where documents are missing, research in Bulgarian church and municipal archives can often recover them — both for the applicant and for parents and grandparents whose records support the case.
Questions clients ask
What is the practical difference from naturalisation?
Under Art. 39 you prove that you already are Bulgarian; under naturalisation you ask to become Bulgarian. The Art. 39 procedure does not involve the assessment of Bulgarian origin and connections that applies to naturalisation by origin.
Can I apply from abroad?
Yes. Applications can be lodged through Bulgarian diplomatic and consular missions, and the procedure can also be run in Bulgaria under a power of attorney.
What do I receive at the end?
A Ministry of Justice certificate confirming your citizenship, followed by a Bulgarian birth certificate and personal number — and with them the right to a Bulgarian ID card and passport.
This guide is general information about Bulgarian law as it stood on the date of publication. It is not legal advice for your specific case.