How much Bulgarian citizenship costs in 2026
Bulgarian citizenship cannot be bought: the investment programme closed in 2022. The route by Bulgarian roots remains - here is what it costs and how long it takes.
| Key point | 2026 figures |
|---|---|
| Route | citizenship by Bulgarian origin |
| Application fee | ~€153, ~$175 per adult |
| Ancestor | up to a great-grandparent |
| Language | no exam, but language use is considered |
| Timeline | up to 9 months by law, 1-2 years in practice |
| Relocation | not required |
| Dual citizenship | allowed |
Amounts checked: 2026-10-06
Bulgaria grants a passport to people of Bulgarian origin: if at least one ancestor up to a great-grandparent was Bulgarian and documents confirm it. You do not need to live in the country or sit a language exam, and the passport gives EU citizen rights: since 2025 Bulgaria has been fully in the Schengen area, and since 2026 in the euro area.
The state fee is small. Most of the money goes on finding the ancestor's documents, translations into Bulgarian, legalisation and time. Below is every cost item, the minimum for a family, the timeline and the reasons for refusal.
We will work out online when you can apply and what fees and documents will cost for your family.
What the cost is made of
| Cost item | Amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| State application fee, adult | ~€153, ~$175 | each adult applicant |
| Fee for children under 18 and students under 26 | ~€51, ~$60 | each such applicant |
| Certificate of Bulgarian origin | at the tariff of the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad | each applicant |
| Archive records, translations into Bulgarian and legalisation | per document and generation | each applicant |
| Passport and identity card | at the Bulgarian Interior Ministry tariff | each family member |
Fees are converted from leva to euros at the fixed euro changeover rate and to dollars at the day's rate, rounded up. For people not of Bulgarian origin the fee is several times higher, about €511.
The certificate of origin is issued by the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad within 2 months: its advisory council checks the ancestor's documents and the applicant's self-identification.
We find your ancestor's documents and prepare the application
Most refusals for Bulgarian origin come from a break in the chain of certificates and different spellings of names. Murblz checks the family tree, finds documents in Russian, Ukrainian, Moldovan and Bulgarian archives, arranges translations into Bulgarian and legalisation, prepares the application and supports you at the interview.
How much it costs for a family of 2, 3 and 4
| Family | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Two adults | from $175 for the applicant with roots; a spouse without roots becomes a citizen through marriage |
| Two adults and a child | from $175 plus ~$60 for a child if a separate application is needed |
| Two adults and two children | from $175 plus ~$60 for each child with a separate application |
Children under 14 receive Bulgarian citizenship together with their parents, and children aged 14 to 18 if they wish. A spouse without Bulgarian roots becomes a citizen through marriage: at least 3 years of marriage, 3 years of permanent or long-term residence in Bulgaria and knowledge of Bulgarian are required.
What the cost does not include
- searching for the ancestor's documents in archives of several countries;
- sworn translations into Bulgarian and legalisation of each document;
- a trip to Sofia or a consulate for filing in person and the interview;
- duplicate civil certificates if the originals are lost;
- Bulgarian lessons if you want more confidence at the interview.
Timeline by step
| Step | Time |
|---|---|
| Preliminary family tree check | 1-2 weeks |
| Finding the ancestor's documents, translations and legalisation | 2-6 months |
| Certificate of Bulgarian origin | up to 2 months |
| Filing in person and interview | by appointment in Sofia or at a consulate |
| Justice Minister's proposal for a decree | up to 9 months by law |
| Presidential decree, oath and passport | a few months |
By law the Justice Minister submits a proposal for a decree within 9 months of filing. With the document search and translations, the whole path usually takes one to two years.
Is money refunded if you are refused
There is no investment in this route, so nothing to refund except fees: they are not returned on refusal, nor are archive and translation costs.
Refusals most often come from a break in the chain of documents between generations, different spellings of the ancestor's name, no evidence of Bulgarian origin, or the advisory council not seeing the applicant's link to Bulgarian culture. We check these points before filing.
Comparison with neighbouring programmes
| Country | Route | Minimum for one | Time | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romania | Citizenship restored by descent (Article 11) | from $60 | Years in the National Citizenship Authority (ANC) queue | allowed |
| Moldova | Citizenship by Moldovan descent | fees at the tariff | 6-12 months | allowed |
| Greece | Citizenship by Greek descent through a consulate | from $150 | About 18 months | allowed |
Romania also grants citizenship by descent, but since 2025 it requires Romanian at B1 and has a queue of years. Moldova and Greece grant citizenship by origin on their own terms.
Can you buy Bulgarian citizenship
No. Bulgaria abolished its citizenship by investment programme in 2022. Investment can now bring only a residence permit, and citizenship comes after 5 years of permanent residence on general terms. Offers to buy a Bulgarian passport quickly without roots are schemes with forged documents.
What a Bulgarian passport gives
Bulgaria has been in the EU since 2007, fully in the Schengen area since 1 January 2025, and switched to the euro on 1 January 2026. A Bulgarian citizen can live, work, study and start a business in any EU country without permits or visas, and their children receive EU citizenship by birth. Travel to the US still requires a visa.
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More about the country:
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FAQ
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Don’t want to figure this out alone?
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