Bulgaria dual citizenship with Russia: can you keep both passports in 2026

10 min read · Published 6 October 2026

Bulgaria lets people of Bulgarian origin and spouses of Bulgarian citizens keep the Russian passport, while ordinary naturalisation requires release from the previous citizenship. We cover routes, timelines, fees, children and taxes.

In short

With a condition: with Bulgarian origin or marriage to a Bulgarian citizen the Russian passport is kept, while ordinary naturalisation requires leaving Russian citizenship.

Previous passport on naturalisation	With conditions
Country rule	With Bulgarian origin you keep your old passport. Ordinary naturalisation requires release from your previous citizenship, except for spouses of Bulgarian citizens and EU, EEA and Swiss nationals
Legal basis	Articles 12 and 15 of the Bulgarian Citizenship Act
What Russia requires	notify the Interior Ministry within 60 days
Checked	October 2026

Russia allows a second citizenship and does not end its own, so everything depends on the route to a Bulgarian passport. It determines the timeline, the fee and whether you have to part with Russian citizenship.

What Bulgaria requires on naturalisation

Citizenship is governed by the Bulgarian Citizenship Act. Ordinary naturalisation under Article 12 requires at least 5 years with a permanent or long-term residence permit, income or an occupation to support yourself, knowledge of Bulgarian, no convictions and release from the previous citizenship. Citizens of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are exempt from release, and Russia is not on this list.

Two groups get a Bulgarian passport without leaving Russian citizenship. A spouse of a Bulgarian citizen applies under Article 13 after 3 years of marriage and 3 years of permanent or long-term stay in Bulgaria with knowledge of the language. A person of Bulgarian origin obtains citizenship under Article 15 without living in the country, proving income, a language exam or giving up the previous passport.

Bulgarian origin is confirmed by a certificate from the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad: its advisory council checks the documents on an ancestor up to a great-grandparent and the applicant's self-identification within 2 months. The Minister of Justice proposes the decree within 9 months for people of Bulgarian origin and 12 months under the general procedure; in practice the route takes 1-2 years.

What Russia requires

Russia allows a second citizenship and does not end its own, but inside the country treats you only as a Russian citizen (Article 10 of Federal Law No. 138-FZ on Citizenship).

Within 60 days of receiving the second passport, file a notification with the Interior Ministry (MVD). If you are abroad at that moment, the period runs from the day you enter Russia.
Attach a copy of the foreign passport or another document proving the citizenship.

Failure to notify falls under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code: a fine of up to $2,400 or up to one year of income, or up to 400 hours of compulsory work.
Late or incomplete notification: a fine of $10-15 under Article 19.8.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences.
A residence permit abroad must be reported under the same rules (Article 11 of Law No. 138-FZ).

A Russian citizen with a second passport may not hold state or municipal office, serve in government bodies or stand for election. The duties of a Russian citizen, including military service, remain, and inside Russia the second passport is not taken into account.

How to keep both passports: step by step

Choose the route. Check documents on Bulgarian ancestors and marriage to a Bulgarian citizen: both routes keep the Russian passport.
For the origin route, get the certificate from the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad and apply in person in Sofia or at a consulate; the fee is about 153 euros, about $175 per adult.
For ordinary naturalisation, complete 5 years with a permanent or long-term residence permit and prepare for the Bulgarian exam; the fee is about 511 euros, about $580.
If you must leave Russian citizenship, apply only once the Bulgarian decision is reliable: the consular procedure takes up to 6 months.
Receive the presidential decree, the citizenship certificate and a Bulgarian passport.
Notify the Russian Interior Ministry within 60 days of receiving the passport, or within 60 days of entering Russia if you are abroad.

For children under 18 and students under 26 the origin route fee is lower, about 51 euros, about $60.

What happens to children

A child with at least one Bulgarian citizen parent is Bulgarian by birth, and with the other parent a Russian citizen usually Russian too; no choice is needed. Minor children are included in the application of a parent obtaining citizenship by origin, and they do not have to give up the Russian passport either.

Taxes and military service

You become a Bulgarian tax resident with 183 days in the country in a year or your centre of vital interests here. Income tax is a flat 10%, and dividends are taxed at 5%. Russia suspended most of the double taxation treaty with Bulgaria on its side in 2023, so income from Russia is calculated separately.

Bulgaria has had no compulsory military service since 2008. The military duty of a Russian citizen with a second passport remains.

Common mistakes

Leaving Russian citizenship before the Bulgarian presidential decree. If no decision comes, you are left stateless.
Failing to prove the link between generations. A gap in the chain of birth and marriage certificates is the main reason for refusals by origin.
Different spellings of the ancestor's name. Without supporting certificates the council will not accept the documents.
Naturalising when you have roots or a marriage. Those routes are shorter and do not require leaving Russian citizenship.
Missing the Russian Interior Ministry notification. The deadline is 60 days from receiving the Bulgarian passport or from entering Russia.

How to get Bulgarian citizenship

The shortest route for Russian citizens is citizenship by Bulgarian origin: no move, no exam and no giving up the Russian passport. Spouses of Bulgarian citizens need 3 years of marriage and stay in the country. Others need a residence permit, 5 years with permanent status, a language exam and release from Russian citizenship.

Requirements, timelines and costs are on the page Bulgarian citizenship.

You can check any pair of countries with the dual citizenship checker and compare all countries in the overview dual citizenship in 2026.

A Bulgarian passport without giving up the Russian one

The law does not stop you applying for Bulgarian citizenship on your own. But mistakes cost more than fees: gaps in the ancestor's documents, different spellings of names, leaving Russian citizenship before the decree and a missed notification to the Russian Interior Ministry. We check your ancestry and documents, prepare the origin certificate and the application, and see it through to the decree and passport. We guarantee professional work and a transparent process.

The cost of support depends on the route and family size; our consultant in the chat will calculate it.

Talk to a consultant now

This topic in other countries

Dual citizenship rules with Russia in other countries:

FAQ

Can you hold Bulgarian and Russian citizenship at the same time?

With a condition: with Bulgarian origin or marriage to a Bulgarian citizen the Russian passport is kept, while ordinary naturalisation requires leaving Russian citizenship.

Do I need to notify the Russian Interior Ministry about Bulgarian citizenship?

Yes. A Russian citizen notifies the Interior Ministry of a second citizenship within 60 days under Article 10 of Law No. 138-FZ; failing to notify carries criminal liability under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code.

Does Bulgaria allow dual citizenship?

Yes, for people of Bulgarian origin, spouses of Bulgarian citizens and EU citizens. With ordinary naturalisation, Russian citizens must leave their previous citizenship.

Do I have to renounce Russian citizenship to become Bulgarian?

By Bulgarian origin and through marriage, no. With ordinary naturalisation, yes, you must leave Russian citizenship.

How do you get Bulgarian citizenship by origin?

Obtain a certificate of Bulgarian origin and apply in person in Sofia or at a consulate. Living in Bulgaria and an exam are not required.

How many years must you live in Bulgaria before citizenship?

For ordinary naturalisation, 5 years with a permanent or long-term residence permit. For spouses of Bulgarian citizens, 3 years.

How much does Bulgarian citizenship cost?

By origin, about 153 euros, about $175 per adult. Under the general procedure, about 511 euros, about $580, plus archives, translations and legalisation.

Will a child have Bulgarian and Russian citizenship?

Yes, if one parent is a Bulgarian citizen, the child acquires both citizenships by birth.

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

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Bulgaria dual citizenship with Russia: can you keep both passports in 2026

What Bulgaria requires on naturalisation

What Russia requires

How to keep both passports: step by step

What happens to children

Taxes and military service

Common mistakes

How to get Bulgarian citizenship

This topic in other countries

FAQ

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

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