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Citizenship by merit

Bulgaria Citizenship by Special Merit

EU citizenship for special merit in the public, economic, scientific, cultural or sporting sphere.

Basis
Exceptional merit
Visa-free destinations
151
Processing
2–6 months
Visit / stay
No residence requirement

Buy online · 2026

Bulgaria Citizenship by Special Merit

A discretionary route to Bulgaria citizenship for people whose achievements in business, science, culture or sport serve the national interest. We assess your profile confidentially and build the case with licensed local counsel.

  1. ReserveUS$500 online
  2. Pre-eligibilityDue diligence screening
  3. Build the caseEndorsements & evidence
  4. Passport2–6 months

Who qualifies · Frequently asked questions

2026 update: Citizenship decrees are signed by the Vice President. The office has been vacant since January 2026; elections are on 25 October 2026, so decisions may be delayed.

Overview

Article 16 of the Bulgarian Citizenship Act allows naturalisation when Bulgaria has an interest in it or the applicant has special merits in the public, economic, scientific, technological, cultural or sporting sphere. The minister responsible for the field starts the procedure and the citizenship decree is issued by the Vice President.

There is no residence or language requirement and dual citizenship is permitted. The Vice President's office has been vacant since January 2026, with elections on 25 October 2026, so decisions may take longer than usual.

Key benefits

  1. EU citizenship with no residence requirement
  2. No Bulgarian language or history test
  3. Dual citizenship permitted
  4. Visa-free access to 151 destinations
  5. Faster than standard naturalisation

Who qualifies

Economic contribution

Economic or advisory contributions that benefit Bulgaria.

Science & research

Internationally recognised researchers and academics.

Culture & arts

Artists and performers of international standing.

Sport

Elite athletes, often to represent the national team.

Family & requirements

Who can be included
Spouse and children – assessed case by case
Visit or residence
No residence requirement
Processing time
2–6 months
  • Article 16, Bulgarian Citizenship Act
  • No language test
  • Dual citizenship permitted

Bulgaria passport: travel access

151destinations without a visa in advance
  • 116 visa-free
  • 27 visa on arrival
  • 8 eTA
  • 29 eVisa
  • Schengen Area – no visa in advance
  • United Kingdom – no visa in advance
  • Ireland – no visa in advance
  • Canada – no visa in advance
  • United States – visa required
  • Singapore – no visa in advance
  • Japan – no visa in advance
  • South Korea – no visa in advance
  • Brazil – no visa in advance
  • Russia – visa required
  • China – no visa in advance
  • United Arab Emirates – no visa in advance
  • Switzerland – no visa in advance
  • Australia – no visa in advance
  • New Zealand – no visa in advance
Show all 151 destinations

Albania · Andorra · Angola · Antigua and Barbuda · Argentina · Armenia · Australia · Austria · Bahamas · Bahrain · Bangladesh · Barbados · Belarus · Belgium · Belize · Bolivia · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Botswana · Brazil · Brunei · Burundi · Cambodia · Canada · Cape Verde · Chile · China · Colombia · Comoros · Costa Rica · Croatia · Cyprus · Czech Republic · Denmark · Djibouti · Dominica · Dominican Republic · Ecuador · Egypt · El Salvador · Estonia · Eswatini · Ethiopia · Fiji · Finland · France · Gambia · Georgia · Germany · Greece · Grenada · Guatemala · Guinea-Bissau · Haiti · Honduras · Hungary · Iceland · Indonesia · Ireland · Israel · Italy · Jamaica · Japan · Jordan · Kazakhstan · Kenya · Kiribati · South Korea · Kuwait · Kyrgyzstan · Laos · Latvia · Lebanon · Lesotho · Liechtenstein · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Madagascar · Malawi · Malaysia · Maldives · Malta · Marshall Islands · Mauritius · Mexico · Micronesia · Moldova · Monaco · Mongolia · Montenegro · Morocco · Mozambique · Namibia · Nepal · Netherlands · New Zealand · Nicaragua · North Macedonia · Norway · Oman · Palau · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Philippines · Poland · Portugal · Qatar · Romania · Rwanda · Saint Kitts and Nevis · Saint Lucia · Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Samoa · San Marino · São Tomé and Príncipe · Saudi Arabia · Senegal · Serbia · Seychelles · Sierra Leone · Singapore · Slovakia · Slovenia · Solomon Islands · South Africa · Spain · Sri Lanka · Suriname · Sweden · Switzerland · Syria · Tajikistan · Tanzania · Thailand · Timor-Leste · Tonga · Trinidad and Tobago · Tunisia · Turkey · Tuvalu · Ukraine · United Arab Emirates · United Kingdom · Uruguay · Uzbekistan · Vanuatu · Vatican City · Venezuela · Vietnam · Zambia · Zimbabwe

Source: Wikipedia – Visa requirements for Bulgarian citizens, updated 29 Sep 2026. Always confirm entry rules with the destination before travel.

How Citizenship Shop helps

Add the program to your cart or click Buy now to reserve it for US$500. Create your client account and complete the pre-eligibility questions at checkout. A senior advisor then reviews your profile within one business day, confirms the best investment route and the exact government fees for your family, and prepares your application with a licensed local agent.

Bulgaria Citizenship by Special Merit: FAQ

Is there a fixed price for the Bulgaria Citizenship by Special Merit?

No. Citizenship by merit is granted at the government’s discretion, case by case, and there is no published price or investment threshold. Your advisor assesses your profile and achievements before any application is prepared.

How long does the Bulgaria Citizenship by Special Merit take?

Processing typically takes 2–6 months from submission of a complete application. Your advisor gives you a personal timeline after the pre-eligibility review.

Can I include my family in the application?

Family members who can be included: Spouse and children – assessed case by case. Your advisor checks each dependant’s eligibility before you apply.

Do I need to visit or live in Bulgaria?

No residence requirement. Rules change from time to time, so your advisor confirms the current requirement in writing.

How many countries can I visit visa-free with a Bulgaria passport?

A Bulgaria passport gives visa-free, visa-on-arrival or eTA access to 151 destinations. See the travel access section above for the full list and key destinations.

Official source

Prices and rules on this page were verified on 28 September 2026 against: Bulgarian Citizenship Act, Article 16.

Governments revise fees and thresholds without notice. Your advisor confirms the exact figures in writing before any investment is made.

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