Legally Required, but Does It Matter in Reality?
Under Article 12, Para 1, It 6 of the Bulgarian Citizenship Act states that a non-EU citizen can acquire Bulgarian citizenship, applicants for naturalization have to declare that they will renounce their previous citizenship within three years of obtaining Bulgarian citizenship. However, this requirement does not apply to spouses of Bulgarian citizens and their children—meaning your spouse and children are not required to sign such a declaration.
This provision often raises concerns among Bulgaria Golden Visa applicants, as many do not wish to give up their original citizenship.
The good news is that this requirement is purely declarative and is not legally enforceable. While Article 12 outlines the conditions for the naturalization process, Article 22 of the same Act defines the specific cases in which Bulgarian citizenship can be revoked.
Legal Grounds for Revoking Bulgarian Citizenship
Article 22 of the Bulgarian Citizenship Act
(1) Naturalization, based on which Bulgarian citizenship has been acquired, may be revoked if the individual:
- Provided false information or facts as grounds for acquiring Bulgarian citizenship, which have been legally proven to be false; and/or
- Concealed information or facts that, if known at the time, would have led to a refusal of Bulgarian citizenship.
(2) The revocation of naturalization is only permissible within 10 years from the date of acquiring Bulgarian citizenship, except in cases where the false information, undisclosed facts, or changes involve participation in terrorism, and provided that the person does not become stateless as a result.
This clearly indicates that Bulgarian citizenship cannot be revoked for failing to renounce one’s original nationality.
Additionally, Article 24 of the Citizenship Act defines the only scenario in which a person may be deprived of Bulgarian citizenship:
Article 24 of the Bulgarian Citizenship Act
A person who has acquired Bulgarian citizenship through naturalization may be deprived of it only if they:
✔ Have been convicted by a final court ruling for a serious crime against the Republic of Bulgaria.
Therefore, not renouncing your original citizenship does not jeopardize your Bulgarian nationality. Additionally, no legal mechanism exists to enforce renunciation, nor are there any penalties for failing to comply within the three-year period.
While the law technically requires renunciation, it has no impact on the validity of naturalization and poses no risk for Bulgarian Golden Visa investors.
What Happens After Bulgarian Citizenship Application Is Approval?
Once the applicant is approved by the Citizenship Council, the following steps occur:
1️⃣ The Minister of Justice, based on the Citizenship Council’s recommendation, submits a proposal to the President of Bulgaria to issue a citizenship decree. This must be done within 12 months (Article 35, Paragraph 1, Item 1 of the Citizenship Act).
2️⃣ Bulgarian citizenship is granted by Presidential decree (Article 36 of the Citizenship Act).
✔ The decree takes effect immediately upon issuance.
✔ There is no deadline for the President to sign the decree.
For any further questions regarding the Bulgaria Golden Visa, feel free to reach out to us at any time.
