Bulgarians wishing to confirm their origin in order to obtain citizenship no longer need to apply to the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad (SABA). The certificate of Bulgarian origin will now have to be obtained from the Ministry of Justice.
On 12 March of this year, amendments were made to the Bulgarian Citizenship Act. Whereas previously obtaining citizenship required a certificate to be collected in person from the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad (SABA), this is no longer necessary.
Under the new requirements, documents certifying Bulgarian origin are now submitted directly together with the application for Bulgarian citizenship to the Ministry of Justice. We would remind you that the document must certify a family relationship in the ascending line up to the third degree inclusive with a person of Bulgarian origin.
If a certificate of Bulgarian origin is required in order to arrange permanent residence (permanent residence permit), an application to that effect must now also be submitted to the Ministry of Justice.
In connection with these changes, from 16 March 2021 SABA is not accepting applications for the issuance of a certificate of Bulgarian origin until new secondary legislation is adopted and brought into line with the applicable law. A corresponding notice has been posted on the SABA website.
Bulgarian citizenship can no longer be obtained through investment
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