Bulgaria Sees Significant Increase in Citizenship Grants in 2024

Bulgarian authorities have announced that the country granted citizenship to a substantial number of foreign nationals in 2024, exceeding the figures recorded in 2023. Data from a recent report reveals that over 16,000 individuals received Bulgarian passports in 2024, thereby acquiring EU citizenship. This represents a 33.3 percent increase compared to the previous year, when Bulgaria issued citizenship to 12,000 foreign nationals.

Although officials did not specify the reasons behind this surge in citizenship grants, the data indicate that Bulgaria remains a popular destination for certain nationalities. According to the figures, Ukrainian and Turkish nationals were the primary recipients of Bulgarian citizenship in 2024. Specifically, more than 2,400 Ukrainians acquired Bulgarian passports, while Turkish nationals followed closely behind, with 2,200 obtaining citizenship—just 200 fewer than their Ukrainian counterparts.

Moldovan and North Macedonian nationals also ranked among the top beneficiaries, with over 1,800 Moldovans and nearly 1,700 North Macedonians gaining Bulgarian citizenship last year. They were succeeded by citizens from Albania, Serbia, Russia, Israel, and Syria.

In contrast to the increasing numbers of new citizens, the Bulgarian authorities maintained strict measures regarding citizenship eligibility. In 2024, Bulgaria revoked the citizenship of 38 individuals due to various violations, including bans on residence in the Schengen Area and the use of fake documents. Additionally, the country denied citizenship applications from nearly 6,000 applicants during the same year.

Conversely, nearly 4,500 individuals restored their Bulgarian citizenship. The majority of those who received Bulgarian passports in 2024 did so based on their origin or through general naturalisation.

To obtain Bulgarian citizenship, foreign nationals must fulfill several criteria. Applicants are required to have legally resided in the country for a minimum of five years, possess no criminal record, and demonstrate an income sufficient to support themselves. Furthermore, applicants must pass a language test and renounce their original citizenship unless they belong to a specific list of individuals exempt from this requirement.

By fLEXI tEAM