Dear expats,
I would like to inform you regarding few options for acquiring of Bulgarian citizenship.
As EU member Bulgaria is attractive destination for foreigners who want to invest in one of the fast developing countries in EU. For that reason Bulgarian government have develop investment immigration program. Which have the goal to attract foreign investments towards the Bulgarian economy. The program provides opportunity to foreign investors and their families to receive Bulgarian residency - EU citizenship respectively.
I. Financial requirements for acquiring of Bulgarian permanent residence permit.
In order for foreign investor to apply for Bulgarian permanent residence permit, the individual should invest 1 000 000 BGN /approx. 511 292 EUR/. The investment can be made into 3 methods:
1. The acquisition of Government bonds;
2. The acquisition of shares in a Bulgarian company listed on the Bulgarian Stock Exchange;
3. Depositing the amount of 1 000 000 BGN /approx. 511 292 EUR/ in licensed credit institution under trust agreement for the period of not less than 5 years.
4. Depositing the amount of 1 000 000 BGN /approx. 511 292 EUR/ in licensed Bulgarian bank for the period 5 years. At the end of the five year period the amount will be returned to the investor with no accrued interest. During the 5 years period the investment is guaranteed and secured by the Bank.
*Having these financial requirements met will make you legible only for acquiring of Bulgarian permanent residence permit. Which gives you the rights to enter and leave Bulgarian territory, but upon this permit you won't be able to travel in the rest of EU member states. If you want to have the ability to travel freely in the other EU countries a Bulgarian citizenship should be acquired.
II. Financial requirements for acquiring of Bulgarian citizenship.
In order for foreign investor to apply for Bulgarian citizenship the individual should have 1 year of permanent residence permit, which can be acquired by meeting with the financial requirements in the previous paragraph. The second requirement is that the foreign investor should increase its initial investment to the amount of 2 000 000 BGN /approx. 1 022 584 EUR/. The increase of the investment could be made by the same terms as the initial investment or invested in one of the ways mentioned above.
*Bulgarian citizenship will give the right to every Bulgarian passport holder to travel freely in all of the EU member states and will give the right to travel without visa requirements to more than 141 states worldwide.
III. Additional requirements for acquiring of Bulgarian permanent residence permit and Bulgarian citizenship.
To participate in the investment immigration program, foreign investors should meet the following criteria:
1. Individual should be 18 years of age or more.
2. Individual shouldn't be citizen in any of the EU member states.
3. Applicant should meet the financial requirements described above.
4. Applicant should have no criminal record.
IV. Benefits from acquiring Bulgarian citizenship.
There are a lot of benefits that acquiring of Bulgarian citizenship can bring:
1. Right to travel in all EU member states and free visa travel in more than 141 states worldwide.
2. Right to live, work or study in all EU member states, without any restrictions.
3. The applicant and his family members are exempted from the obligation to live in Bulgaria during the residence period.
4. 10% flat tax rate.