Are Bulgarian-issued documents, such as a birth certificate, always required for the naturalisation procedure?
We are frequently asked this question by clients of Bulgarian descent, mainly from Turkey, the United States, Canada, and Australia. Is it absolutely necessary to locate their ancestors’ birth certificates to obtain Bulgarian citizenship by origin?
Let’s see what the Bulgarian citizenship law says:
In the proceedings for acquiring Bulgarian citizenship by naturalisation under par. 1, p. 1, the applicant shall submit with the application an official document, issued by Bulgarian or foreign authorities, certifying that he is related to at least one person – his ascendant up to and including the third degree, who is of Bulgarian origin. The documents must contain information on the name of the ascendant and his relationship to the applicant.
In other words, the law doesn’t specifically require that the applicant presents a birth certificate, issued in Bulgaria. In fact, a birth certificate is not required at all, not even one that is issued abroad. What the applicant should provide is an official document, proving that he is related to a Bulgarian person. This document can be of course a birth certificate, as well as any other document, that proves the relation.
Is it worth trying to find a birth certificate in Bulgaria?
It definitely is! Finding your relative’s birth certificate in Bulgaria provides a strong foundation for your naturalisation application. However, in many cases, this is not feasible. Birth certificates issued before 1900-1920 are extremely difficult to locate. Many no longer exist – they may have been lost or destroyed long ago. Even when such records still exist, locating them can take a very long time and be quite costly. In these situations, it may be much more practical to focus on finding foreign official documents that can prove your Bulgarian origin.
Unfortunately, the Bulgarian authorities are often reluctant to apply the law correctly. They frequently insist that applicants must provide their ancestors’ birth certificates, regardless of the circumstances. However, the law must be respected. If the administrative authorities fail to comply with it, our lawyers will assist you in proving your Bulgarian origin before the Bulgarian courts.
For any additional information, please don’t hesitate to contact our offices.