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Bulgarian Citizenship by Investment & Residency Program

Bulgaria At A Glance

 

The Bulgarian citizenship by investment Program was created by the Bulgarian Government to encourage foreign investments by offering special incentives to investors from non-EEA countries. In exchange for their financial contributions, investors are offered the opportunity to secure a permanent residence permit, and can also apply for Bulgarian citizenship by investment and passport via the Fast-Track Citizenship option.

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An understated beauty in southeastern Europe, Bulgaria offers a rich culture and the perfect combination of nature, history and metropolitan cities. With the breathtaking Balkan Mountains, Black Sea beaches, rolling hills, majestic waterfalls and intriguing caves, Bulgaria is ideal for all types of outdoor activities including hiking and skiing. From big cities like Sofia, Plovdiv, and Varna, to rural villages like Leshten and Kovatchevitsa, Bulgarian immigration has many benefits.

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A vibrant country in all senses, it's steeped in history with cliff-side monasteries, tombs, palaces, churches and historic towns, while its modern cities offer nightlife, world-class dining and an abundance of culture. Bulgaria's stunning landscape, quaint cities and friendly people make it a wonderful place to visit and live. Plus, ever since joining the EU in 2007, Bulgaria has even more benefits to offer.

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Bulgaria is a fairly conservative, traditional country, so good manners and respectful etiquette go a long way. It is always good practice to familiarize yourself with the Bulgarian customs and etiquette of the local culture. This will help you maneuver around more seamlessly, interact with locals, and ensure that you are respecting the country’s expectations when it comes to behavior and manners.

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Bulgarian Citizenship By Investment Options

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Bond Investors in the Bulgarian program for residency and citizenship by investment can apply for a citizenship after 5 years. There are three different investment pathways and it is possible to fast track the standard citizenship option by doubling the investment amount of €511,292 (or €195,000 respectively). 

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Full Investment

 

Investors must deposit Bulgarian Lev (BGN) 1 million (€511,292) in a Government bond portfolio for five years with no further payment required. At the end of the five-year period, the full amount will be returned to the investor without any accrued interest. The investment is fully guaranteed and secured by the Bulgarian state.

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Financed Investment

 

The investor pays a reduced amount of €195,000 for the purchase of Government bonds, which is used to finance a closed five-year term loan from a chartered bank. This enables the investor to secure permanent residency for their family and themselves. No further payment is required, and no amount is refunded to the investor at the end of the five-year period.

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This option is recommended for candidates whose liquid assets are not readily available to pay the full required investment sum, or for those who want to leverage their existing capital for other projects.

Whichever investment option you choose, there are also due diligence and residency fees that apply:

Permanent Residency - Legal and Processing Fees (including due diligence fees)

  • € 35,000 - Family of two

  • € 2,500 - Each dependent below age 18

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Real Estate Investment

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Bulgarian government now offers permanent residency and citizenship option by investing at least BGN 1 million (€512,000) in Project St. Sofia. Doing so enables you to apply for permanent residency in Bulgaria. After 5 years, you are eligible to apply for Bulgarian citizenship, provided that you meet all of the other requirements. 

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You can also apply for the fast-track option by doubling your initial investment with at least another BGN 1 million (€ 512,000). 

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Bulgarian Citizenship Fast-Track Option

 

Investors can apply for Fast-Track Bulgarian citizenship by investment by doubling their initial investment. The Fast-Track citizenship program enables investors to obtain citizenship after just one year of permanent residency. To be eligible for the Fast-Track option, the investor must meet the following requirements:

  • Has been a permanent resident for at least 1 year via investment in government bonds - €511,292 (or €195,000 respectively).

  • Has invested an additional amount of €511,292 in government bonds. This amount can be financed against a down payment of €110,000.

  • Will maintain both investments for at least two years after securing citizenship.

Fast-Track: Legal and Processing Fees (including citizenship application fees)

  • € 30,000 - Family of two

  • € 7,500 - Each dependent, up to 5 children

  • € 2,500 - Each additional child

Due Diligence Fees:

  • € 7,500 - Main Applicant

  • € 3,000 - Dependents age 14-18

  • € 5,000 - Dependents above age 18

*The standard processing time required by the Ministry of Justice to provide an official response to a Bulgarian citizenship application is up to 6 months.

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Bulgarian Citizenship Applications & Qualifications

 

In addition to the monetary investment requirements, there are several qualifications that must be met prior to applying for the Bulgarian Program for Residency and Citizenship. These vary slightly depending on whether a candidate is applying for permanent residency or citizenship

  • Non-EU citizen.

  • No criminal record.

  • Possess a valid passport or another foreign travel document.

  • Hold Visa type “D.”

  • Provide documents supporting the source and origin of invested funds.

  • Attest the power of attorneys and the investment agreement.

  • Make the minimum required trips to Bulgaria.

  • Personal net worth greater than €1,000,000 is required by the financing bank for the Financed Investment option. For the Full Investment option, the net-worth requirement is €511,292 only.

  • Investment Certificate issued by the Ministry of Finance confirming a direct foreign investment of BGN1,000,000 (€511,292), as per the statutory procedures, in guaranteed governmental bond portfolio for a period of 5 years.

  • Payment of application fees.

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Bulgarian Citizenship By Investment Requirements

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Foreign investors who maintain a permanent residence permit for at least 5 (or 1)* years can apply for Bulgarian citizenship by investment per the Bulgarian Citizenship Act. Several other requirements to qualify are as follows:

  • Must be older than 18 years old.

  • Must have maintained permanent resident status for the past 5 (or 1) years.

  • Must have never been sentenced by a Bulgarian court for a capital offense and nor been accused in criminal proceedings for such a crime unless he has been rehabilitated.

  • Successfully pass medical tests.

*To clarify the 5 vs. 1 years distinction: If an investor applies via the Standard Investment route, then they will be eligible to apply for Bulgarian citizenship after 5 years. However, if they pursue the Fast-Track investment option and meet its requirements, then they will be eligible to apply for citizenship after 1 year of permanent residency.

Fees required for the citizenship application after 5 years of permanent residence in Bulgaria are as follows

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Application Fees:

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  • € 20,000 - Family of two

  • € 5,000 - Each dependent, up to 5 children

  • € 2,500 - Each additional child

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Due Diligence Fees:

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  • € 7,500 - Main Applicant

  • € 3,000 - Dependents age 14-18

  • € 5,000 - Dependents above age 18

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*The Ministry of Justice requires a processing period of up to 6 months to provide an official response to a citizenship application.

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How To Apply For Bulgarian Citizenship?

 

The application process for the Bulgarian Program for Residency and Citizenship is one of the simplest and fastest ways to immigrate to Bulgaria. Below is a general overview of the key steps:

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Main Applicant

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  • Submission of application, paperwork, and application fees

  • Sign documents at Bulgarian Consulate

  • Investment transfer of required funds  

  • Investment Certificate issued from the Bulgarian Ministry of Finance

  • 2nd appointment at the Bulgarian Consulate

  • Application for Visa D (can take up to 45 days after submission)

  • Visa D granted

  • 1st trip to Bulgaria

  • Submission of application for Permanent Residency Certificate (PRC) (Can take up to 3 months for approval)

  • Permanent residency approved

  • 2nd trip to Bulgaria

  • Submission of application for Bulgarian ID card (takes 3 business days after application)

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*Have in mind that your application for Visa D or permanent residency can be refused for security reasons.

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Family application

 

After the Main Applicant receives an official Bulgarian ID card, their family members can then apply for their permanent resident cards. The process may take up to 3 months and includes two mandatory trips to Bulgaria for each qualifying family member.

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Application Fees

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The application fees associated with the Bulgaria investor program include government application fees, legal and translation fees, and service fees related to background verification and validation of the source of funds. Application fees are subject to change, therefore, please contact us to obtain the most updated information.

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Why Invest In Bulgaria?

 

There are countless reasons why a Bulgarian dual citizenship is an excellent opportunity for investors to expand their reach into the EU. Here are some benefits of securing Bulgarian citizenship by investment.

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  • Residency within 6-8 months.

  • Fast-track option to Bulgarian citizenship within 2 years.

  • Special exemption from physical residence enforced with legislation.

  • No language requirements.

  • No interview.

  • No obligation to relinquish current nationality.

  • Many new international business opportunities. Bulgaria also has the lowest tax rates and free-trade environment within the EU are just few of the advantages of doing business in Bulgaria.

  • Bulgaria offers the lowest labor costs in the European Union.

  • Bulgaria’s workforce is qualified, highly-educated, multilingual, and extremely skilled.

  • Family members (spouses and unmarried children under 18) automatically qualify for Permanent Residence status.

  • All children regardless of their age and marital status can apply for the Bulgarian citizenship as soon as the Main Applicant (MA) becomes a Bulgarian citizen.

  • Government-approved investments.

  • Passive investment in government bonds.

  • Bulgaria’s strategic position provides easy access to all EU member states, the Russian Federation, Mediterranean countries, the Near and Middle East, and Southwest Asia.

  • Beautiful nature with a perfect mix of sea, valleys and mountains. Bulgaria is a tourist destination which is famous all over the world and is know for its beautiful scenery.

  • The Struma Motorway and other infrastructure projects are driving growth in the construction industry, which is expected to grow another 2.5%, each year, between 2016 and 2025. The World Bank is lending €550 million, specifically to strengthen the nation’s electricity and energy services.

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Bulgaria is a key hub for international trade and finance and also has a wealth of local IT expertise.

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Bulgarian Permanent Residency And Citizenship Benefits

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  • Freedom of mobility within the Schengen zone once Bulgaria officially becomes a member state.

  • Access to high-quality health care and education in Bulgaria and the EU.

  • Health care has advanced to the point that medical tourism is an established business. Foreign visitors who come to the country for medical treatment obtain appropriate temporary residency. The quality of health care is exemplified in organizations such as Tokuda Hospital Sofia.

  • Conditional tax exemption on world income.

  • Visa-free travel to designated non-EU countries.

  • Housing and raw land prices are low. They have been rising but are still among the lowest in Europe. Businesses need land for manufacturing plants, storage, retail, and office space. Residential housing is also low-cost. This means a resident can either save money after buying a home, to invest elsewhere, or can afford a much more lavish home than would be available for the same price in another country. Another benefit of home ownership is that maintenance costs remain low. 

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Bulgarian Citizenship - Benefits 

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  • Unrestricted right to live, retire, work, study and run a business in Europe.

  • Bulgarian passport give you the freedom to travel and work throughout the 27 EU nations, including visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to 160+ countries and territories, including Canada. For a full list of eligible countries, their various visa distinctions, and the time allotted in each country per the visa, please visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria website.

  • Access to free education and/or reduced tuition costs within the EU.

  • Schooling is compulsory until the age of 16. Schools are domestic, private, and foreign. Some foreign and private schools emphasize language skills, so students may choose a school with an emphasis on, say, English, French, Italian, German, Russian, or one of many other languages.

  • There are 51 institutions of higher education in Bulgaria. They include everything one might expect in a university curriculum. Bulgaria, therefore, has a well-educated workforce, skilled in academic and technical subjects.

  • Many Bulgarians speak more than one language, which makes them attractive employees. The strong work ethic and low labor costs add to these benefits.

  • Access to health care facilities throughout the EU.

  • Consular protection within the EU.

  • Attractive tax incentive schemes for capital investment.

  • Double taxation (or low tax) treaties with more than 60 other countries 

  • E-2 Visa agreement with the USA

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