---
title: "Find Your Ancestral Village"
url: https://bulgaristanvatandas.com/en/ancestral-village-finder/
lang: en
description: "Type the old Turkish name of the village your grandparents came from to find its current name, province and history in Bulgaria and the Balkans, then check your citizenship eligibility for free."
source: BulgaristanVatandas.com (https://bulgaristanvatandas.com)
---

# Find Your Ancestral Village
Type the village's old Turkish name; we'll find its current name and location, then check your citizenship eligibility for free.

[Free preliminary assessment](https://bulgaristanvatandas.com/en/ancestral-village-finder/#basvuru)

## From village to passport, step by step

1. **Find the village**: Type the old Turkish name your grandparents used. See its current name, province and location on the map.
2. **Tell us about your family**: Select the relative who emigrated and the documents you have. It takes about 2 minutes; uploading documents is optional.
3. **Free preliminary assessment**: Our consultant gets back to you the same business day and explains your eligibility and the next steps.
4. **We prepare your file**: From obtaining the documents to following up on the application, one team handles your file.

## Your family's year of emigration matters

If one of your ancestors emigrated from Bulgaria, you may be eligible for citizenship. We clarify your situation together in the preliminary assessment.

- **1948–1950 emigrants**: Those who emigrated in these years can apply together with their children and grandchildren.
- **1969–1978 emigrants**: Those who emigrated in these years can also apply with their children and grandchildren.
- **Emigrants from 1989 onwards**: No new application is needed: the birth certificate is corrected, citizenship is confirmed with Sofia, then the passport is issued.
- **Pomaks and people of Bulgarian origin**: They can apply by origin, regardless of when they emigrated.

## Frequently asked questions

### I only know the village's old Turkish name. Is that enough?

Yes. The search works with old Turkish names, current names and Bulgarian spellings, and also finds similar spellings. If you can't find it, choose “Search the archives” and we'll research the records.

### Is the preliminary assessment free?

Yes, the preliminary assessment is free. Our consultant explains your eligibility, the documents required and the next steps; whether to proceed is up to you.

### My grandfather or grandmother has passed away. Can I still apply?

Even if your ancestor has passed away, we can review your eligibility through their records. If you know the date of death, just add it to the form.

### Which documents are required?

Usually a full Turkish civil registry record, an immigrant certificate or settlement record, and documents showing the family link are requested. If you have none of them, don't worry; we'll work out together which ones are needed and where to get them.

### Who will see my information?

The information on the form is seen only by our consultant and used only for the preliminary assessment. Details are in our Privacy Policy.

## Don't know the village name?

Tell us what you know and we'll research the rest in the archives. The preliminary assessment is free.