The Bulgarian citizenship application itself is not made online; it is submitted in person to the Ministry of Justice in Sofia or to a Bulgarian consulate abroad. However, many steps of the process can be handled remotely: the certificate of Bulgarian origin application, obtaining documents from Bulgaria, tracking the file status and the preliminary assessment can be done online or through a power of attorney.
“Can I become a Bulgarian citizen without leaving Türkiye?” is a common question. In this article we explain which steps can be done online or by proxy and which require you to be present.
Online and in-person steps
| Step | How is it done? |
|---|---|
| Preliminary assessment of your right to apply | Online (by sending scanned documents) |
| Finding your ancestor’s village | Online (ancestral village finder) |
| Birth certificate and archive records from Bulgaria | By power of attorney |
| Certificate of Bulgarian origin application | In person, by post or electronically |
| Apostille and translation of Turkish documents | By power of attorney or yourself |
| Submitting the citizenship application | In person (Ministry of Justice in Sofia or consulate) |
| Tracking the file status | Online (with the file number) |
| Submitting additional documents | In person, by post or by proxy depending on the file |
| Receiving the citizenship certificate | In person (in Sofia or at the consulate) |
| Bulgarian ID and passport | In person (biometric data is taken) |
Steps that can be done online
Preliminary assessment
You don’t need to go anywhere to find out whether you are entitled to apply. Upload scans of your documents to our free document review; our experts reply within 2 working days.
Certificate of Bulgarian origin
The certificate of Bulgarian origin needed for applications through origin is issued by the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The application can be made in person, by post or electronically. Details: certificate of Bulgarian origin: what it is and how to get it
File tracking
With the file number issued after the application, you can follow your status online. Our Bulgarian citizenship file tracking system makes this easier.
Steps that require you to be present
Submitting the application
The citizenship application is submitted in person by the applicant. There are two options:
- The Ministry of Justice in Sofia: the file is created on the same day.
- Bulgaria’s consulates in Türkiye: documents are sent to Sofia by diplomatic post; creating the file takes a little longer.
We compare the two routes in our article how to apply for Bulgarian citizenship.
ID card and passport
After the citizenship decision, an in-person application is required for the Bulgarian ID and passport because fingerprints and a photo are taken. This can be done in Bulgaria or at consulates. Details: how to get a Bulgarian passport
What can be done by power of attorney
For people who cannot travel to Bulgaria often, a power of attorney makes things much easier. Obtaining documents from municipalities in Bulgaria, archive research and follow-up can be handled by proxy. We explain which power of attorney is needed for which step in our article on the power of attorney for Bulgarian citizenship.
Beware of “fully online citizenship” promises
Since the application must be submitted in person, the promise “become a citizen fully online without going anywhere” is not true. Be careful with intermediaries who make such promises; for choosing the right firm, see our article with 10 questions.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for Bulgarian citizenship through Türkiye's e-Devlet?
No. Türkiye’s e-Devlet system is not used for Bulgarian citizenship applications. The application is made to the Bulgarian authorities. Documents from Türkiye, such as the civil registry record and criminal record, can be obtained from e-Devlet.
How many times do I need to go to Bulgaria?
If you apply at a consulate in Türkiye, you can apply without going to Bulgaria at all. For the ID card and passport, you need to go to Bulgaria or use the consulate route.
Can a proxy alone submit the application?
The citizenship application itself is made in person. Preparation and follow-up can be handled by a proxy.
Let’s run the process remotely together
We handle most of the preparation remotely on your behalf and guide you only for the steps that require you to be present. Details: Bulgarian citizenship.
