1. OBTAIN BULGARIAN CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTING IN GOVERNMENT BONDS / TREASURY BILLS
The minimum investment is BGN 1 000 000 (EUR 511 292) which can grant citizenship of the foreign investor after 5 years. On making the investment the foreigner is given a permanent stay permit which provides almost the same rights as citizenship. The foreigner can apply for citizenship after the fifth year the investment is maintained.
Fast-track citizenship option – if the invested amount is increased to BGN 2 000 000 (EUR 1,022,584) or more, the foreigner can be granted Bulgarian citizenship after one year stay only. There are some other requirements - for example: the investor should be full-aged and not criminally convicted. Knowledge of Bulgarian language or rescinding of current citizenship is not required.
2. OBTAIN BULGARIAN CITIZENSHIP BY DEPOSIT IN A BANK FOR A DISCRETIONARY PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
The agreement with the bank should be for a term of 5 years or more. The amount invested should be either BGN 1 000 000 or BGN 2 000 000. The amount of the investment is related to the time in which the citizenship is granted – for investment of BGN 1 000 000, citizenship is granted after 5 years, if it is 2 000 000 – then the term is 1 year. Additional requirements as already mentioned above.
3. OBTAIN BULGARIAN CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT IN SHARES OF BULGARIAN COMPANY
This can happen if the investor deposits BGN 6 000 000 (EUR 3 067 751) or more into the capital of a Bulgarian company. There are no limitations like the type of the company, activity of the company, etc., only the amount of the investment is important. In this case citizenship is granted after 5 years.
4. OBTAIN BULGARIAN CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT IN CERTAIN ACTIVITIES, DEVELOPMENT OF BUSINESS IN POORLY DEVELOPED REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY AND PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT FOR BULGARIAN CITIZENS
The amount of the investment varies between 1 000 000 and 10 000 000 Bulgarian levs and depends on the exact business area, number of people employed, etc. If the number of workplaces is higher, the amount of the investment is less and vice versa. Citizenship is granted in 5 years if all requirements with regards to the investment are met.
Fast Track Option - It allows faster acquisition of Bulgarian citizenship – if the investor gives BGN 1 000 000 as investment in government bonds or in a bank for a discretionary portfolio management, after which the investor places at least BGN 1 000 000 into the capital of a company, which is certified to perform a priority investment project, then the foreigner can apply for Bulgarian citizenship after one year.
In conclusion, fastest options for obtaining Bulgarian citizenship through investment require only one year and an investment as low as BGN 2 000 000. In all cases when Bulgarian citizenship is granted through investment, no requirements for knowledge of Bulgarian language or rescinding from the present citizenship of the applicant are applicable.
