For most emigrants “restoring Bulgarian citizenship” is actually not necessary: since acquiring Turkish citizenship does not automatically end Bulgarian citizenship, many emigrants are still Bulgarian citizens and only renew their documents. For those who formally left or were deprived of citizenship, there is a separate restoration application. Which situation you are in is shown by a citizenship inquiry made to the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice.
In this article we separate the three different situations that come to mind with “restoring” and explain the route and the documents for each. To see all citizenship routes on one page, see our Bulgarian citizenship guide.
Three different situations
| Situation | Who? | What is done? |
|---|---|---|
| Never lost citizenship | People born in Bulgaria who emigrated without a decision releasing them from citizenship (e.g. most 1989 emigrants) | No new application; the birth record is corrected, citizenship is confirmed, passport and ID are issued |
| Lost citizenship | People who formally left (were released from) or were deprived of citizenship | A restoration application is made |
| Never a Bulgarian citizen but of Bulgarian origin | Children and grandchildren of emigrants born in Türkiye | A new citizenship application through Bulgarian origin |
1. People who never lost their citizenship
Bulgaria accepts dual citizenship. For many people who emigrated from Bulgaria and became Turkish citizens, Bulgarian citizenship never formally ended. For them the task is not “restoring” but documenting the existing citizenship. The process usually starts with obtaining and correcting the birth certificate, continues with confirming citizenship and ends with issuing the passport and ID card. We explain this route in detail in our article Bulgarian citizenship for 1989 emigrants.
2. People who lost their citizenship
Some emigrants formally left or were deprived of Bulgarian citizenship during or after emigration. In that case citizenship does not return automatically; a restoration application is made to the Ministry of Justice. The application is assessed according to the decision by which and when the citizenship ended. So the records of that decision must be found first.
3. Children and grandchildren of emigrants
For children and grandchildren born in Türkiye who were never Bulgarian citizens, “restoring” does not apply; they make a new citizenship application through Bulgarian origin. Children whose parent is still a Bulgarian citizen can often obtain citizenship by a shorter route through birth registration. Related guides:
- Can I get Bulgarian citizenship through my mother?
- Can I get Bulgarian citizenship through my father?
- Can I get Bulgarian citizenship through my grandparents?
- Certificate of Bulgarian origin: what it is and how to get it
First step: the citizenship inquiry
Instead of guessing your situation, you need to know it. For this, an inquiry into citizenship status is made to the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice. The ministry checks the records and states whether the person is a Bulgarian citizen.
- If the answer is “is a citizen”, no new application is needed; the document and ID procedures follow.
- If the answer is “is not a citizen”, the reason the citizenship ended is examined and the restoration or origin route is chosen.
For the inquiry to give the right result, the name, date of birth and place of birth should match the Bulgarian records. If your name is spelled differently in Turkish records, a name equivalence certificate is needed.
Required documents
The documents depend on the situation. Usually requested:
- A birth certificate from Bulgaria or old Bulgarian ID or passport details
- A migrant certificate showing that you emigrated (prepare the muhacir certificate request online)
- Full civil registry record
- A name equivalence certificate if there is a name difference
- Turkish passport or ID card
- A notarised power of attorney so that we can act on your behalf
Turkish documents must be apostilled and given a sworn Bulgarian translation. For the apostille steps, see our civil registry record and apostille guide.
If the person who emigrated has died
If the parent or grandparent who emigrated has died, their citizenship is not restored; however, their Bulgarian citizenship or origin is used as evidence in the applications of their children and grandchildren. We explain this in our article can I become a citizen if the person who emigrated from Bulgaria has died?
Common mistakes
- Filing a new application: if someone who is already a citizen applies again through origin, the process takes needlessly long.
- Ignoring name differences: the inquiry may be made for the wrong person or remain inconclusive.
- Missing migration documents: the date and manner of emigration determine which route is followed.
Frequently asked questions
Does Bulgarian citizenship end when I become a Turkish citizen?
No, not automatically. Bulgaria allows dual citizenship. Citizenship only ends with a formal release or deprivation decision.
How do I find out whether I am a citizen?
A citizenship inquiry is made to the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice. The ministry states, based on its records, whether you are a citizen. We carry out this inquiry on your behalf together with your documents.
How long does a restoration application take?
For those who never lost citizenship, the process is measured in months. Restoration and origin applications take longer. We share the estimated time for your situation in the preliminary assessment.
Do I need to speak Bulgarian?
The Bulgarian language requirement does not apply to emigrants and applicants of Bulgarian origin. For details see our article on the Bulgarian language requirement.
Let’s clarify your situation together
We can tell you which route applies by looking at your documents. Send them to our free document review or book an online appointment.
