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The Bulgarian passport is currently ranked as the 21st strongest passport in the world with visa-free travel to 153 countries. Bulgarian citizens are citizens of the European Union and as such can live, work and study in any country within the European Union, European Economic Area, and Switzerland.
The Bulgarian Citizenship Act or the Bulgarian Immigrant Investor Program (BGIIP), which has been in operation since 2009, is offered in accordance with the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act.
On 21st December 2013, the government announced a ‘Fast Track’ option which enables investors to apply for citizenship within a faster time frame by doubling their investment.
Bulgarian citizens are citizens of the European Union and as such can live, work and study in any country within the European Union, European Economic Area, and Switzerland.
You and your family will obtain European Permanent Residence status and subsequently Bulgarian citizenship without having to move away or renounce your current nationality.
The Bulgarian Citizenship Act (Bulgarian Immigrant Investor Program (BGIIP)), which has been in operation since 2009, is offered in accordance with the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act.
The program enables a foreign investor to obtain Permanent Residency and subsequently once the PR has been held for a period of 5 years to apply to become a naturalized citizen.
The Bulgarian Immigrant Investor Program (BGIIP) requires making an investment in the Governmental Bond Portfolio.
Signing of IVS Retainer Agreement and first Payment of IVS Professional Fees. All Documents collected and file prepared. Payment of Government Application Fees. First appointment at a Bulgarian Consulate - for document signing. File completed for submission. Investment transfer made by the Main Applicant Investment Certificate issued.
Second appointment at a Bulgarian Consulate - application for Visa D.
Visa D granted; followed by the first trip to Bulgaria - for the submission of the Application for Permanent Residence Certificate (PR). File Submission Payment of IVS Professional Fees is payable.
Permanent Residence (PR) approved; followed by the second trip to Bulgaria - for the submission of the Application for the Permanent Residence card. IVS final Professional Fees are paid. Receipt of Bulgarian PR card, granted three days after application.
Once the main applicant has been issued the Bulgarian PR card the process to qualify family members can begin. The procedure to obtain the PR cards for family members can take up to 6 months and requires 2 mandatory visits to Bulgaria for each qualifying family member.
After holding the Permanent Residence for one year the applicant can double the investment of €511,292 into Government Bonds & apply for Citizenship, the investment must be held for a further 2 years.
Visa requirements for Bulgarian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Bulgaria.
As of May 2018, Bulgarian citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 169 countries and territories, ranking the Bulgarian passport 16th in terms of travel freedom (tied with the Croatian, Hong Kong and Romanian passports) according to the Henley & Partners Passport Index