Acquiring Bulgarian Citizenship under Article 16: Recognition for Exceptional Achievements

Published On: 29/10/2025

There are extraordinary professionals in every sphere of life — from actors and musicians to top athletes.

We are proud to share that Berg Law has successfully assisted two of these exceptional individuals in obtaining Bulgarian citizenship under Article 16 of the Bulgarian Citizenship Act.

Article 16 of the Bulgarian Citizenship Act provides the opportunity for a person who is not a Bulgarian citizen to acquire Bulgarian citizenship if the Republic of Bulgaria has an interest in their naturalization, or if the person has made special contributions to Bulgaria in the public or economic sphere, or in the fields of science, technology, culture, or sports.

The proposal for acquiring Bulgarian citizenship under Article 16 is submitted by the minister responsible for the relevant area, who must attach a detailed description of the candidate’s achievements.

I. Required Documents

To initiate the procedure for acquiring Bulgarian citizenship under Article 16 of the Bulgarian Citizenship Act (BCA), the following documents are required:

  1. A substantiated proposal for the acquisition of Bulgarian citizenship, addressed to the Minister of Justice and submitted by the minister responsible for the relevant area (e.g. culture, sports, etc.). The proposal must outline Bulgaria’s specific interest in the candidate’s naturalization or their notable contribution in the respective field.
  2. A prior written consent with a notarized signature from the candidate for acquiring Bulgarian citizenship.
  3. A copy or duplicate of the candidate’s birth certificate.
  4. Criminal record certificates from Bulgaria and from the candidate’s country of origin.
  5. A medical certificate issued by a Medical Consultative Commission (MCC) at the healthcare institution of the candidate’s place of residence, confirming that the candidate does not suffer from acute contagious, infectious, or mental illnesses.
  6. Other standard documents as required by law.

II. Procedure

The procedure for acquiring Bulgarian citizenship under Article 16 of the Bulgarian Citizenship Act includes several main steps:

  1. A motivated proposal from the relevant authority in the candidate’s field — such as a national sports federation, the national theatre, or another competent body — to the appropriate minister (e.g. Minister of Sports, Minister of Culture, etc.).
  2. A motivated proposal from the respective minister to the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Bulgaria.
  3. Following an expert review of all submitted documents, the Minister of Justice makes a proposal to the President of the Republic of Bulgaria for the issuance of a decree granting Bulgarian citizenship. Under the Bulgarian Citizenship Act, the Minister of Justice must submit the proposal to the President within three months from receiving the minister’s recommendation under Article 16.
  4. The acquisition of Bulgarian citizenship is completed upon the issuance of a Presidential Decree.

The Article 16 procedure stands as one of the highest honors granted by the Bulgarian state — a mark of recognition and gratitude to individuals whose accomplishments enhance Bulgaria’s international reputation and contribute to its national development.

We are also pleased to share that the National Theatre and one of the leading Sports Federations have recently welcomed new members who obtained Bulgarian citizenship under Article 16, further strengthening Bulgaria’s cultural and athletic excellence.

For more information and legal assistance, please contact us at pberg@berglaw.eu

Polina Berg

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