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The Bulgarian authorities have revealed that the country granted citizenship to a large number of foreign nationals in 2024, surpassing the 2023 numbers.
Data from a recent report show that in 2024, more than 16,000 people received the passport of Bulgaria, thus becoming EU citizens, Schengen.News reports.
Such a number recorded last year represents an increase of 33.3 per cent compared to 2023, when Bulgaria granted citizenship to 12,000 foreign nationals.
While the authorities did not share what might have led to this increase in the number of those who obtained Bulgarian citizenship, data show that the country remains popular among certain nationalities.
According to the figures provided in the report, Ukrainian and Turkish nationals were the top beneficiaries of Bulgarian citizenship in 2024.
In the year that we left behind, more than 2,400 Ukrainians received a Bulgarian passport. With only 200 fewer citizenship acquisitions, Turkish nationals rank second, with 2,200 of them obtaining Bulgarian citizenship in 2024.
Nationals of Moldova and North Macedonia were also among the main beneficiaries, ranking third and fourth, respectively. Data show that over 1,800 Moldovans and almost 1,700 North Macedonians obtained Bulgaria citizenship last year.
The above-mentioned nationalities were followed by Albanians, Serbs, Russians, Israelis, and Syrians.
Bulgaria Revoked the Citizenship of 38 People in 2024
Despite the Bulgarian authorities granting citizenship to a large number of people, the measures remained strict, affecting some who failed to meet the requirements and who violated the rules.
Last year, due to a ban on residence in the Schengen Area, fake documents, and other violations, Bulgaria revoked the citizenship of a total of 38 people.
Additionally, during the same 12 months, Bulgaria denied the citizenship applications of nearly 6,000 applicants.
On the other hand, figures from the Bulgarian authorities have revealed that almost 4,500 people restored their Bulgarian citizenship.
Moreover, it was disclosed that most of those who obtained the Bulgarian passport in 2024 did so on the basis of origin or general naturalisation.
In order to obtain Bulgarian citizenship, foreign nationals need to meet several criteria. They need to have legally resided in the country for a minimum period of five years, have no criminal record, and have an income that enables them to support themselves.
Moreover, Bulgarian citizenship applicants must pass the language test and let go of their original citizenship unless they belong to the list of people exempted from this requirement.
Source: https://schengen.news/bulgaria-granted-citizenship-to-over-16000-people-in-2024-ukrainian-turkish-nationals-main-beneficiaries/
