CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT BLOG

Bulgaria laucnhes new investment options and faster processing!

The Bulgarian government has made two significant changes to the immigration regulations: first, there are now several new investment options to choose from. Second, there is now a faster processing timeline for the applicant’s spouse.

Bulgaria permanent residency offers applicants the permission to live in Bulgaria as long as desired. Processing takes about 6 months.

Bulgaria citizenship offers applicants the European passport and all benefits of full EU citizenship. Standard processing takes about 5 years. Fast track processing takes about 18 months and is available to investors at about twice the investment amount required for standard processing.

1. New Investment Options. The following new investment options are available to applicants under the permanent residency and also under the citizenship (EU passport) program. Applicants must select one investment option from the following:
a) Stocks traded in Bulgaria: EUR 1,024,000
b) UCITs (EU regulated fund vehicles) including exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with a focus on Bulgaria: EUR 512,000
c) Alternative investment funds (AIFs), including private equity, venture and hedge funds, with focus on Bulgaria: EUR 512,000
d) Bulgarian company investment, Certified Priority Investment Project (similar to USA EB-5 Regional Centers): EUR 1,024,000
e) Bulgarian company employing 10 Bulgarian persons or more: EUR 257,000
f) Bulgarian private company, invested in any sector or geography: EUR 3,075,000
g) Certified Investment Project (CIP): Exact amount and conditions are project-dependent.


2. Faster Application Processing. Under the Bulgarian investment program, citizenship is awarded in stages. During the first stage, all family members receive Bulgarian permanent residency status, which means all family members can live together in Bulgaria if they wish to move to the country (but this is not required).

During the second stage, applicants receive the Bulgarian citizenship (EU passport) as follows:
1) With "fast track processing" the main applicant receives citizenship in 18 months.
2) Children receive citizenship 6-9 months after the main applicant receives citizenship.
3) The spouse receives citizenship 1 year after the main applicant receives citizenship.


For additional details please visit our Bulgaria website. Our team in Sofia, Bulgaria, is available to answer any questions.

Should you be interested in the immigration by investment programs of Malta instead, where citizenship is awarded to all family members at the same time, please take a look our Malta website.

Because the Malta immigration by investment program details can change over time please contact us about the current rules and regulations.

Click here for the Malta citizenship by investment program. Click here for the Malta residency programs.

To start the application process online please register here.

For a detailed cost estimate or to schedule a confidential consultation please use our contact form.