BULGARIAN CITIZENSHIP COMMITTEE

The Commission on Bulgarian Citizenship is a permanent subsidiary body with advisory functions to the Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria, to which the Head of State by Decree No. 9 of 22 January 2022 has entrusted the power to grant and restore Bulgarian citizenship, release and deprivation thereof, in accordance with Article 98(9) of the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria. The composition, structure and rules of work of the Bulgarian Citizenship Commission are determined by Presidential Decree No. 36 of 22 January 2022.

The Commission on Bulgarian Citizenship shall assist the President and the Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria, respectively, by collecting and analysing the information necessary to clarify the facts and circumstances supporting the proposals made by the Minister of Justice for the issuance of decrees and refusals to issue decrees for change of citizenship. The Commission prepares reports on each proposal received from the Minister of Justice, guided by the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria, the international treaties to which the Republic of Bulgaria is a party and domestic legislation. The report shall contain the opinions expressed and decisions taken by the Citizenship Council on each proposal for change of citizenship received, the annexed material from various institutions in support thereof, and the opinion of the Commission. The Vice-President of the Republic of Bulgaria shall issue or refuse to issue decrees on the change of citizenship on the basis of the proposal of the Minister of Justice and the report of the Commission. Decrees on change of nationality shall enter into force on the day of their issue.

The Commission also assists the Vice President in the exercise of the powers conferred on it under the Law on Bulgarians Living Outside the Republic of Bulgaria.

The Commission prepares a summary of its work and publishes it every three months on the website of the Presidential Administration.