Anyone who has heard of Bulgaria knows it is a famous producer of roses and rose-based products, often referred to as the "Land of Roses." Investing in Bulgaria is straightforward: there is no requirement to purchase real estate, no age restrictions, and EU citizenship can be obtained in 18 months. Consequently, many people question whether such an easy process is truly legitimate. There are many misconceptions online, and today we will address them one by one.
"I can buy a Bulgarian passport directly."
This is the most common misconception regarding the Bulgarian fast-track citizenship program. We can tell you with certainty: Bulgaria does not sell passports, nor does it sell citizenship!
"The investment for the citizenship program is a fixed, non-recoverable fee."
Many people believe that the funds invested in citizenship programs are non-recoverable, like water poured out of a vessel. This is a major misconception. On the contrary, your investment remains in your name; you can enjoy returns (interest), and once you have obtained citizenship and met the investment duration required by immigration law, you are free to dispose of these assets as you wish.
"Bulgarian citizenship/passport is a Golden Visa or permanent residency."
The Bulgarian citizenship investment program is not a Golden Visa! The Bulgarian program grants genuine EU citizenship!
There is a significant difference between the two. Once you obtain a Bulgarian passport, you hold an EU passport, allowing you to freely enter, reside, study, and work in 32 European countries without needing additional permits. You can also enjoy the benefits of the host country, including healthcare, maternity benefits, labor insurance, and family allowances. Children of Bulgarian EU passport holders are entitled to the same enrollment conditions as local citizens, allowing them to study in developed countries and enjoy the benefits of free education available to local residents. You can enjoy all the benefits of this country for life.
"Even as a Bulgarian citizen, I still need a residence permit to live in another EU country."
As mentioned before, once you have a Bulgarian passport, you can travel freely between EU countries, live in whichever EU country you choose, and enjoy all EU benefits. When traveling within the EU, you do not even need your passport—you only need to present your ID card at occasional border checkpoints. You will never need to queue for customs clearance anywhere in the EU.
"To maintain Bulgarian citizenship, the investment funds cannot be moved."
It should be noted that once you maintain your investment for two years after obtaining citizenship, your citizenship becomes permanent. From that point on, you can dispose of your investment properties or government bonds as you wish, and no additional investment will be required. The Bulgarian real estate investment program includes rental and buyback guarantees, ensuring your assets are secure, with the property available for sale after 6 years. Bulgaria is also a low-tax country. There is no global taxation: income earned within Bulgaria is subject to only a 10% income tax, which helps avoid global taxation and resolves the uncertainties associated with CRS.
"The EU is pushing Bulgaria to stop its investment citizenship program."
The EU does not favor any practice of selling EU citizenship to supplement national finances. Bulgaria is a country that truly does not sell passports, and the government does not receive direct financial gain from this program in any way, which is why its situation is more favorable to the EU.
"Even if I have a criminal record, I can obtain a passport through the investment immigration channel."
The Bulgarian citizenship investment program requires applicants to provide a certificate of no criminal record. As Bulgaria is a formal member of the EU, it fully complies with EU regulations. Therefore, if you have serious violations or illegal activities, you will not be able to obtain Bulgarian citizenship through investment.
