Dual Bulgarian and Turkish citizenship
Dual citizenship is the product of two legal orders, not one. The Bulgarian rule does not bind Türkiye and the Turkish rule does not bind Bulgaria. So the question splits in two: does Bulgaria require release from your previous citizenship when it naturalises you, and what does Turkish law do when one of its nationals acquires a foreign nationality?
Visas and residence · Last reviewed: 2026-10-10
This is not legal or financial advice
The Bulgarian side
The Constitution ties citizenship principally to descent and provides that a citizen by birth cannot be deprived of Bulgarian citizenship. There is no constitutional prohibition on holding another nationality alongside it.
The question arises at naturalisation. The general provision requires release from the previous citizenship, or release at the moment of acquiring Bulgarian citizenship. The exceptions are express: nationals of EU member states, of states party to the EEA Agreement and of Switzerland; spouses of Bulgarian citizens; and nationals of states with which Bulgaria has a treaty establishing reciprocity. Separately, persons of Bulgarian origin are exempt from a group of conditions that includes this one.
| Issue | Bulgaria | Türkiye |
|---|---|---|
| Competent authority | Ministry of Justice; Ministry of Interior Migration Directorate | Directorate General of Civil Registration and Nationality |
| Stance on dual nationality | Not prohibited; a release condition at naturalisation, with exceptions | Not prohibited; multiple nationality is annotated in the civil register |
| Final act | Decree of the President | Permission procedure for renunciation; registration for multiple nationality |
The Turkish side
Turkish law does not prohibit multiple nationality. Acquiring a foreign nationality does not by itself end Turkish citizenship; the statute provides that the person presents the relevant documents and, once identity is confirmed, an annotation of multiple nationality is entered in the family registers. A separate permission procedure exists for those who wish to renounce Turkish citizenship, and those who were Turkish citizens by birth, renounced with permission, together with their descendants to the third degree, fall under the Blue Card regime.
Verified on 23 August 2026
Everyday consequences
- Identification numbers differ and do not substitute for each other.
- Enter each state on that state's document.
- Consular protection generally does not operate in the state of your other nationality.
- Taxation follows residence and source of income, not the number of passports you hold.
Figures and article numbers in both statutes
The values below were read on 10 October 2026 from the statute on the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice's official site, from the ministry's Article 12 and Article 15 lists, and from Turkish Law no. 5901 in the national legislation database. Laws and fees can change.
| Country | Topic | What it says | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulgaria | Legal effect of two citizenships | A Bulgarian citizen who is also a citizen of another state is treated only as a Bulgarian citizen when Bulgarian legislation is applied | Bulgarian Citizenship Act, Article 3 |
| Bulgaria | Release requirement in general naturalisation | Released from the previous citizenship or about to be released at the moment of acquisition; if there is no document it can be submitted within 3 years after the approval notice | Act, Article 12(1) point 6; Article 12 list |
| Bulgaria | Who need not be released | Spouses of Bulgarian citizens; citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland; citizens of states with a reciprocity treaty | Act, Article 12(2) |
| Bulgaria | Route by origin | Article 12(1) points 2, 4, 5 and 6 are not required; the release requirement is among them | Act, Article 15(1) |
| Bulgaria | State fee | €511.29 for general naturalisation; €153.39 under Article 15 | Ministry lists |
| Türkiye | Multiple citizenship | A person who acquires a foreign citizenship presents the documents; once identity is confirmed, a multiple-citizenship note is entered in the civil register | Law no. 5901, Article 44 |
| Türkiye | Release permit | Valid for 2 years from the decision date; if foreign citizenship is not reported within that time, the permit lapses | Law no. 5901, Article 26(2) |
| Türkiye | Effect of release | Turkish citizenship is lost when the release certificate is handed over against a signature, and the register entry is closed | Law no. 5901, Article 27(1) |
| Türkiye | Blue Card regime | People Turkish by birth who lost citizenship with a release permit, and their descendants up to the third degree, keep Turkish citizens' rights; they have no electoral rights, no duty-free import right and no military duty | Law no. 5901, Article 28(1)-(2) |
| Türkiye | Regaining citizenship | Those who lost it with a release permit can regain it by ministry decision regardless of length of residence | Law no. 5901, Article 13 |
The Bulgarian and Turkish rows do not connect with each other: Article 3 of the Bulgarian act applies only when Bulgarian legislation is applied and does not decide how Türkiye counts you. Article 44 of Law no. 5901 likewise does not look at what Bulgaria says. Read each state's rules separately, and take advice in both countries on the military, tax and inheritance consequences of dual citizenship.
Frequently asked questions
Do I lose Turkish citizenship by becoming Bulgarian?
Not by the acquisition itself. Turkish law provides for presenting documents and having multiple nationality annotated in the register.
Does Bulgaria require renunciation?
Under the general route yes, with express exceptions; the requirement is not applied on the Bulgarian-origin route.
Sources
The information on this page is based on the official sources listed below. Legislation changes — open the links and verify the current position.
- Конституция на Република България — Министерство на правосъдието — https://www.justice.government.bg/home/normdoc/521957377 · 2026-08-23
- Закон за българското гражданство — Министерство на правосъдието (официален текст: чл. 3, 7, 12, 15, § 2 ДР) — https://www.justice.government.bg/home/normdoc/2134446592 · 2026-10-10
- Министерство на правосъдието — Придобиване на българско гражданство по обща натурализация на основание чл. 12 от ЗБГ (списък на документите и държавна такса) — https://www.mjs.bg/home/index/b0192780-7bd4-44e8-b6d0-6d59939b4e6b · 2026-10-10
- Министерство на правосъдието — Придобиване на българско гражданство по обща натурализация на основание чл. 15 от ЗБГ — https://www.mjs.bg/home/index/f3655a73-7405-4832-8757-8e68be5d7683 · 2026-10-10
- Дирекция „Миграция“ — Министерство на вътрешните работи — https://www.mvr.bg/migration · 2026-10-12
- T.C. Nüfus ve Vatandaşlık İşleri Genel Müdürlüğü — Türk vatandaşlığının kaybedilmesi — https://www.nvi.gov.tr/turk-vatandasliginin-kaybedilmesi · 2026-08-23
- T.C. Nüfus ve Vatandaşlık İşleri Genel Müdürlüğü — Mavi Kart — https://www.nvi.gov.tr/mavi-kart · 2026-08-23
- Türk Vatandaşlığı Kanunu (5901) — Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi (md. 13, 26, 27, 28, 44) — https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/MevzuatMetin/1.5.5901.pdf · 2026-10-10
- T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı — Mavi Kart uygulaması — https://www.mfa.gov.tr/mavi-kart-_eski-pembe-kart_-uygulamasi-.tr.mfa · 2026-08-23
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