Bulgaria
Europe
Key facts
- Capital
- Sofia
- Population
- 6,433,302
- 2025
- Area
- 111,000 km²
- Official language
- Bulgarian
- Currency
- Euro
- EUR
- GDP per capita
- US$20,328
- 2025
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed with conditions
- Bulgarians may hold another citizenship, but most naturalising foreigners must give up theirs; EU/EEA/Swiss nationals, spouses and people of Bulgarian origin are exempt.
Bulgaria (Europe) has data on 12/14 Prosperous Intelligence indices. Strongest relative position: Passport Index — #14/198 (89.4/100). Lowest relative position: Investment Migration ROI — #30/50 (49.0/100). The passport ranks #14/198 and reaches 189 destinations without a consular visa in advance. Global Citizenship Score 73.4/100 (#51/199). On the entry side, 92/197 passports can enter Bulgaria without a consular visa in advance. The dataset records 2 active citizenship and residence programmes in Bulgaria.
Scores on 12 indices
- Health & Longevity67.1
- Safety & Stability78.0
- Economy & Income73.3
- Education71.7
- Environment & Clean Water70.5
- Infrastructure86.2
- Digital Connectivity69.5
- Equality53.6
- Learning Quality57.7
- Educational Attainment89.7
- Expected Years of Schooling71.8
- Education Spending66.8
- Basic Access76.8
- Violent Crime98.1
- Stability & Absence of Terrorism62.2
- Law Enforcement & Order50.3
- Road Safety78.9
- Absence of Armed Conflict100.0
- Health Outcomes87.1
- Coverage & Access81.7
- Health Workforce & Facilities66.8
- Spending & Investment33.6
- Financial Protection52.8
- Personal Income Tax81.8
- Capital Gains & Dividends80.0
- System & Incentives72.0
- Net Wealth Tax100.0
- Inheritance & Gift Tax100.0
- Corporate & Social Security62.1
- Rule of Law & Property Rights44.2
- Political Stability62.2
- Institutions & Regulation54.2
- Financial Soundness76.2
- Monetary Stability54.5
- Freedom of Capital Movement100.0
- Education71.7
- Healthcare67.1
- Safety78.0
- Quality of Life70.7
- Cost of living68.1
- Passport89.4
- Passport89.4
- Quality of Life70.7
- Safety78.0
- Healthcare67.1
- Purchasing power & price stability58.6
- Education71.7
- Wealth Protection61.9
- Tax82.6
- Cost of living68.1
- Healthcare67.1
- Safety78.0
- Quality of Life70.7
- Tax82.6
- Wealth Protection61.9
- Affordable Prices73.9
- Price Stability54.5
- Purchasing power59.6
At a glance
Entering Bulgaria
- Visa-free: 92 passports
- Visa on arrival: 0 passports
- eTA: 0 passports
- e-Visa: 0 passports
- Consular visa required: 105 passports
Regional position and data sources
- First in Europe on 0/12 indices
- Above the regional median on 2/12 indices
- Each index lists its source and data date on the Data sources page
Citizenship and residence programmes in the dataset
- Long-term residence for commercial activity / trade rep
- Long-Term Residence by Investment (Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, Art. 25)
Frequently asked questions about Bulgaria
What is the capital of Bulgaria?
The capital of Bulgaria is Sofia.
What is the population of Bulgaria?
According to the World Bank, Bulgaria had a population of 6,433,302 in 2025.
What is the official language of Bulgaria?
The official language of Bulgaria is Bulgarian.
What currency does Bulgaria use?
Bulgaria uses the Euro (EUR).
Does Bulgaria allow dual citizenship?
Bulgarians may hold another citizenship, but most naturalising foreigners must give up theirs; EU/EEA/Swiss nationals, spouses and people of Bulgarian origin are exempt.
How strong is the Bulgaria passport?
The Bulgaria passport ranks #14 of 198 on Prosperous Intelligence’s Passport Index and reaches 189 destinations without applying for a consular visa in advance (visa-free, visa on arrival or eTA).
How many destinations require a visa for Bulgaria passport holders?
Holders of the Bulgaria passport must apply for a consular visa before travelling to 24 destinations and need an e-Visa for 34. Full list: Bulgaria passport page.
How many passports can enter Bulgaria without applying for a visa in advance?
92 of 197 passports can enter Bulgaria without applying for a consular visa in advance: 92 visa-free. 105 must apply for a consular visa.
What citizenship and residency programmes does Bulgaria offer?
The Prosperous Intelligence dataset records 2 active citizenship and residency programmes in Bulgaria: Long-term residence for commercial activity / trade rep and Long-Term Residence by Investment (Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, Art. 25). Details: Opportunity Map.
What is the minimum investment for residency or citizenship in Bulgaria?
In Bulgaria, Long-Term Residence by Investment (Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, Art. 25) requires a minimum investment starting from US$335,000 (reference USD conversion).
How long does an application take in Bulgaria?
In Bulgaria, an application under Long-Term Residence by Investment (Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, Art. 25) takes about 2–4 months (reference processing time).
How long does it take to become a citizen of Bulgaria through these programmes?
Through Long-Term Residence by Investment (Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, Art. 25), citizenship of Bulgaria is possible after about 5 years, after a period of permanent residence (reference time).
Can family members join programmes in Bulgaria?
Family members included: Long-term residence for commercial activity / trade rep: spouse and children under 18; Long-Term Residence by Investment (Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, Art. 25): spouse.
Where is Bulgaria strongest and weakest in Prosperous Intelligence’s indices?
Relative to other countries, Bulgaria is strongest on the Passport Index (#14 of 198) and weakest on the Investment Migration ROI (#30 of 50).
How does Bulgaria rank for quality of life?
Bulgaria scores 70.7/100 on Prosperous Intelligence’s Quality of Life Index, ranking #72 of 211.
Is Bulgaria expensive to live in?
Bulgaria scores 68.1/100 on Prosperous Intelligence’s Cost of Living Index, ranking #106 of 200. This is the affordability-of-living-costs score: a higher score means lower prices.
How safe is Bulgaria?
Bulgaria scores 78.0/100 on Prosperous Intelligence’s Global Safety Index, ranking #73 of 203.
How does Bulgaria rank for healthcare?
Bulgaria scores 67.1/100 on Prosperous Intelligence’s Healthcare Index, ranking #53 of 192.
How does Bulgaria rank for education?
Bulgaria scores 71.7/100 on Prosperous Intelligence’s Education Index, ranking #56 of 191.
How does Bulgaria rank on taxes?
Bulgaria scores 82.6/100 on Prosperous Intelligence’s Tax Freedom Index, ranking #45 of 145. Detailed tax rates: Tax Freedom Index.
What the profile contains
- Key facts from government and international sources
- Scores and global ranks on 12 Prosperous Intelligence indices
- Entry rules, passport strength and residency programmes
Why the profile matters
- Compare one country across many criteria on a single page
- Not a substitute for legal, tax or investment advice
Method
- How each index is scored and weighted
- The limits of the data and how to check official sources
