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Bulgaria: Whether dual citizenship agreements have been signed with Macedonia, Greece, Turkey, Yugoslavia and Romania

According to the Adjudicative Desk Reference produced by the Defense Security Research Center of the United States Department of Defense, Bulgaria recognizes dual citizenship (16 Apr. 2002). While the Bulgarian Citizenship Act of October 1968, last amended in 1989, makes no mention of dual citizenship (Bulgaria 1989), the 1997 Bulgarian Nationality Act "permits dual citizenship" (ILO Feb. 2002, 46).

Officials of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (12 Aug. 2002), the Embassy of the Republic of Macedonia (2 July 2002) and the Embassy of Greece (12 June 2002), each stated that their state has not signed a dual citizenship agreement with the Republic of Bulgaria. The representative of the Embassy of Greece in Ottawa also noted that the Lausanne Treaty of 1922 regulated this subject and, from the Greek perspective, applications for dual citizenship vary on a case by case basis (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Bulgaria. 1989. Citizenship Law of Bulgaria. <http://www.legislationline.org/get.php?id= 1531&dots=2.0.0.&country=9&intst=0&topic=3&subtopic=0&subsubtopic=0> [Accessed 5 Sept. 2002]

Embassy of Greece, Ottawa. 12 June 2002. Telephone interview with official.

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Ottawa. 12 August 2002. Correspondence with official.

Embassy of the Republic of Macedonia, Ottawa. 2 July 2002. Correspondence with official.

International Labour Office (ILO). February 2002. International Migration Papers No. 39. August Gächter. "The Ambiguities of Emigration: Bulgaria Since 1988." <http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/migrant/download/imp/imp39.pdf> [Accessed 5 Sept. 2002]

United States. Department of Defense (DOD). 16 April 2002. "Bulgaria." Adjudicative Desk Reference. <http://www.dss.mil/nf/adr/forpref/country6.htm> [Accessed 5 Sept. 2002]

Additional Sources Consulted

Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria 5 September 2002. Telephone interview

European Bulletin on Nationality, Council of Europe

IRB databases

LEXIS/NEXIS

No replies were received to requests for information forwarded to Turkish, Bulgarian and Romanian authorities and dating from May and June 2002.

Internet sites including:

Bulgarian Analytical

Bulgarian Citizenship Law

Bulgarian Embassy in London

Council of Europe, Treaty Office

Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria, Washington

Embassy of the Republic of Romania, Ottawa

Embassy of the Republic of Romania, Washington

Findlaw

Hellenic Resources Network

Legislation online

Seeeurope.net

Washington Law Web

World News Connection (WNC)