Foreigners intending to apply for Bulgarian citizenship will have to pay a tax of 100 leva instead of the 10 leva according to a proposal from the Justice Ministry.

The increase was proposed because of an increased costs of the procedure. The ministry said, as quoted by 24 Chasa daily, that the taxes had not been changed since 1998.

The Justice Ministry tabled the draft in the Cabinet which is expected to discuss it on its next sitting.

Foreigners who are of Bulgarian origin would have to pay 30 leva to apply for Bulgarian citizenship compared to three leva that is charged now.

People aged up to 18 and students aged up to 26 would be charged ten leva. The minimum age so far was 16 years.

Those who intended to give up Bulgarian citizenship would have to pay 50 leva instead of 20 leva.

A duplicate of the citizenship decree would cost 250 leva. The same sum would be charged for certificates relating to naturalisation cancellation or Bulgarian citizenship deprivation.

Those who had received Bulgarian citizenship because of their origin would be charged 50 leva for a duplicate.