Bulgaria: Whether Bulgarian Turks who left Bulgaria for Turkey in 1989 and have since received Turkish citizenship can still be citizens of Bulgaria and be issued the red Bulgarian international passport; significance of a red Bulgarian passport with the stamp "resident in Turkey"; significance of a green internal passport
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 21 December 2001 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | BGR38185.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Bulgaria: Whether Bulgarian Turks who left Bulgaria for Turkey in 1989 and have since received Turkish citizenship can still be citizens of Bulgaria and be issued the red Bulgarian international passport; significance of a red Bulgarian passport with the stamp "resident in Turkey"; significance of a green internal passport, 21 December 2001, BGR38185.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4be1318.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The Consul of the Embassy of Bulgaria in Ottawa stated in a 19 December 2001 telephone interview that Bulgarian Turks who left Bulgaria for Turkey in 1989 and have become residents and citizens of Turkey can remain Bulgarian citizens and are hence entitled to the red Bulgarian international passport. The Ministry of the Interior began to isue the red international passports in 1999 (Foreign Affairs Manual 19 Nov. 2001). The Consul also stated that these persons were allowed to vote in Bulgarian elections. The Consul could not however confirm whether or not their Bulgarian passport had the "resident in Turkey" stamp and could not provide information on the green internal passport. However, Response to Information Request BGR32262.E of 16 July 1999 makes reference to a green internal passport.
An article entitled "Minority Nationalism in the Balkans: the Bulgarian Case" published in January 1999 in the newsletter of the Sofia-based Institute for Market Economics stated that there were 150,000 Bulgarian Turks who emigrated to Turkey, had kept dual citizenship, were eligible voters in the in the 18 December 1994 parliamentary elections in Bulgaria, could have access to free Bulgarian health-care services and could receive their pensions in Turkey (Institute for Market Economics Newsletter Jan. 1999).
Additional information on dual citizenship for Bulgarian Turks living in Turkey could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
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 additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Embassy of Bulgaria, consular section, Ottawa. 19 December 2001. Telephone interview with Consul.
Institute for Market Economics Newsletter [Sofia]. January 1999. Vol. 6, No.1. Andrey Ivanov, Ph.D. "Minority Nationalism in the Balkans: The Bulgarian Case."
Foreign Affairs Manual. 19 November 2001. "9FAM Part 1V Appendix C, Bulgaria." United States Department of State
Additional Sources Consulted
IRB databases
LEXIS/NEXIS
Internet sources including:
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
World News Connection (WNC)