Foreigners planning to stay in Bulgaria for more than 90 days are required to apply for a primary residence permit. This is a permit in the form of a plastic card with a biometric photo and information about the owner for a one-year stay with the prospect of extension. The order of entry and stay in the Republic are defined Follow the law. Residences are granted for many reasons, such as work, study, business, investments, family reunification, and retirees.
Advantages
At the end of March 2024, the country joined the Schengen area. This makes it possible to travel visa-free to 29 EU countries. Cardholders also have the right to:
- receive statuses for family members;
- use paid medical services;
- open accounts in international banks;
- study at prestigious educational institutions;
- register businesses and pay low taxes;
- use mobile communication and the Internet at a favorable price;
- buy a car in your own name, land, real estate.
- apply for permanent residence and citizenship.
Current types of residency
There are 3 types of cards issued in the country. Temporary permits to stay in the territory for a year, enter/leave without a visa, and enjoy social privileges. Every year, expats are forced to collect dossiers and apply for card extensions. After 5 years of naturalization, they have the right to apply for permanent residence and a long-term residence permit. For investors, the waiting period has been reduced to 2 years. The list of grounds for obtaining long-term statuses is spelled out in the Law on Foreign Citizenship (art. 25, paragraph 1).
Permanent residence
Permanent residence cards and Uniform Civil Numbers equalize residents with Bulgarians, and together with adult family members, they allow them to get a job. If social contributions are paid, people receive unemployment benefits in case of job loss. Expats have the right to use free medical services in government clinics and receive tuition benefits.
Holders of this type of card are allowed to be absent from the country for up to 30 months during the reporting period without restrictions. The duration of the residence is limited only by the validity period of the passport. After the permit is replaced or expired, new cards are issued free of charge at the migration office. The cost of obtaining permanent residence is 1,000 leva.
DVJ
Cosmopolitans with permits for long-term stay have a harder time. Holders of a residence permit are allowed to leave the country for a total of only 10 months and 6 months in a row. After 5 years, the period is extended without a fee. Applicants’ family members are given a residence permit for a year. The cost of the residence is only BGN 110. After 5 years, residents with permanent status are allowed to apply for citizenship.
Ways to get
Bulgarian legislation provides for many possibilities for registration of a temporary residence. Applicants choose a foundation based on their goals, financial situation, education, and family ties.
Work
A residence permit is issued to employees with confirmed qualifications by permission of the Ministry of Labor./Employment agencies for a year or immediately for the duration of the contract. First of all, employers must prove that residents are not applying for vacancies. The priority is given to IT specialists, university professors, medical workers, and tour guides.
Starting a business
Residences are given to foreign businessmen who have registered a company in Bulgaria. The conditions put forward are the provision of 10 full—time jobs, and the company’s development plan for the coming years.
Real estate investments
The status is issued after the purchase of residential / non-residential real estate in the amount of $322,000 or more. The outstanding portion of the loan should not exceed 25%. The alternative is for a commercial company to purchase an object for $134,000 in an economically disadvantaged area. At the same time, the foreigner must be listed as a partner and own 50% of the shares.
Retirement
The “Well-off Pensioner” program is suitable for people who have retired for various reasons at any age with a savings account of 3,220 € or a pension of at least the Bulgarian minimum wage (477 €). For registration, you will need a certificate from the pension department on income for the last 3 months.
Family reunion
Citizens of the country and permanent residents have the right to transport family members and first-generation relatives on the basis of kinship documents. The authorities require the inviting party to prove solvency and availability of housing.
Training
Suitable for students of paid licensed universities. To obtain a residence permit, you need permission from the Ministry of Education, an invitation from the university, a certificate of enrollment indicating academic hours, a certificate/diploma, and the results of a paid English proficiency test. Minors also need parental consent and a letter of sponsorship.
Treatment
The basis for registration of a residence is a medical confirmation of the diagnosis, a conclusion on the need to undergo a therapeutic course, rehabilitation. Permits are issued only to foreigners who are able to pay for services and stay at the clinic.
Representation of foreign companies
Article 24, paragraph 1, paragraph 6 of the “Law on Foreigners” states that employees representing companies in Bulgaria have the right to obtain the status. They are required to register with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and obtain a certificate from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Moreover, the number of foreigners in one branch should not exceed three.
Digital Nomads
Freelancers and employees of foreign organizations with the right to work remotely can move to Sofia and Plovdiv, which have become centers for digital nomads. There is no separate visa for nomads, but there is an alternative one for freelancers. It is chosen by bloggers, IT specialists, business consultants, and people of other liberal professions. The self-employed apply for category D visas and obtain permits for individual activities, allowing them to register business activities. In detail the process of obtaining a residence permit for a digital nomad has been discussed in a profile article.
EU Blue Card
It is intended for highly qualified specialists with earnings 1.5 times higher than the average. They are issued exclusively to relocants with confirmed diplomas and relevant experience, two-year employment contracts with employers.
The following categories of foreigners can apply for temporary status:
- business travelers;
- journalists;
- refugees;
- religious figures;
- researchers;
- seasonal workers;
- startups;
- volunteers;
- persons protected by States.
Requirements for the applicant
To obtain the status, applicants must meet the eligibility criteria. It is issued to foreigners of legal age. Conditions:
- employment contract or university certificate;
- availability of rental housing;
- registration document at the address;
- no criminal record;
- documents on education and work experience for specialists;
- medical insurance for the duration of stay;
- stable income or a bank deposit of less than 477€ per month.
To obtain a D visa, you need ~2,900€ per person. For obtaining a residence permit, the amount is ~ 5,800€.
Documents
The certificates and extracts must be translated into Bulgarian at an accredited bureau and notarized. An apostille is needed to confirm the authenticity of signatures and seals on diplomas, metrics, and certificates of non-conviction. The main list:
- passport scan;
- application;
- address certificate with a confirmed lease for a year;
- bank statement;
- criminal record certificate;
- receipt for payment of state duties.
Applicants apply papers depending on the grounds in the application. You can download the forms and other documents on this page.
Cost
Items of estimated expenses include:
- obtaining a long–term visa: 60-80€;
- applying to the Directorate of Migration — 5€;
- bank statement – 20€;
- Residence permit for 6-12 months — 100 and 250€, respectively;
- medical insurance with basic services -105€, extended— 500-1,000€;
- transfers —10-15€, notarization and apostillation — 20€ per document;
- the price of the card depends on the urgency: registration in a month -22€, 10 days — 45€, 3 days -110€;
- opening a residence permit based on a trade representative office — 580€;
- the price of a six—month extension is 100€, a year – 250€.
The application process
The registration of a residence permit consists of 5 stages.
- Study and selection of the base for the residence.
- Submission of a dossier with the above documents for opening a long-term visa D at the embassy or the regional consulate of Bulgaria in the homeland for 6 months. The receipt period is 2-3 weeks.
- Entering Bulgaria and applying for a residence permit at the migration office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
- Reviewing the dossier. If the package is fully assembled and the documents are authentic, the decision is made in 7-30 days.
- Card order. The waiting time depends on the urgency and willingness to pay for prompt processing.
Extension and transition to permanent residence
To extend the residence permit, temporary residents are required to collect a new package of papers according to the list, re-pay the state fee, and take it to the Migration Service. The dossier is submitted 15 calendar days before the end of the legalization period. In case of delay, foreigners pay a fine of € 25.
Categories of citizens who receive status without a residence permit:
- Bulgarians by origin who have received certificates from the State Agency of Bulgarians Abroad (the agency is responsible for migration to a foreign country);
- spouses and financially well-off parents of citizens or holders of permanent residence;
- minor children of residents;
- investors who sponsored the economy in the amount of $332,000;
- foreigners with special merits.
Reasons for refusal and cancellation
The waiting period for residence, starting from obtaining an exit visa to a residence card, takes about 3 months. The processing time of the papers depends on the type of status and the correctly assembled set of documents. Common reasons for rejections:
- false information;
- open court case;
- outstanding criminal record;
- visa violations;
- financial problems.
In case of refusal, applicants, after correcting errors, send the dossier again or apply for other types of residences. In case of another refund, you can file appeals with a description of the reasons, scanned documents to the highest authority. If there are repeated administrative violations, a proven fact of a fictitious marriage, or leaving the country for more than 6 months, the status will be revoked.
Features of living with a residence permit in Bulgaria
A country with a favorable investment climate is perfect for immigration, employment, and registration of international companies. For example, many owners relocate businesses together with their teams to optimize costs. A flat tax scale is beneficial for individuals and businesses. The total base includes salaries, individual entrepreneur profits, and passive income. The fixed corporate and individual rate is 10%.
Companies are required to pay taxes from global income. Representative offices of foreign companies are charged interest on profits earned in Bulgaria. For dividends and royalties, taxes do not exceed 5%. Two VAT rates have been approved: 0% for export and 20% for other operations. For microorganisms with an income of up to 50,000 leva, a patent tax with different interest charges is applied. At the same time, Bulgaria has concluded an agreement with most countries on the avoidance of double taxation.
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