Residence permit in Bulgaria through the opening of a representative office of the company

If you are considering moving to Bulgaria through business, our company offers personal advice from experienced migration lawyers. We will help you understand the nuances of company registration, prepare the documents and accompany the process from start to finish. This is guaranteed to save you time and minimize the risk of failure.

The legal basis of the business immigration program in Bulgaria is based on the Law on Foreigners, which provides for obtaining a residence permit for representatives of foreign companies. This provision allows citizens of countries outside the EU to open a trade representative office of their foreign organization in Bulgaria, which becomes the basis for a residence permit. The program is available to those who own or represent a company outside Bulgaria.

In addition to opening a representative office that focuses on non-profit activities such as marketing or coordination, other types of businesses are allowed for immigration in Bulgaria. For example, you can register a full-fledged company (OOD or ED) with a minimum capital of € 1, engage in trade, IT development or tourism. Or invest in real estate, which also leads to obtaining a residence permit if the amount exceeds BGN 600,000. These options add flexibility. A representative office is also suitable if you want to test the market without risk, and a full-fledged organization will allow you to conduct real business and hire employees.

Opening a business in Bulgaria through a representative office opens up a number of advantages that make this path attractive to entrepreneurs.

Key requirements

Obtaining a residence permit through a trade representative office is based on several clear conditions, which the Bulgarian authorities tightened in 2025. The parent company cannot be a young startup – the minimum age is 2 years. This rule appeared after an analysis of migration flows: too many empty companies were used solely for obtaining residency.

The tax history of the parent company must be impeccable. Any debts automatically close the way to a Bulgarian residence permit. The financial requirements for the applicant are also specific. The bank account must have at least 2,900€ per month.

Business plan Features

A sales representative office is fundamentally different from a regular company: it cannot engage in commercial activities and make a profit. In fact, it is a marketing showcase of foreign business in Bulgaria. You can advertise products or services of the parent company, establish contacts, and explore the market. Such a structure does not pay income tax, since by definition there is no profit.

This nuance makes the representative office an ideal tool for testing the Bulgarian market without serious financial risks. Many entrepreneurs use it as combat intelligence. They study the possibilities first, and then decide whether to open a full-fledged company.y

Business registration procedure

The registration of a trade representative office takes place through the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The document flow is fairly standard: you need the parent company’s constituent documents, translated and apostilled, plus a power of attorney for a representative. The process takes from 1 to 4 weeks, but a lot depends on the quality of the preparation of documents. Experienced lawyers can handle it faster because they know the rough edges of Bulgarian law and prepare packages taking into account local peculiarities.

A residence permit is issued for 1 year with the right to extend. The application is considered for 2 weeks, and the production of a plastic card takes from 3 days to a month. This variability is related to the workload of migration services – there are traditionally more queues in the summer months. The law does not set strict requirements for the number of days that must be spent in Bulgaria to maintain a residence permit. However, the migration service monitors the reality of the representative office’s activities – if it exists only on paper, the residence permit may not be extended.

Path to permanent residence/citizenship

The classic route looks like this: 5 years of residence permit, then permanent residence, another 5 years – and you can apply for a Bulgarian passport. Continuity of residence is critically important – any long-term departures may affect the possibility of an extension.

Permanent residence requires confirmation of the absence of a criminal record both in Bulgaria and in the country of origin. The documents must be apostilled and translated. Financial viability is also checked. The authorities want to make sure that the new permanent resident does not become a burden to the social system.

Immigration with family

The spouse and minor children automatically receive the right to a residence permit together with the main applicant. This is one of the main advantages of the Bulgarian program – family immigration takes place within a single package of documents without additional procedures.

Investments in the project and the cost of registration

A trade representative office does not require the formation of an authorized capital – this is a cardinal difference from a regular company. If we talk about the registration of a full-fledged OOD (limited liability company), then Bulgarian legislation demonstrates liberality here. The minimum amount is only 1€. This makes Bulgaria one of the most accessible jurisdictions in the EU to start.

State duties and fees

Representative offices of foreign companies are registered through the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for 120€. Additionally, you will need to pay for the receipt of the BULSTAT statistical number – 65 leva, and the current registration certificate – 70 leva. These amounts are fixed and do not depend on the size of the company or the complexity of the structure.

Hidden costs often exceed official fees. A legal address costs from 200 to 3,000euros per year, depending on the prestige of the location and the package of services. Transfers and legalization of documents are a separate expense item. Each page costs about BGN 50, and if the founders include foreign legal entities, the bill can reach several hundred euros only for transfers.

Such amounts make the banking stage one of the most expensive during the registration process. Accounting services start from € 30 per month, but the actual cost depends on the number of transactions and the complexity of the reporting.

The registration process is step-by-step

Obtaining a residence permit through a trade representative office requires a consistent passage of several key stages. Each of them has its own pitfalls, which can delay the process for months if you do not take them into account in advance.

1. Assessment of opportunities. An honest assessment of the parent company’s compliance. Bulgarian officials have been carefully studying the balance sheet and the profit statement in recent years. Documents should show stable activity, not a formal existence on paper. If the company is young, it is better to wait or find alternative ways. The applicant’s personal finances also play a role. Many underestimate this point, and then get rejected at the final stage due to insufficient capital.

2. Preparation of a business plan. A trade representative office cannot engage in commercial activities, which radically distinguishes it from an ordinary company. A business plan should clearly show the non-commercial nature of future activities – marketing, partner search, market research, but not sales or making a profit. Abstract formulations like “business development” can lead to rejection. An important caveat: the plan should explain exactly why you need a physical presence in Bulgaria. Simply wanting to get a residence permit is not enough – you need to convince officials of the business necessity of moving.

3. Company registration. The representative office is registered through the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The parent company must decide on the establishment of a representative office and appoint an official representative – this is formalized by a protocol or a decision of the sole participant.

4. Preparation of documents. The dossier requires special attention to detail, as any mistake can reset months of work. All documents of the parent company must be translated into Bulgarian and certified with an apostille. The applicant’s personal documents are also fully legalized. A certificate of non-criminal record must be received no earlier than 3 months before filing. A medical certificate is issued in a special form.

5. Applying for a residence permit. The application is submitted to the Bulgarian Consulate in the country of registration of the parent company or directly to the migration service in Sofia. The interview is a key moment of the whole process. The consul evaluates not only the documents, but also the sincerity of the applicant’s intentions. Get ready to answer questions about the details of the business plan, plans for the future and the reasons for choosing Bulgaria. Uncertain answers can become grounds for refusal, even with an ideal package of documents.

6. Getting permission. A residence permit is issued in the form of a plastic card, which takes from 3 days to 1 month to produce. The card can be obtained in person or through a trusted person. It is important to remember that the renewal documents must be submitted 2 months before the expiration of the current permit. Delay is fraught with administrative fines and may complicate further extension.

Risks and ways to minimize them

During the registration process, applicants most often face the following problems:

Financial risks are associated not only with initial investments, but also with current expenses, which many underestimate. Bank accounts in Bulgaria require maintaining a minimum balance, and fees can eat up a significant portion of the budget. Some banks charge up to 50€ per month for servicing a corporate account at low turnover.

Over the years of practice, we have encountered the most unusual situations and developed proven algorithms for solving them. Self-registration of a residence permit through a representative office is theoretically possible, but it is practically fraught with loss of time and money. The Bulgarian bureaucracy has many unwritten rules that only practitioners know. What is formally allowed may not work in practice due to changes in administrative practice.

Comprehensive support is cheaper than point-to-point consultations, especially when the process is delayed due to unforeseen circumstances. The fixed cost of services protects against unexpected expenses and makes it possible to plan a budget. Our experience shows that clients with full support receive a residence permit on average 2 months faster than those who save on legal services.

Comparison of programs from different countries

The European business immigration map is diverse. The Bulgarian model of trade representation against the background of the requirements of neighboring countries looks quite simple. Minimal bureaucracy, symbolic financial thresholds, and no income tax. However, this simplicity hides the strict control of the reality of the activity – the authorities have learned to distinguish real business from migration schemes.

Comparative table of program requirements