Living in Bulgaria, Route by Route

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens

Citizens of EU and EEA countries and Switzerland can stay in Bulgaria for up to three months with a valid ID card or passport. To stay longer, they apply within three months of arrival to the Migration Directorate of the Ministry of Interior, or the migration office for their address, for a long-term residence certificate. It can be valid for up to five years.

You will need the application form, your ID, proof of address such as a rental contract, the fee receipt, and evidence of why you are staying: an employment contract, proof of self-employment or of a Bulgarian company you own or manage, enrolment, or sufficient means and health insurance.

Other nationalities

Citizens of other countries who want to stay longer than a short visit usually need a long-stay Type D visa, issued by a Bulgarian embassy or consulate, and then a residence permit from the Migration Directorate after arrival. Permits are granted on specific grounds, including:

• employment, usually with a work permit or an EU Blue Card arranged by the employer;
• managing or owning a Bulgarian company that meets the conditions set in the law;
• qualifying investment (see below);
• a pension or sufficient income from abroad;
• family reunification, study or research.

For the details, see visas, work permits and residence permits, including the digital nomad visa and the golden visa. The Moving to Bulgaria checklist covers the steps after arrival, from health insurance to your driving licence. Pensioners should also read Retiring in Bulgaria, and everyone the cost of living guide.

Prolonged residence is granted for up to a year at a time and can be renewed. Long-term residence, valid for five years, is available after five years of continuous legal residence, subject to conditions on housing, income and insurance.

Investor routes

A prolonged residence permit can be granted to holders of a Type D visa who have invested at least BGN 600,000 (about €306,775 at the fixed conversion rate) per person in Bulgarian real estate, or who own more than 50% of a Bulgarian company that has invested the same amount in property.

Article 25 of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act also lists investment routes to permanent residence, involving qualifying securities, concession rights, collective investment schemes and alternative investment funds, company capital and certified investment projects. A bill adopted at first reading on 16 September 2026 proposes stricter rules for permanent residence. It would not remove the investment grounds, but check the current position before committing money. The amounts for each route are listed under investor routes to permanent residence.

Citizenship

Bulgaria abolished citizenship by investment in March 2022. Investment can still lead to residence, but naturalisation follows the general rules of the Bulgarian Citizenship Act, including the required period of residence.

This guide is a general summary, not legal advice. Immigration rules change often. Checked against the sources below in October 2026.