Opening a Bank Account in Bulgaria as a Non-resident

Who can open an account

• EU, EEA and Swiss citizens usually open an account with an identity card or passport and a Bulgarian personal number, often on the same day.
• Non-EU citizens living in Bulgaria need a residence permit, or at least a Type D visa, and the foreigner’s personal number (LNCh); since 2019 most banks refuse personal accounts to non-EU citizens without one.
• Non-EU citizens living abroad can apply, but must show why they need an account in Bulgaria, such as a property purchase or a company here, and several banks decline.
• Companies are checked together with their owners and managers; foreign companies usually go through a pre-approval first.

Source: Innovires Legal: Personal bank account in Bulgaria for foreign citizens (updated 2 October 2026); Melssa: Opening a bank account in Bulgaria as a foreigner (2026); Innovires Legal: Opening a bank account in Bulgaria, a guide for 2026^3,6,4

Every bank applies its own customer checks under the Measures Against Money Laundering Act and can ask for more documents, so it is worth asking two or three banks first. Bulgaria’s banks are compared on Banking and Currency.^3,7

The basic payment account

• Who has the right: anyone legally resident in the EU, of any nationality, including people with no fixed address and asylum seekers.
• What it covers: a euro account in Bulgaria with cash deposits and withdrawals, a debit card including online payments, transfers, standing orders and direct debits.
• Time limit: the bank must open the account or refuse within 10 business days of receiving all the documents.
• Refusal: only if you already hold a basic account or more than one payment account in Bulgaria, or if opening it would breach the anti-money-laundering rules.
• Fees: the services are free or for a reasonable fee; account operations are free where the account receives salary, pensions, social benefits or student grants.

Source: Bulgarian National Bank: Law on Payment Services and Payment Systems; Bulgarian National Bank: Ordinance No 3 on payment accounts; United Bulgarian Bank: Payment account with basic features^1,2,5

Every bank in Bulgaria must offer this account. Ask for it by name; it is a different product from a standard current account.^1,5

Documents

Source: Innovires Legal: Personal bank account in Bulgaria for foreign citizens (updated 2 October 2026); Prikhodko and Partners: Opening a bank account in Bulgaria (UniCredit Bulbank requirements); Innovires Legal: Opening a bank account in Bulgaria, a guide for 2026^3,8,4

Some banks also ask for a tax return from your home country, a criminal record certificate or a reference from another bank. Expect questions on the source of funds, especially for large deposits.^3,4

In person or remote

• Personal accounts: banks generally need you in the branch for the first identification; opening through a power of attorney is possible in theory but rarely accepted.
• Company accounts: a representative with a notarised power of attorney, made at a Bulgarian embassy or before a notary with an apostille and translation, can attend for a foreign company; not every bank accepts this for new clients.
• Online opening is limited: UniCredit Bulbank accepts remote registration only from Bulgarian companies whose legal representative is a Bulgarian citizen, and DSK Bank’s digital capital account is for new EOODs wholly owned by Bulgarians.
• Electronic money institutions such as Revolut or Paysera can be opened remotely and let a new company invoice while the bank account is arranged, but they are not Bulgarian bank accounts.

Source: Innovires Legal: Personal bank account in Bulgaria for foreign citizens (updated 2 October 2026); Innovires Legal: Opening a bank account in Bulgaria, a guide for 2026; UniCredit Bulbank: Comfort remote banking, questions and answers; Bulgaria HQ: Opening a business bank account for an EOOD as a non-resident; Bulgarian LLC: Bulgarian banks for non-residents (2026)^3,4,9,10,7

Company accounts and timing

For a foreign company the bank first runs a pre-approval on the company and its beneficial owners, those holding 25% or more, which usually takes one to two weeks. The original documents are then presented in the branch and the account is activated within one to three business days. Most banks open accounts for Bulgarian companies without pre-approval, often on the same day.⁴

A new Bulgarian company first needs a capital account to pay in its capital before registration; for a founder abroad the operating account usually takes three to five weeks in all. The steps are on Company Formation.¹¹