Moving to Bulgaria: A Checklist

Choose your residence route

Source: Ministry of Interior: Act on entering, residing and leaving the Republic of Bulgaria of EU citizens; Ministry of Interior: Prolonged residence permit for foreigners (DOCX); European Commission, EU Immigration Portal: EU Blue Card in Bulgaria; Kinstellar: Bulgaria introduces residence permit for digital nomads (July 2025); Ministry of Interior: Granting permanent residence to foreigners (DOCX)^1,4,19,18,20

Non-EU nationals apply for the Type D visa at a Bulgarian embassy or consulate before travelling; see Visas and Embassies.⁴

Prove an address

Every residence application needs proof of address: a title deed, a lease, or a declaration from the owner that they provide you with the address. If the owner does not file the declaration in person, their signature must be notarised.^5,4

Buying a home has its own rules for foreigners; see Buying Property in Bulgaria.

Register with the Migration Directorate

• EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can stay three months on an ID card or passport, then apply to the Migration Directorate or the migration office for their address. The certificate is issued on the day of application and can be valid for up to five years.
• They bring the application form, ID, proof of address and evidence of why they are staying: work, self-employment, a company they own or manage, study, or health insurance and sufficient means. Translations need no notarisation.
• The fee is BGN 7 (€3.58) for the paper certificate, or BGN 18 (€9.20) for a card; double for issue in 3 working days.
• Other nationalities apply in person for a residence permit after arriving on the Type D visa, and receive a residence card with their personal number for foreigners (LNCh).

Source: Ministry of Interior: Act on entering, residing and leaving the Republic of Bulgaria of EU citizens; Ministry of Interior: Long-term residence for EU citizens (leaflet, PDF); Ministry of Interior: Fees for foreigners under Tariff No. 4 (DOC); Innovires: How to apply for the Bulgaria digital nomad visa^1,2,3,6

Health insurance

• Employees pay into the National Health Insurance Fund through payroll: 8% of pay, 4.8% from the employer and 3.2% from the employee.
• Non-EU nationals on prolonged residence owe no contribution and pay for their care, unless a treaty provides otherwise; the obligation starts with long-term or permanent residence. Private insurance valid in Bulgaria is needed for the visa and the permit.
• EU citizens use the European Health Insurance Card for temporary stays. Those insured in another EU country, such as pensioners, register their S1 form with the Fund instead of paying in Bulgaria.
• Once insured, you choose a GP who has a contract with the Fund; you need a referral from your GP to see a specialist.

Source: PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Bulgaria, individual, other taxes; National Revenue Agency: Health-insured persons (Bulgarian); National Health Insurance Fund: International affairs; GOV.UK: Healthcare for UK nationals living in Bulgaria^8,7,9,10

Banking and tax

Bulgaria has used the euro since 1 January 2026. Banks, accounts and deposit insurance are on Banking and Currency.¹⁷

You become tax resident with a permanent address in Bulgaria, more than 183 days in the country in any 12 months, or your centre of vital interests there. Residents pay a flat 10% on worldwide income; see Income Tax.^15,16

Your driving licence

• EU, EEA and Swiss licences are recognised and need not be exchanged while they are valid.
• With a non-EU licence, a foreign resident may drive for up to a year from the date of the residence document, then needs a Bulgarian licence.
• Licences from countries party to the Convention on Road Traffic, or with an agreement with Bulgaria, can be exchanged; otherwise you take the Bulgarian test.
• You exchange the licence at the Traffic Police with your Bulgarian identity document and a medical fitness card from a GP. The fee is BGN 25 (€12.78) up to age 58, and the licence takes up to 30 days, or 10 days at double the fee.

Source: Bulgaristan.bg: Exchanging a foreign driving licence in Bulgaria; Bulgaria Watch: Driving licences for foreigners in Bulgaria; GOV.UK: Living in Bulgaria; Ministry of Interior: Replacing a foreign driving licence with a Bulgarian one^13,14,12,11

Bringing pets

• Dogs, cats and ferrets need a microchip, then a rabies vaccination given after the chip.
• From another EU country they travel on a European pet passport.
• From outside the EU they need an EU animal health certificate issued by an official vet no more than 10 days before arrival, and, from most non-EU countries, a rabies antibody test.

Source: Your Europe: Travelling with pets and other animals in the EU²¹

Settling in

A monthly budget is on Cost of Living in Bulgaria, and nature and life in Sofia on Quality of Life; everyday basics such as money, phones and driving are on Practical Tips, and the alphabet and phrases on Language. Immigration lawyers in Bulgaria can handle the paperwork.