Residence Permits in Bulgaria
Step by step
How to apply for a prolonged residence permit in Bulgaria
Non-EU nationals apply to the Migration Directorate after arriving in Bulgaria on a Type D visa and meeting a qualifying ground for residence.
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Check your eligibility
You need a ground under the Foreigners Act, such as employment, a qualifying business, property investment or family circumstances.
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Arrive on a Type D visa
Non-EU nationals apply for a prolonged residence permit after arriving in Bulgaria on a Type D visa.
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Prepare your documents
Show accommodation, health insurance and means of at least the Bulgarian minimum wage or pension for the period of stay.
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Apply to the Directorate
Submit your application to the Migration Directorate. Most applications are decided within 14 days, or within an additional month if documents are missing.
The types of residence
| Status | Who | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| EU registration certificate | EU, EEA and Swiss citizens staying more than 3 months | Up to 5 years |
| Prolonged residence | Non-EU nationals with a Type D visa and a ground under the Foreigners Act | Up to 1 year, renewable |
| Long-term residence | After 5 years of legal, uninterrupted residence | Permanent status |
| Permanent residence | Qualifying investors, people of Bulgarian origin, some family members of Bulgarian citizens and others listed in the law | Permanent |
Source: Ministry of Interior: Long-term residence for EU citizens (leaflet, PDF); Ministry of Interior: Prolonged residence permit for foreigners (DOCX); Ministry of Interior: Long-term residence for foreigners (DOCX); Ministry of Interior: Granting permanent residence to foreigners (DOCX)7,1,3,9
Grounds for prolonged residence
- Employment, with a permit from the Employment Agency.
- Running a business that has created at least 10 full-time jobs for Bulgarian citizens, kept for the whole residence; the condition applies to each partner and manager.
- Representing a foreign company registered with the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
- Property investment of at least BGN 600,000 (€306,775) per person, directly or through a Bulgarian company more than 50% owned.
- Pensioners with sufficient means, foreign correspondents and people in long-term medical treatment.
- Family members of foreign residents, and financially secure parents of Bulgarian citizens.
Source: Ministry of Interior: Prolonged residence permit for foreigners (DOCX)1
Applicants show accommodation, health insurance and at least the Bulgarian minimum wage or pension in means for the period of stay. Most applications are decided within 14 days, or a month longer if documents are missing.1,6
Digital nomads
- In force since 1 July 2025, for non-EU nationals who work remotely for clients or employers outside Bulgaria.
- You must work for an employer outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, own more than 25% of a company there, or have freelanced for foreign clients for at least a year.
- Income in the previous calendar year must be at least 50 times the Bulgarian minimum monthly wage: about €27,500 on the 2025 wage, or €31,010 on the 2026 wage of €620.20.
- Apply for a Type D visa first, then for the permit within 14 days of arrival. The permit lasts a year and can be renewed once; no work permit is needed.
Source: Kinstellar: Bulgaria introduces residence permit for digital nomads; Euronews: Bulgaria has launched a digital nomad visa5,8
Permanent residence for investors
| Investment | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Shares or bonds of Bulgarian companies traded on a Bulgarian regulated market or trading system | BGN 2,000,000 (€1,022,584) |
| Rights under concession contracts in Bulgaria | BGN 1,000,000 (€511,292) |
| Bulgarian collective investment schemes with net assets of at least BGN 5 million | BGN 1,000,000 (€511,292) |
| Bulgarian alternative investment funds with assets of at least BGN 3 million | BGN 1,000,000 (€511,292) |
| Capital of a company running a certified priority investment project | BGN 2,000,000 (€1,022,584) |
| Capital of an unlisted Bulgarian company | BGN 6,000,000 (€3,067,751) |
| Capital of a company you control at least 50%, with new assets of the same value and 10 jobs for Bulgarians | BGN 500,000 (€255,646) |
| Holding a property investment for 5 years after prolonged residence | BGN 600,000 (€306,775) |
Source: State Gazette No. 109/2025: Application form for permanent residence, Annex 4 (Bulgarian, PDF); Ministry of Interior: Prolonged residence permit for foreigners (DOCX)4,1
The law sets the amounts in leva; euro figures are at BGN 1.95583. Applications are decided within two months, or four in complex cases.4,9
Long-term and permanent residence
- Long-term residence: after five years of legal, uninterrupted residence, with a year of stable means, health insurance and accommodation. Apply at least two months before your permit expires; the decision takes two months, or four in complex cases.
- Citizenship: naturalisation is possible five years after a permanent residence permit, with Bulgarian language, income and a clean record, and giving up your current citizenship.
Source: Ministry of Interior: Long-term residence for foreigners (DOCX); Bulgarian Citizenship Act, article 12 (English translation, PDF)3,10
A bill filed in Parliament on 28 July 2026 would let the authorities withdraw permanent residence from foreigners who spent less than six months and a day in Bulgaria in the previous calendar year. Parliament adopted it at first reading on 16 September 2026; the second reading was still pending when this page was checked.11,12
State fees
| Prolonged residence, up to 6 months | €102.26 (BGN 200) |
|---|---|
| Prolonged residence, up to 1 year | €255.65 (BGN 500), plus €5.11 for the application |
| Long-term residence | €56.24 (BGN 110) |
| Permanent residence | €511.29 (BGN 1,000), plus €5.11 |
| Residence card | €23.01 (BGN 45); double for issue in 3 working days |
| EU citizen’s certificate | €3.58 (BGN 7) |
Source: Ministry of Interior: Fees for foreigners under Tariff No. 4 (DOC); Ministry of Economy, Investments and Industry: Hiring employees who are foreign nationals2,6
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a one-year prolonged residence permit cost in Bulgaria?
The state fee for a prolonged residence permit valid for up to one year is €255.65, plus a €5.11 application fee.
What are the grounds for getting prolonged residence in Bulgaria?
Non-EU nationals need a Type D visa and a qualifying ground under the Foreigners Act. Grounds include employment, representing a foreign company, qualifying family circumstances, or a business creating at least 10 full-time jobs for Bulgarian citizens. Property investment must be at least BGN 600,000 (€306,775) per person.
How many years do I need to live in Bulgaria to get long-term residence?
You need five years of legal, uninterrupted residence in Bulgaria to apply for long-term residence. You must also show a year of stable means, health insurance and accommodation, and apply at least two months before your permit expires.
What investment qualifies for permanent residence in Bulgaria?
Qualifying investments include BGN 2,000,000 (€1,022,584) in shares or bonds of Bulgarian companies traded on a regulated market, or BGN 6,000,000 (€3,067,751) in the capital of an unlisted Bulgarian company.
What is the income requirement for Bulgaria’s digital nomad permit?
For a Bulgaria digital nomad permit, income in the previous calendar year must be at least 50 times the Bulgarian minimum monthly wage. This is about €31,010 using the 2026 minimum monthly wage of €620.20; the permit has been in force since 1 July 2025.
Sources
- Ministry of Interior: Prolonged residence permit for foreigners (DOCX)
- Ministry of Interior: Fees for foreigners under Tariff No. 4 (DOC)
- Ministry of Interior: Long-term residence for foreigners (DOCX)
- State Gazette No. 109/2025: Application form for permanent residence, Annex 4 (Bulgarian, PDF)
- Kinstellar: Bulgaria introduces residence permit for digital nomads
- Ministry of Economy, Investments and Industry: Hiring employees who are foreign nationals
- Ministry of Interior: Long-term residence for EU citizens (leaflet, PDF)
- Euronews: Bulgaria has launched a digital nomad visa
- Ministry of Interior: Granting permanent residence to foreigners (DOCX)
- Bulgarian Citizenship Act, article 12 (English translation, PDF)
- The Legation Times: Bulgaria’s proposed stay rule for permanent residents
- National Assembly: Bill amending the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, 52-602-01-29
Figures checked 13 October 2026. Prepared by InvestBulgaria for general information. It is not investment, tax or legal advice; please confirm details with a qualified adviser before acting.
