Bulgaria: receiving a residence permit

Parent Category: ROOT Published: Friday, 05 November 2021

Residence permit in Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, there is not only inexpensive real estate, but also the sea with clean beaches (many have the Blue Flag sign), a mild climate, affordable food prices, a huge number of mineral springs and attractions.

It is not surprising that many are interested in the possibility of getting a residence permit in Bulgaria for the purpose of subsequent emigration.

What does a residence permit in Bulgaria give?

After obtaining a permit to stay, you will be able to:

stay in the Republic of Bulgaria for 1 year with unlimited entry-exit;
send your child to a kindergarten or school for free;
study at a university on a paid basis;
open your own business;
buy a car for a company or sales representative;
visit Cyprus, Romania, and Croatia without opening a visa;
receive mobile communication and Internet services at a better price;
invite others to your place.

Grounds for obtaining a residence permit in Bulgaria

You can get a permit to stay based on:

family reunification;
study;
employment under the official permission from the Employment Agency or an international agreement;
opening a sales office;
long-term treatment;
marriage with a Bulgarian citizen;
large investments;
moving to permanent residence under the “secured pensioner” program.

Family reunification

A citizen of Bulgaria or a foreigner with a residence permit status has the right to bring close family members to the country: spouse, children, brother, sister.

The first step is to obtain permission from the Migration Agency for family reunification. To do this, you need to confirm a close relationship with the person with whom you want to reunite and issue a sponsorship letter stating that you undertake to contain it.

Having received permission, you must apply for a D visa, register at the place of residence in the country, and apply for a permit to stay in Bulgaria based on family reunification.

woman holding man and toddler hands during daytime

The following documents are required:

reunification application;
notarized guarantee of the availability of funds to ensure the family’s life in Bulgaria;
passports’ photocopies of the family members with whom you want to reunite;
documents on the availability of housing (own or rented);
a certified and legalized certificate of the presence/absence of a criminal record;
marriage certificate (for spouse) or birth certificate (for child).

Training

The Aliens Act states that admission to a local university on a paid basis gives the right to obtain a residence permit in Bulgaria.

After arriving in the country on a D visa, you need to obtain permission from the Ministry of Education of Bulgaria, where you must submit the following package of documents:

certificate or diploma;
notarized photocopy of your passport;
medical book;
academic certificate on the number of hours listened;
consent from student’s legal representatives to pay for tuition;
statement from an account in a Bulgarian bank about the balance of funds;
registration documents;
a photo.

Then, together with a permit from the Ministry of Education, it is necessary to prepare the following documents for obtaining a residence permit in the Republic of Bulgaria:

international passport (including a copy);
visa application form;
2 photos;
medical insurance;
receipt of the balance of money in the account in the Bulgarian bank;
criminal record certificate;
documents confirming the availability of housing.

Consider also the fact that in addition, you need to pass an online test for proficiency in English (you will have to pay 150 € for it.

Employment

To get a residence permit in Bulgaria based on employment, the employer must request permission from the National Employment Agency, providing:

passport with a D visa;
a photo;
proof of accommodation;
medical certificate;
a document describing the type of activity you will be doing.

The following professions are in demand in Bulgaria: IT specialists, teachers for school institutions, teachers for universities, medical workers, and employees of various specializations in working with tourists. See the jobs.bg website for up-to-date information.

Moving under the program "secured pensioner"

Foreigners who have received the right to a pension (no matter on what basis) and have at least € 3,000 in an account in a Bulgarian bank, as well as provided with housing (own or rented), have the right to obtain a residence permit in Bulgaria.

woman sitting on seashore

Here is a list of documents that a pensioner needs to submit to the Migration Service:

application for a residence permit;
passport valid for at least 18 months + a copy of the first page with a photo, with a "D" visa and the seal of the last entry into Bulgaria;
notarial deed for own housing or lease agreement;
a notarized copy of the pension certificate (with translation into Bulgarian and legalization);
a photocopy of the certificate of the received a pension for the last three months (with translation and legalization);
certificate of no criminal record;
extract from a Bulgarian bank confirming the availability of funds in the amount of more than 12 minimum pensions in the Republic of Bulgaria;
medical insurance with coverage from € 30,000;
receipt of payment of the fee for consideration of the application at the Directorate for Migration.

Marriage

The spouse of a Bulgarian citizen has the right to get a residence permit in Bulgaria on the basis of a marriage certificate.

After obtaining a D visa at the Bulgarian embassy at the place of residence, you must arrive in the country and submit the following documents to the Migration Service:

application for a residence permit;
international passport (original + photocopy);
marriage certificate;
notarized paper confirming that the spouse has money and housing;
compulsory health insurance policy valid for more than 1 year;
criminal record certificate.

Investments

You can get a permit to stay in Bulgaria if you buy real estate there for an amount of € 300,000 or more under the Golden Visa program or own at least 51% of the shares of a Bulgarian company that has invested € 300,000 or more in Bulgarian real estate.

Treatment

If you have health certificates and have agreed on a treatment plan with a doctor in the Bulgarian hospital, you can expect to receive a permit to stay, provided that you:

need long-term treatment;
have enough money to pay for the course of treatment;

(The Bulgarian social service will not have to bear the costs of your hospital stay);

you don't need constant medical attention.

Expenses for obtaining a residence permit in the Republic of Bulgaria

Here are some of the cost items:

consideration of the application at the Directorate for Migration - 5 €;
residence permit - 100 € for six months or 250 € for a year;
getting a personal card - 22 € for 1 month, 45 € for 10 days, 110 € for 3 days;
registration on the basis of a sales representative - from 580 €.