Grounds for residence of foreign nationals in Bulgaria

Foreign nationals who wish to stay in Bulgaria for a longer period need an appropriate ground and a residence permit. Bulgarian law — primarily the Law on Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria (LFRB) — provides for several regimes: short-term, extended and permanent residence. Choosing the right one is key to a successful procedure.

Short-term residence

Short-term residence is for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. It is granted on the basis of a type C visa (Schengen visa) or a visa-free regime, depending on the nationality of the individual. Short-term residence does not confer the right to work and cannot be extended from within the country.

Extended residence

Extended residence is granted for a period of up to one year, renewable annually. It is issued after obtaining a type D visa and submitting an application to the Migration Directorate. The law provides for numerous grounds, including:

employment under an employment contract (single permit for residence and work);
self-employment or freelance activity;
incorporation and management of a commercial company with sufficient capital and employees;
registration of a trade representative office of a foreign company with the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
acquisition of real estate above a certain statutory value;
family reunification with a person lawfully residing in Bulgaria;
digital nomad — remote work for a non-Bulgarian employer;
studies, research, internships and volunteering;
medical treatment.

Permanent residence

Permanent residence is open-ended and confers practically all civil rights except the right to vote in national elections. It is the step that precedes naturalisation. The most commonly used routes to obtaining it are:

General ground — after five years of residence. A foreign national who has resided lawfully and continuously in Bulgaria for five years may apply for permanent residence.

Investment grounds — directly. The law also provides for direct acquisition of permanent status, without prior extended residence, on the basis of an investment in:

units in Bulgarian collective investment schemes licensed by the Financial Supervision Commission, with a value not lower than BGN 1,000,000;
units in alternative investment funds managed in Bulgaria and licensed or registered with the FSC, with a value not lower than BGN 1,000,000;
shares or bonds of Bulgarian public companies traded on a regulated market, with a market value of at least BGN 2,000,000;
the capital of a Bulgarian company for the implementation of a certified priority investment project, of at least BGN 2,000,000.

The path to citizenship

Permanent residence is the usual prerequisite for applying for Bulgarian citizenship by naturalisation. The law requires five years of continuous residence immediately before the application, except under facilitated grounds — Bulgarian origin, marriage to a Bulgarian national, and investment.

How we can help

We assess the specific situation and recommend the appropriate ground, prepare the complete document package and handle communication with the Migration Directorate and consulates. Contact us for a detailed consultation.