Bulgarian law offers several investment-based grounds for directly acquiring permanent residence. They lead to an indefinite status without a continuous physical-stay requirement and, after five years, open a path to Bulgarian citizenship.
The investment pathways
Among the most commonly used grounds are:
- acquiring units in Bulgarian collective investment schemes licensed by the Financial Supervision Commission, with a value not lower than BGN 1,000,000;
- acquiring 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;
- investment in shares or bonds of Bulgarian public companies traded on a regulated market, with a market value of at least BGN 2,000,000;
- contribution to the capital of a Bulgarian company for the implementation of a certified priority investment project, of at least BGN 2,000,000.
Advantages
This regime is particularly attractive because it:
- leads directly to permanent residence, without annual renewal of the status;
- does not require physical presence in the country beyond maintaining the investment;
- after five years of permanent residence, opens the possibility of applying for Bulgarian citizenship.
The procedure in outline
The procedure has several main stages — preliminary review by the Bulgarian Investment Agency, making the investment through a licensed investment intermediary, certification by the competent authority, issuance of a Visa D, and finally the permanent residence permit.
Points to keep in mind
Investment schemes require detailed checks on the source of funds (AML and KYC), correctly drafted declarations and strict compliance with anti-money-laundering rules. Documents for a foreign investor typically require apostille and certified translation.
How we can help
Structuring the investment is key — the choice between a fund, shares or a certified project has different implications for timing, flexibility and risk. Contact us for an analysis of your case and full legal handling of the procedure.
Note
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Legislation changes over time — for current, binding guidance on your case, please contact us.