Commercial Representation in Bulgaria: Costs and Obligations (2026)
What does a commercial representation in Bulgaria cost? Cost items from documents to BCCI, office, accounting and staff, plus your legal obligations.
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The cost of a commercial representation in Bulgaria has five main parts: preparing the parent company documents (apostille and translation), BCCI registration, office rent, accounting and any staff costs, and residence permit and renewal procedures. Amounts depend on the company and the city, so we do not give figures here. The obligations are: no commercial activity, reporting changes to the BCCI, and meeting the turnover and tax conditions at renewal.
What does the cost depend on?
A representation is a unit without legal personality in Bulgaria. It is a simpler structure than a company. Still, it has regular costs. The total depends on the city of the office, the number of documents, the number of representatives and the number of employees. For a summary of the process, read residence permit through commercial representation.
Below we explain each item. Current amounts should be taken from the institutions and service providers.
Cost items
| Item | What it pays for | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Documents, apostille, translation | Preparing parent company documents, apostille, official Bulgarian translation | At setup; when documents are renewed |
| BCCI registration | Entry in the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry register and fees | At setup; when changes occur |
| Office rent | A lease or use agreement of at least 1 year in Bulgaria | Monthly, for the lease term |
| Accounting | Keeping records, filings and tracking tax compliance | Monthly or yearly |
| Staff | Insurance and payroll if you employ people | Monthly |
| Residence procedures | D visa, residence application, fees and renewal | At application and renewal |
Documents, apostille and translation
The parent company’s trade register extract, certificate of activity, representation decision and power of attorney are prepared. Each receives an apostille and is translated into Bulgarian. Documents must not be older than 6 months. If the time runs out, they are renewed and the cost arises again. See our translation page.
BCCI registration
The representation is entered in the BCCI register. There are fees and processing costs. The process is explained in opening a commercial representation in Bulgaria.
Office rent
For the residence permit you need an office lease of at least 1 year in Bulgaria. Rent varies a lot by city and type of office. The office is recorded as the address of the representation, so choose a real and usable address.
Accounting
A representation does not do commercial activity, so it earns no income. Still, records must be kept in order. At renewal, tax compliance for the last year is checked. This is why accounting support is a small but important item.
Staff
If the representation employs people in Bulgaria, insurance and payroll obligations arise. Employing staff is not mandatory. The headcount condition applies only to residence through a company.
Residence and renewal procedures
There are fees and document costs for the D visa, the residence application and renewal. If family members apply separately, each application has its own cost. For visa documents, see documents for the D visa of a representative.
Obligations of a representation
- No commercial activity: The representation cannot sell or issue invoices in its own name. It only promotes the parent company, does market research and follows business contacts. Commercial activity requires a company.
- Reporting changes: Changes in address, representative, authority or parent company data must be reported to the BCCI. Unreported changes can cause problems.
- Turnover condition: The parent company’s turnover must be at least the equivalent of 100,000 leva. As Bulgaria joined the euro in 2026, the amount is assessed in its euro equivalent.
- Tax compliance: There must be no tax debt for the last 2 years at first registration and for the last year at renewal.
- Number of representatives: At most 2 representatives can get a permit through one representation.
Adapting to the 2025 change
Representations registered before the amendment to the Foreigners Act on 27 June 2025 have a 2-year transition period to meet the new conditions. If they do not, the representation may be removed from the register. If you have an older registration, check your turnover, tax and office conditions now.
What is checked at residence renewal?
The residence permit is issued for a limited period. For renewal, you apply at least 14 days before it ends. At renewal, the parent company’s turnover and tax compliance for the last year are checked. Read more in renewing a Bulgarian residence permit.
Tips to manage the cost
- Prepare documents in one go. If they are not used within 6 months, they must be renewed. Plan appointment dates in advance.
- Choose the office carefully. You do not need an expensive office, but the lease must be at least 1 year and suitable for the register.
- Set up accounting early. Tax compliance is checked at renewal. Missing records get expensive later.
- Write the renewal date in your calendar. You must apply at least 14 days before the end. Being late means extra work and cost.
- Do not hire staff you do not need. Employment is not mandatory. Without need, do not create an insurance and payroll burden.
Comparison with setting up a company
For residence through a company, at least 10 full-time Bulgarian employees are needed per foreigner. This raises staff cost a lot. The representation route has no such condition. See representation or company for the full comparison.
Let us plan the cost with you
To learn what each item means in your case, see our residence permit page. You can send your documents for a free document review or book an online appointment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the total cost of opening a representation?
It depends on the city, the number of documents, the office and staff. For this reason we give no fixed figure. We can work out the items and current fees together.
Does a representation pay tax in Bulgaria?
A representation does no commercial activity, so it has no profit subject to corporate tax. If it employs people, insurance and payroll obligations arise. We advise checking with an accountant.
What if I do not report changes to the BCCI?
Not reporting changes of address, representative or authority can cause problems in the registration and residence procedures. Changes should be reported on time.
What conditions are checked at residence renewal?
The parent company’s turnover must be at least the equivalent of 100,000 leva and there must be no tax debt for the last year. You apply at least 14 days before the permit ends.
Do I have to employ staff?
No. There is no headcount condition for residence through a representation. If you employ people, insurance and payroll obligations arise.
