Bulgarian Residence Permit

To stay in Bulgaria for more than 3 months, a foreigner first obtains a type D visa and then applies for a residence permit at the Migration Directorate (Дирекция „Миграция“). The purpose of residence decides everything: family, commercial representation, company, work, study or retirement. Each route has its own conditions and documents, so choosing the right one at the start saves time.

If you want to live, work or be with your family in Bulgaria for the long term, a Bulgarian residence permit is the first step. A residence permit can also be a first step on the way to Bulgarian citizenship. This page explains the options in plain language and points you to a detailed guide for each one.

How do you get a Bulgarian residence permit?

The process generally follows this order:

Decide the purpose of residence. Family, commercial representation, company partnership, work, study and retirement are the main routes.
Obtain a type D visa. You apply at the Bulgarian mission in your home country (for example Türkiye) or the country where you live.
Enter Bulgaria and apply. After entering with the visa, you apply for the residence permit at the Migration Directorate.
Collect the card. Once the decision is made, the residence card is issued.

At every stage the documents must be complete, up to date, apostilled and officially translated into Bulgarian. For the document list, see our guide to residence permit documents and our step-by-step application article.

Types of residence permit

Type	Who is it for?	Details
Family reunification	Spouse, child or parent of a Bulgarian or EU citizen	Family reunification service
Commercial representation	Representative of a foreign company in Bulgaria	Section below
Company partnership	Foreign partner who sets up a company in Bulgaria	Company formation
Work	People who will work for a Bulgarian employer	The employer’s procedures are required
Study	People who will study in Bulgaria	School admission is required
Retirement	People with a pension income	Retirement residence article

Residence through family

A foreign family member of a Bulgarian or EU citizen receives an “EU citizen family member residence card”. Continuous residence is granted for up to 5 years, and the card is issued within 3 months. For details, see our article on residence through a Bulgarian spouse.

Work, study and retirement

For these three types, the applicant must document the purpose: an employment contract and the employer’s procedures, a school admission document or proof of pension income. Because the conditions change from time to time, we check the current position before you apply. Citizenship by investment was abolished in 2022; an investment alone does not give a right to citizenship.

Residence permit through commercial representation

When a foreign company opens a commercial representation in Bulgaria, its representative can obtain a residence permit. The route rests on Article 24(1)(6) of the Foreigners Act, and the conditions were clarified by an amendment dated 27.06.2025. The conditions are:

BCCI registration: the representation must be entered in the register of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI).
Number of representatives: at most 2 representatives per representation can obtain residence.
Parent company turnover: the foreign parent company’s turnover must be at least the equivalent of 100,000 leva. Since Bulgaria has used the euro since 2026, this is about 51,130 €.
Tax compliance: there must be no tax debt. The last 2 years are checked at first registration and the last year at renewal.
Office: an office lease of at least 1 year is required.
Fresh documents: the documents filed must not be older than 6 months.

Application steps

Preliminary check: we review the parent company’s turnover, tax position and commercial register documents.
Registration: the representation is entered in the BCCI register.
Office: an office is rented under a lease of at least 1 year.
Visa and residence: a D visa is obtained for the representative, followed by the residence application at the Migration Directorate.
Follow-up: after the decision the card is issued and renewal dates are put in the calendar.

Documents being no older than 6 months is the point most often missed in rushed files. Company documents issued abroad must be apostilled and officially translated into Bulgarian. You can use our translation service for this.

How it differs from the company route

Residence through a company (Foreigners Act, Art. 24(1)(2)) requires employing at least 10 full-time Bulgarian employees per foreigner. This can be a heavy burden for small and medium-sized businesses. The commercial representation route has no such staffing condition; instead the parent company’s turnover, tax compliance and office conditions apply. To see which one suits you, read our article on representation or company.

Which article should you read?

To see the process from start to finish: Residence permit through commercial representation
To learn how the representation is set up: Opening a commercial representation in Bulgaria
For the visa stage: Type D visa documents for representatives
For obligations: Commercial representation costs and obligations

If your parent company’s turnover and tax position meet the conditions, this route may be suitable. If you are unsure, you can first upload your documents for a free document review. Companies whose turnover or tax record is not sufficient may need to choose another route.

The type D visa

The type D visa is the national visa that lets you stay in Bulgaria for more than 3 months, and it is the first condition for a residence application. You apply at the consulate with documents prepared for your purpose of residence. Consulates may ask for extra documents such as a bank balance and health insurance; amounts can change, so the current list should be confirmed before you apply. For details, see our article on the type D visa and our visa service.

Which route suits me?

Ask yourself these questions:

Are you married to a Bulgarian or EU citizen, or are you their child or parent? Family reunification is usually the most direct route.
Do you own a foreign company and want a representative in Bulgaria? If the company’s turnover meets the condition, commercial representation can be considered.
Will you set up a new company in Bulgaria and employ staff? The company route and the 10-employee condition come into play.
Do you have a job offer or school admission? A work or study permit fits.
Do you have a pension income? The retirement route requires the income to be documented.

If several options seem possible, a short preliminary assessment often shows the least costly one. If an application is refused, it is better to understand the reason for the gap than to try again with the same documents.

Preparing your documents

Foreign documents must be apostilled and officially translated into Bulgarian.
Names must be spelled in the documents exactly as in the passport.
Health insurance, an address and proof of income are usually requested; details vary by type.
Keep track of validity dates; an outdated document delays the file.
The application can be run by power of attorney; we tell you at the preliminary assessment which stages require your personal presence.

Renewing a residence permit

Renewal is quicker than the first application but needs the same care. New documents, valid health insurance and records showing that the purpose of residence continues are required. For commercial representation, the office lease and tax position must be current; for family routes, marriage or family documents must be up to date.

The application must be made to the Migration Directorate at least 14 days before the permit expires. The decision period is 14 days; in complex cases 1 month may be added. Leaving it to the last day increases the risk of a gap in your residence. At renewal of a commercial representation, the tax position of the last year is checked. For more, see our article on renewing a residence permit.

Permanent residence

After 5 years of continuous legal residence you can apply for permanent residence. The word “continuous” matters: a gap in renewal or long periods abroad may affect the period. For the conditions, see our article on permanent residence.

Residence permit versus citizenship

A residence permit is the right to stay lawfully in Bulgaria as a foreigner; citizenship is a separate status. A card holder cannot obtain a Bulgarian passport or vote. On the other hand, if you have Bulgarian origin or a Bulgarian parent, you can go straight to citizenship without a residence permit. To see which right you hold, look at our citizenship services page. For some people citizenship is a shorter and more lasting solution than a residence permit.

After you receive the card

Note the expiry date and the last day to apply for renewal in your calendar.
Report a change of address to the competent authority.
On the representation or company route, keep up with tax and registration obligations; these are checked at renewal.
If you will spend long periods abroad, ask beforehand whether it affects the continuous period needed for permanent residence.

When are there simplified routes?

If you are of Bulgarian origin, you can apply for citizenship without residence or language requirements.
People whose mother or father is Bulgarian can apply for citizenship through them.
If you are married to a Bulgarian citizen, you can apply for a visa at the Bulgarian representations in your home country, obtain a residence permit and use the family reunification options.
Investors can obtain a residence permit in Bulgaria. The citizenship-by-investment programme, however, was abolished in 2022: an investment no longer grants citizenship on its own, and the general residence and language requirements apply.

How does the process work?

Preliminary assessment: we review your situation and documents and determine the right application route.
File preparation: we take care of obtaining, translating and notarising the documents.
Application: we submit your complete file to the competent authority.
Follow-up: we follow the process until it is concluded and keep you informed of every development.

Common mistakes

Collecting documents before deciding the purpose of residence
Filing documents without an apostille or an official translation
Leaving the renewal application to the last days
Not checking the parent company’s turnover and tax conditions first for a representation
Not resolving differences in how names are written (for example Latin and Cyrillic spellings) in the documents

Frequently asked questions

Is a D visa required for a Bulgarian residence permit?

If you will stay more than 3 months, yes: the type D visa is the first condition for a residence application. It is applied for with documents that match your purpose of residence.

How many people can get residence through a commercial representation?

At most 2 representatives per representation can obtain a residence permit. The representation must be entered in the BCCI register.

What turnover must the parent company have for a commercial representation?

The parent company’s turnover must be at least the equivalent of 100,000 leva, which is about 51,130 €. You must also have no tax debt for the last 2 years and an office lease of at least 1 year.

When should a residence permit be renewed?

The application must be made to the Migration Directorate at least 14 days before the permit expires. The decision period is 14 days, and 1 month may be added in complex cases.

How many years are needed for permanent residence?

You can apply for permanent residence after 5 years of continuous legal residence.

Can I give a power of attorney for the residence permit?

Many steps can be carried out by power of attorney. We explain at the preliminary assessment which stages, such as the visa and card collection, require you to be present in person.

Does a residence permit give citizenship?

No, not by itself. Citizenship has its own conditions, which are assessed separately depending on your type of residence. See our citizenship service for information.

Fill in the form below for a free preliminary assessment; our specialist will call you and explain the route for your file. If your documents are ready, you can also upload them for a free document review. To talk to us, you can book an online appointment.