Updated 13 November 2026 · Author: Evgenii Salamatin, founder of Parallax

Residence routes in Bulgaria — six options

1. Residence as a pensioner. Available if you have received the right to a pension under the laws of Bulgaria, the country of origin or another country and there are sufficient funds for maintenance. There is no blanket requirement to be over 55. Under official list of the Ministry of Internal Affairs You need housing, insurance, proof of funds and pensions, as well as a Bulgarian bank account document for pension payments. The applicable minimum base and amount for the period of stay are verified based on the circumstances of the applicant.

2. Trade representation. A representative office of a foreign company is registered with the BCCI. For the migration basis, the tax compliance and turnover of the parent company of at least 100,000 leva or equivalent for each of the two consecutive years before registration of the representative office, current corporate documents and the BCCI certificate are checked. A residence permit on this basis can be obtained by no more than two representatives of the company. To renew, you need a new certificate and evidence of genuine representative-office activity. The founder does not automatically receive permission by owning the company.

3. Business activity through a Bulgarian company. Registration of an EOOD alone is not sufficient. Article 24(1)(2) requires genuine activity with a minimum of ten full-time jobs for Bulgarian citizens, maintained during the period of stay; the rule applies separately to each relevant participant and manager, taking into account the exceptions provided for in the international treaty.

4. Investment-based routes. The law provides for different options for temporary and permanent residence with separate requirements for the type of investment, cost, ownership structure, origin of funds and preservation of investments. Purchasing any apartment does not provide a residence permit. The accelerated citizenship by investment rules under Articles 12a and 14a are repealed in 2022; investment does not guarantee a passport.

5. Family. Reunification depends on the status of the relative living in Bulgaria, recognition of family documents, funds, housing and other conditions. The rules for the family of an EU citizen and for the family of a third country citizen are different.

6. Digital Nomad. The employee must work remotely for an employer outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland; the fixed-term contract must cover the requested period. A separate category includes representatives, management members and owners/participants of the relevant foreign business; a shareholder must hold more than 25% of the capital. For an applicant personally providing remote services, such activity is required for at least a year prior to filing. These categories have restrictions on work or services to persons in Bulgaria. Annual income - at least 50 minimum monthly wages based on the previous calendar year, in gross amount. The permit is one year with one extension for another year.

Steps for obtaining a residence permit

  • 1. Choosing a residence route. We check the right to a pension, documents and activities of the company, remote work, relationship or a specific investment category. Purchasing a support package does not replace legal requirements.
  • 2. Preparation of documents. According to the applicable list, a passport, documents supporting the chosen residence route, proof of housing and funds, insurance, a certificate of good conduct for the first application, and documents of family members are assembled. Translation and legalization depend on the country of issue and agreements.
  • 3. Visa D. When required, the application is submitted to the competent consulate. Under the general regime of Article 15(1), the visa has a validity of up to six months and allows a stay of up to 180 days; there are special categories. Fees and timing are checked for the applicable procedure.
  • 4. Entry and application for residence. A visa and a residence permit are separate decisions. For the usual routes listed on the Ministry of Internal Affairs page, documents must be submitted no later than 14 days before the end of the authorized stay or D visa.
  • 5. Processing. For ordinary trade-representation and pension procedures, the Ministry of Internal Affairs indicates up to 14 days; if there is complexity or additional documents are required, the period may be extended by a month. This is not a general period from the first application to the card and is not a universal period for all investment or family-reunification applications.
  • 6. Residence card and registration. After a positive decision, actions are carried out for the residence document and address registration according to the requirements of the authority. Tax, insurance and banking procedures are assessed separately.
  • 7. Renewal. Before the permit expires, we check the preservation of the basis, means and current documents. The representative office needs confirmed activity and a new certificate. Digital Nomad only allows one extension for a further year.

Application costs and living expenses

Government fees and third-party costs

The list of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for regular pension residence grounds and representation indicates €5.11 per application and €255.65 when providing residence for up to a year (€102.26 for up to six months). These amounts do not automatically include visa, card production, transfers or insurance; other residence grounds have different tariffs. Amounts are verified before payment.

Insurance, translations, legalization, notary services and housing are paid for according to specific offers. The total cost depends on the documents, period, age and chosen provider.

Parallax services

Digital Nomad – €3700; representation if you have your own company - €8500; package without own company - €9500. Additional family member for representation packages – €1,500. The scope of services and exclusions are set out in the package descriptions; annual rental is included in stated trade-representation packages. The arrangements for the parent company provided and its compliance with the requirements are checked before registration.

Living budget

For Sofia, Varna, Burgas, Plovdiv or Veliko Tarnovo, compare current rental listings for the desired period. Allow for deposit, utilities, food, transportation, insurance, taxes, accounting and additional travel. Average budget estimates do not confirm that a particular property is available at that price.

Rights and limitations of residence in Bulgaria

  • The right to reside in Bulgaria within the limits of the issued permit. The right to work depends on the basis and applicable labor laws.
  • Travel to other Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period with valid documents and compliance with entry conditions.
  • Access to banking and other services under each provider’s rules: the card does not guarantee an account, credit, medical coverage or free education throughout the EU.
  • Issues of purchasing real estate, driver's licenses, insurance and taxation are resolved separately from the issuance of a residence permit.

Permanent and long-term residence are different statuses. For national permanent residence status, Article 25(1)(5) provides for five years of lawful continuous residence with an absence of no more than 30 months during this period. For long-term EU status, as a general rule, absences must be less than six months in a row and no more than ten months in total over five years; which residence periods qualify and other conditions are taken into account. Meeting the residence-duration requirement allows an application; it does not guarantee approval.

Citizenship. The general rule of Article 12 is a minimum of five years after obtaining permanent or long-term residence status, language, financial means and other conditions. Release from previous citizenship is generally required, but there are exceptions including spouses of Bulgarian citizens, EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and cases of treaty reciprocity; for Bulgarian origin, a separate procedure applies.

Schengen and the euro. Internal air and sea controls were canceled on March 31, 2024, and land controls on January 1, 2025. The euro was introduced on January 1, 2026 at the rate of 1 euro = 1.95583 leva.

Taxes in Bulgaria

Income tax

The general rate on the total annual tax base of an individual is 10%. This is not a universal rate for any receipt: for example, sole trader activities have a separate regime, and dividends to individuals are usually subject to a final tax of 5%. Basis, deductions, source of income, and residency status matter.

Corporate income tax

The general corporate tax rate is 10%. The taxation of profit distributions to the owner is assessed separately. Simply adding up rates cannot be considered the total tax burden without taking into account the recipient's status, benefits and agreements.

Social insurance

The amount and distribution of contributions depend on the basis of employment, the risks insured, the basis and applicable international rules. The calculation is different for an employee, employer, pensioner and independent specialist. The current minimum and maximum bases are checked for the month of accrual.

VAT

The general rate is 20%; a reduced 9% and zero rate are applied in cases provided by law. The obligation to register is tested by the nature of the transactions and the rules in force, including cross-border services. One turnover threshold does not cover all cases.

Tax residence is checked separately. The presence of a residence permit card does not in itself determine the tax on all income. Before calculating the liability in the two countries, you need to check the domestic rules, applicable treaty provisions and the applicability of a foreign-tax credit to specific income.

Pitfalls

  • Incomplete documents of a pensioner: a certificate of entitlement to a pension does not replace funds, housing, insurance and the required bank document.
  • Representation without confirmed activity: registration and a promise to provide a parent company do not cancel the requirements for its history, turnover and documents.
  • EOOD without fulfilling migration conditions: owning a company does not replace the intended jobs and actual operations.
  • Mixing the timing of different procedures: D visa, residence permit, card, extension and citizenship have different stages and requirements.
  • Long-term absences: Determine in advance what kind of permanent or long-term residence status you expect and keep a record of your trips.
  • Digital Nomad Mismatch: Foreign income alone is not sufficient; the employer's jurisdiction, form of activity and income history are important.

Bulgarian residence permit FAQ

Controls at internal air and sea borders have been abolished since March 31, 2024, and at land borders since January 1, 2025. With a valid Bulgarian residence permit, you can make short trips to other Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, subject to the entry conditions; it is not a right to work or reside there permanently.

Bulgaria introduced the euro on January 1, 2026. The official conversion rate is 1 euro for 1.95583 Bulgarian leva. The specific amounts of applicable fees are verified against the current tariff of the relevant authority.

You need a confirmed right to a pension and sufficient funds for the entire period of stay, housing, insurance and other documents. The Bulgarian Ministry of Interior's official list refers to the applicable minimum salary, stipend or pension, rather than to one universal threshold of €620.20 for all pensioners. It also provides for a document from a Bulgarian bank about the account to which pension payments will be received.

As a general rule - after at least five years from obtaining permanent or long-term residence status and subject to the fulfillment of the other conditions of Article 12: majority, language, means and statutory criminal-record and previous-citizenship requirements. The path through five years of temporary residence and then five years of permanent residence status is just one scenario. Reductions and exclusions apply for certain categories; there is no automatic passport after ten years.

The pension basis confirms the right of residence, but does not replace the verification of the right to work. Prior to employment or self-employment, the applicable permit or statutory exemption must be determined. Simply registering an EOOD also does not automatically give you the right to reside and work.

The permit is issued for a year with a one-time extension for another year. You must meet one of the digital nomad categories and confirm the established annual income: at least 50 minimum monthly wages based on the previous calendar year, the gross amount of income received is taken into account. For an employee, the employer must be outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland; other categories have their own requirements, including restrictions on local work.