Bulgaria offers a wide range of residence options for non-EU nationals, depending
on whether the applicant intends to work, run or represent a business,
invest, work remotely, retire or join a family member in Bulgaria.
Choosing the correct residence basis is important because different permits come
with different requirements regarding employment, investment, physical presence,
renewal and future eligibility for long-term or permanent residence.
This guide provides an overview of the principal residence options in Bulgaria,
while also identifying several more specialised residence grounds available under
Bulgarian immigration law.
Bulgaria Residence
Main Residence Options for Non-EU Nationals
Employment
Single Permit
EU Blue Card
Posted Worker
Intra-Corporate Transfer
Remote / Independent
Digital Nomad
Freelancer
Business
Company Owner
Trade Representative
High-Tech Startup
Investment
Real Estate
Investment Funds
Public Companies
Private Company
Concession Investment
Family
Family of Bulgarian Citizen
Family of Resident Foreigner
Parent Route
Other Main Routes
Pensioner
Long-Term EU Resident
1. Residence Through Employment
Non-EU nationals may obtain residence in Bulgaria through several employment-based
regimes. The correct route depends on the type of employment, qualifications of
the employee and the relationship between the foreign and Bulgarian businesses.
Single Residence and Work Permit
The Single Residence and Work Permit allows a third-country
national to reside and work in Bulgaria for a Bulgarian employer under one
combined permit.
It is generally issued for up to 3 years. Where the employment
contract is shorter, the permit follows the term of the employment contract.
Best suited for: non-EU nationals with an employment offer
from a Bulgarian company who do not fall within the special highly-qualified
employment regime.
EU Blue Card
The EU Blue Card is intended for third-country nationals
taking up highly qualified employment in Bulgaria.
Eligibility depends on the applicant's professional qualifications or
qualifying experience, employment contract and applicable minimum salary
requirements. In the general case, a Bulgarian EU Blue Card may be issued
for up to 5 years.
Best suited for: highly qualified specialists, managers,
technology professionals and other qualifying professionals.
Read Guide
Posted or Assigned Worker
A third-country national may qualify for residence where they are
posted or assigned to Bulgaria in connection with the provision of
services, subject to the applicable labour-migration authorisation.
Intra-Corporate Transfer
The Intra-Corporate Transfer regime applies where a
third-country national is transferred from a foreign company to a Bulgarian
entity belonging to the same corporate group.
Best suited for: international groups transferring qualifying
managers, specialists or trainees to their Bulgarian operation.
2. Remote Work and Independent Activity
Digital Nomad Residence
Bulgaria provides a dedicated residence route for qualifying
digital nomads who perform their work remotely through
information technologies.
The route may cover:
-
Employees working remotely for an employer outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland;
-
Qualifying owners, managers, legal representatives and shareholders of
foreign companies providing services remotely;
-
Qualifying independent remote-service providers.
Freelancer
Qualifying foreigners may also obtain residence for
freelance activity. This is a separate regime from the
Digital Nomad route and involves its own authorisation and qualification
requirements.
3. Residence Through Business Activity
Bulgarian Company Owner
A foreign national carrying out commercial activity through a Bulgarian
company and employing 10 full-time employees may qualify
for residence under this business-based route.
Trade Representative
A qualifying foreign company may establish a trade representation in Bulgaria,
allowing qualifying registered representatives to use the representation as a
residence basis.
See Price
High-Tech Startup
Founders of qualifying high-tech and innovative startup projects
may obtain residence under Bulgaria's startup framework, subject to the
applicable certification and company requirements.
4. Residence Through Investment
Bulgaria provides both temporary and permanent residence routes connected to
qualifying investments.
Real Estate
A qualifying real-estate investment of approximately
EUR 307,000 per person may provide a basis for temporary
residence in Bulgaria.
Private Company in a Rural Area
A separate investment route involves approximately
EUR 128,000 invested in a qualifying company in a rural
area, together with purchased assets and the employment of
5 full-time employees.
Investment Route
Direct Permanent Residence
Certain larger qualifying investments may provide access directly to
permanent residence.
Public Companies
EUR 1,023,000
Shares of Bulgarian publicly traded companies
Investment Funds
EUR 512,000
Qualifying regulated investment fund
Concession Investment
EUR 512,000
Qualifying concession contract
Priority Company
EUR 1,023,000
Investment in a certified priority company
Private Company
EUR 3,068,000
Shares in a private Bulgarian company
Private Company + Employment
EUR 256,000
Qualifying investment, assets and 10 full-time employees
Investment requirements and maintenance conditions apply. EUR figures are
rounded up for ease of reference.
5. Residence Through Family
Family Member of a Bulgarian Citizen
Qualifying family members of Bulgarian citizens may obtain residence on the
basis of their family relationship.
Family Member of a Resident Foreigner
Family reunification may also be available where the sponsor is a foreign
national already holding qualifying Bulgarian residence status.
Parent Residence
In certain circumstances, financially supported parents of Bulgarian
citizens or qualifying residents may also have a residence basis.
6. Residence for Pensioners
Foreign pensioners with sufficient financial means may qualify
for residence in Bulgaria.
Best suited for: retirees who wish to relocate to Bulgaria
without taking up local employment.
See Price
7. Long-Term Resident of Another EU Member State
A third-country national who already holds
EU long-term resident status in another Member State may,
subject to the applicable requirements, obtain residence in Bulgaria for
employment, self-employment, study or another permitted purpose.
Other Residence Grounds Available in Bulgaria
Bulgarian law also provides several more specialised residence grounds. These
are not the principal focus of Corporate Bulgaria's residence practice, but they
may be relevant in specific cases.
-
Researchers carrying out qualifying research activity in Bulgaria
-
Seasonal Workers
-
Foreign Media Correspondents accredited in Bulgaria
-
Students, Exchange Students and Trainees
-
Residence connected with long-term medical treatment
-
Certain non-profit and religious activities
-
Certain volunteer programmes
-
Certain domestic or household staff of privileged persons
-
Certain persons granted protection as
victims of human trafficking
Temporary, Long-Term or Permanent Residence?
The legal basis for residence should not be confused with the type of residence
status granted. Most standard routes begin with temporary residence, while some
applicants may later qualify for long-term or permanent residence.
Temporary Residence
Most standard residence routes begin with temporary residence and require
renewal while the qualifying basis continues to exist.
Long-Term Residence
Long-term residence may become available after the required period of lawful
residence and compliance with the applicable physical-presence conditions.
Permanent Residence
Permanent residence may be obtained after the relevant qualifying residence
period or, in certain investment cases, directly.
Which Bulgarian Residence Option Is Right for You?
I have a Bulgarian job offer
Consider the Single Permit or, for highly qualified employment,
the EU Blue Card.
My foreign employer is sending me to Bulgaria
Consider the Posted Worker or
Intra-Corporate Transfer regime, depending on the corporate
and employment structure.
I work remotely for a foreign business
Consider the Digital Nomad residence route.
I own or represent a business
Consider the company-owner, trade representative or startup
routes.
I am retired
Consider residence as a pensioner.
I want to invest in Bulgaria
Consider the applicable real-estate, fund, public-company,
private-company or concession investment route.
My family is already in Bulgaria
A family-based residence route may be available.
I already have EU long-term resident status
A separate mobility route may be available for relocation to Bulgaria.
The correct residence route depends on the applicant's nationality, employment
status, corporate structure, family circumstances, investment plans and
long-term objectives.
If the ultimate objective includes permanent residence or Bulgarian
citizenship, choosing the appropriate residence basis from the beginning
is particularly important, because different categories may have different
qualifying periods and physical-presence requirements.
Not Sure Which Residence Route Applies to You?
Corporate Bulgaria can assess your employment, business, investment and family
circumstances and identify the most suitable Bulgarian residence option for
your case.
Contact Corporate Bulgaria
