Getting residence in Bulgaria
Bulgaria is simple to join for an EU citizen; outside the EU, routes run through a company (EOOD), self-employed status, the digital nomad visa or investment. This guide lists temporary and permanent paths, with steps and indicative bands.
The essentials · reside · July 2026
For comparing a residence title: timeline, cost, limits.
1–2 months
EU/EEA citizen: residence certificate
$20–$300
2–6 months
Non-EU: company manager or self-employed
$500–$4,000
1–3 months
Non-EU: digital nomad visa
$200–$1,500
4–12 months
Permanent residence through investment
$280,000–$1,150,000
2–6 months
Permanent residence after 5 years
$50–$500
The routes
- EU/EEA citizen: residence certificate: Long-stay residence certificate (up to 5 years), then permanent residence after five years
- Non-EU: company manager or self-employed: One-year extended residence permit, renewable while the activity is maintained
- Non-EU: digital nomad visa: One-year stay, renewable once
- Permanent residence through investment: Permanent residence permit
- Permanent residence after 5 years: Permanent residence; EU long-term resident status for non-Europeans
Who it fits
- EU/EEA citizen: residence certificate: EU/EEA/Swiss citizens with sufficient means and health cover
- Non-EU: company manager or self-employed: Manager of a Bulgarian company meeting job and capital criteria, or a registered self-employed person with an accepted business plan
- Non-EU: digital nomad visa: Remote worker for clients or an employer outside Bulgaria, with annual income of at least 50 times the Bulgarian minimum wage
- Permanent residence through investment: Non-EU investor: about €255,650 (BGN 500,000) creating at least 10 jobs, or about €1,022,000 (BGN 2 million) under the routes set by law
- Permanent residence after 5 years: Five years of continuous legal stay (EU or non-EU), means and insurance
The limits
- Indicative bands (admin fees, certified translations, insurance). Investment thresholds are set in leva by law and converted at the fixed euro rate (BGN 1.95583 per €1). Timelines vary by nationality.
Before you start
EU/EEA citizens: registration with the Migration Directorate after three months, then permanent residence after five years. Non-EU: a D visa then an extended residence permit (company manager, self-employed, digital nomad), or a permanent permit through investment. An EOOD alone is not a residence title: you must apply for the matching permit.
Paths by category
Indicative thresholds, timelines and fees. Verify with official sources and local counsel.
EU free movement
EU/EEA citizen: residence certificate
Low state fees; budget for translations and insurance.
Usually includes
- Migration Directorate application
- health insurance
- proof of address
Process steps
- Enter with a valid EU ID card or passport
- Find housing and get proof of address (lease or statement)
- File for a long-stay residence certificate with the Migration Directorate before the end of the third month
- Prove means and health insurance
- Receive the certificate, then apply for permanent residence after five years
Sources: mvr.bg
Entrepreneur / company
Non-EU: company manager or self-employed
D visa, translations, lawyer; the company and its staff are a separate cost.
Usually includes
- D visa
- permit file
- certified translations
- lawyer fees
Process steps
- Form the EOOD or register as self-employed and get the activity approved
- Apply for a D visa at the Bulgarian consulate in your country
- Enter Bulgaria and file the extended permit application with the Migration Directorate
- Provide housing, insurance, criminal record and proof of activity
- Receive the residence card, then renew it every year
Sources: mvr.bg
Nomad / remote
Non-EU: digital nomad visa
Visa and permit fees, health insurance and translations.
Usually includes
- D visa
- residence permit
- health insurance
- translations
Process steps
- Gather remote-work contracts or employer letter and proof of income
- Apply for the D visa at the Bulgarian consulate
- File the permit application with the Migration Directorate after arrival
- Renew once before expiry if conditions still hold
Sources: mfa.bg
Residence by investment
Permanent residence through investment
Most of the cost is the investment itself; add lawyer, certification and filing fees.
Usually includes
- qualifying investment
- investment certificate
- lawyer fees
- permit fees
Process steps
- Choose the investment route and get the project certified
- Make the investment and document the funds
- Apply for a D visa, then the permanent permit with the Migration Directorate
- Keep the investment and jobs for the required period
Sources: mvr.bg
Naturalisation / long stay
Permanent residence after 5 years
Modest filing fees; prepare your stay history.
Usually includes
- application fee
- proof of continuous stay
Process steps
- Document five years of legal stay and absences
- Prove means, housing and insurance
- File with the Migration Directorate
- Receive the permanent residence card
Sources: mvr.bg
How to read the paths
Each card combines a category (how you qualify), an outcome (what you get) and duration (renewable title or permanent). RBI ≠ CBI: the first grants residence, the second a passport.
- EU free movement : EU/EEA citizens register their stay. A consular visa is a different route.
- Work / employment : Status tied to a local employer or qualifying contract.
- Entrepreneur / company : Activity or company setup: the visa follows the project. A passport is a different outcome.
- Passive income / retirement : Stable income (pension, dividends, rent) without local employment.
- Nomad / remote : Remote work for an employer or clients outside the country.
- Residence by investment : Investment or financial threshold leads to residence. A passport is a different outcome.
- Citizenship by investment : Investment or contribution → passport (programmes often restricted).
- Naturalisation / long stay : After years of legal stay: PR, ILR, C permit, etc.
- Other : Visit, transit or routes outside the frames above.
The EOOD and the residence permit are two separate files. For the company layer, see the Bulgaria Business page; for the overview, the country profile.
FAQ
Does forming an EOOD give a residence permit?
No. A non-European must apply for a manager or self-employed permit, with a D visa and proof of activity.
Does Bulgaria still have citizenship by investment?
No, it was abolished in 2022. Permanent residence through investment remains.