Temporary residence in Bulgaria
What is temporary residence? A residence permit in Bulgaria allows foreigners to stay legally in the country for more than 90 days in a six-month period and offers the possibility of visa-free movement within the Schengen area after Bulgaria's full accession to it.
Grounds for obtaining temporary residence:
- Business immigration – registering or buying a company in Bulgaria.
- Pension-based residence – for people over 55 with a confirmed stable income.
- Study at Bulgarian universities.
- An employment contract with a Bulgarian company.
- Family reunification with a citizen or resident of Bulgaria.
- Investment – buying property (not a ground in itself, but it can help in obtaining residence).
Benefits of temporary residence in Bulgaria:
- The ability to live and work in Bulgaria.
- Access to healthcare.
- The option to renew it and move on to permanent residence.
Permanent residence in Bulgaria
What is permanent residence? Permanent residence gives virtually all the rights of a Bulgarian citizen except the right to vote. Permanent residence can be obtained after 5 years of living with temporary residence, or immediately with an investment.
Grounds for obtaining permanent residence:
- Living in the country for at least 5 years with temporary residence.
- An investment from EUR 512,000 in the Bulgarian economy.
- Marriage to a Bulgarian citizen (after 3 years).
- Bulgarian origin (proof of roots).
Benefits of permanent residence:
- Visa-free entry to the Schengen area.
- The ability to work without restrictions.
- The right to healthcare and social security.
- The option to obtain Bulgarian citizenship 5 years after permanent residence.
Bulgarian citizenship
After obtaining permanent residence you can apply for citizenship after 5 years. It is important to know that Bulgaria allows dual citizenship only for EU citizens and ethnic Bulgarians.
Conclusion
Bulgaria offers accessible ways to immigrate, and once you have temporary and permanent residence you can eventually become a citizen of the country. It is important to prepare the documents carefully and choose the most suitable path to legalization.