Short-term and long-term residence of foreign citizens in the Republic of Bulgaria

The rules and procedures concerning the residence of foreign citizens within the borders of the Republic of Bulgaria are an issue that concerns directly the owners of real estate in the country.

 Therefore, we at Atlantis Estates will try to present the main procedural and legal aspects of the problem in an understandable and systematic way. For this purpose, we will present to our clients and followers two separate articles concerning the different types of residence in Bulgaria, as today we will focus in more detail on the short-term and long-term residence.

Types of residencies of foreign citizens in Bulgaria

In essence, foreign citizens can reside in the country in four different ways, formulated in the Law on Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria as:

1. Short-term residence of up to 90 days within any 180-day period from the date of entry into the country.
   
   
2. Long-term residence, allowing a limited period of stay in the country of up to one year.
   
   
3. Long-term residence with an allowed initial period of 5 years and the possibility to renew it after submitting an application.
   
   
4. Permanent residence, by virtue of which foreign nationals may remain in the country for an indefinite period of time.

The conditions for applying each of the four types of residency differ for EU citizens, Schengen, and third-country nationals, depending on the common European and national legislation.

In the following lines, we will look at the general rules and requirements concerning short-term and long-term residency in Bulgaria for citizens from and outside the European Union.

Short-term residence of foreign citizens in Bulgaria

As we have already explained, the short-term residency is defined as a stay of up to 90 days within each 180-day period from the date of the first entry into the country. The conditions for its implementation for different groups of citizens are as follows:

• Short-term residence for EU and Schengen citizens

Under the EU's Common Visa Policy, citizens of the European Union and the Schengen area can enter and stay in Bulgaria for a short period of time without any restrictions. All they need is a valid ID card, a valid passport, or a valid Schengen visa.

• Short-term residence for citizens outside the EU and the Schengen area

For citizens outside the European Union and the Schengen area, the procedure is different and has some complications. In order to obtain the right to reside in Bulgaria for a period of up to 3 months with the right to enter the country once, twice or repeatedly, they must obtain a type "C" visa - for the purpose of planned residency. It is important to note that the standard application required for the issuance of this visa should be submitted no earlier than three months before the date of travel.

The issuance of a type "C" visa for a planned short-term stay requires a pack of documents, which includes evidence of the purpose of the trip, proof of possession of funds needed to cover the expenses during the trip, and stay in Bulgaria, insurance policy and others.

In certain cases, the type “C” visa can be issued as a multiple-entry short-stay visa with a validity period of up to 12 months or, as an exception, up to 5 years. Some of these conditions include lasting business contacts with Bulgarian individual or legal entities, personal contribution to the development of bilateral relations with the Republic of Bulgaria, etc.

If you are a citizen of a country outside the EU and Schengen, it is advisable to discuss the full list of options and rules for short-term residency of foreigners in Bulgaria with a trusted lawyer who will recommend the best option for your personal case.

Long-term residence of foreign citizens in Bulgaria

If you plan to spend up to a year in Bulgaria, you will need a long-term residency document, which is issued under certain conditions. Here are the conditions for obtaining such a document depending on the type of citizen;

• Long-term residency for European Union citizens

To be entitled to an extended stay in the country for up to one year, EU citizens must personally fill an application and present it to the “Migration” Directorate. The application is accompanied by a pack of documents, including a copy of the ID card or European passport, a copy of medical insurance, a copy of a notary deed of ownership in Bulgaria or a tenancy agreement, and a bank account statement from a Bulgarian bank, with a minimum availability of 2000 € in the account.

• Long-term residence for citizens outside the European Union

For non-EU citizens, the conditions and procedures for obtaining the right of a long-term residency for up to one year are significantly more narrowly defined. Initially, this right is guaranteed to citizens who are:

• • Financially insured parents and family members of a Bulgarian or foreign citizen with the right to a long-term or permanent residency;
  • Foreign specialists residing in Bulgaria under an international agreement;
  • Students who are on a full-time education at a Bulgarian university or pensioners with proven means of subsistence;
  • Citizens admitted for long-term treatment in Bulgaria also have a sufficient amount of funds to cover their stay. 
  • Citizens performing employment or freelance work in Bulgaria after permission from the bodies of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy;
  • Citizens who carry out a commercial activity in the country in accordance with the law, and as a result of this activity at least 10 full-time jobs have been created for Bulgarian citizens;
  • Persons who are representatives of a foreign trade company with a registered by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce trade representation in the Republic of Bulgaria;
  • Correspondents of foreign media with current accreditation for the Republic of Bulgaria;
  • Citizens who have invested at least BGN 600,000 for the purchase of a real estate on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria;
  • Citizens who have invested not less than BGN 250,000 in economically disadvantaged regions of Bulgaria within the meaning of the Investment Promotion Act;
  • And others. 

Members of voluntary organizations as well as foreigners in need of temporary protection or humanitarian status may also be granted the right of a permanent residency.

For the purposes of a long-term residence, citizens should present evidence of insured housing, compulsory health insurance, and income insurance, sufficient means of subsistence, criminal record, etc.

The specialists from Atlantis Estates provide a full consultation and support for their foreign clients who need the respective status in order to have uninterrupted access to a purchased or a rented home in Bulgaria.

Our jurist - lawyer Sofia Radoslavova-Marinova - is here to answer all questions, hesitations, and uncertainties related to the process of obtaining short-term, long-term, or permanent residence in the Republic of Bulgaria.