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Immigration BG Immigration, residence and citizenship in Bulgaria

Bulgaria, clearly explained.

Find out which visa, residence permit or citizenship route applies to you, what it requires and how to apply. Every guide names the law it is based on and the date it was last checked by our lawyers.

Most searched:

Find your route

Choose the option that describes you best. We list the guides to read first.

Investing in Bulgaria

Investment residence is a regulated framework with set types of investment, holding requirements and rules for family members.

RouteWhat it coversSection
Bulgaria Golden VisaHow residence by investment works, step by stepInvestment
The five eligible funds, comparedVF Alternative, Bulgaria AIF, Elana Premium BG Selection, Advance Invest, Sofix ExpatInvestment
Family membersWho can be included in an investment applicationFamily
From residence to citizenshipWhat investment residence means for a later citizenship applicationCitizenship

This list helps you find the right guide. It is not legal advice. Whether a route is open to you depends on your nationality, family and the law in force when you apply.

Discuss my situation

All topics

Residence in Bulgaria

Visas and permits
Permanent residence
Living on your own means

Investment

Bulgaria Golden Visa
Investment funds

Our firm represents Bulgaria AIF. This is disclosed on every fund page.

Work

Employment

Business

Business

Owning a Bulgarian company does not by itself give a right of residence.

Family

Joining family
Family of citizens

Citizenship

Ways to citizenship
The procedure

EU citizens

Living in Bulgaria

EU citizens apply for temporary or permanent residence. Long-term and extended residence are for non-EU nationals.

Already resident

Next steps

How we handle your application

  1. 1

    First conversation

    You tell us about yourself and your family by WhatsApp, Viber, phone or email. No documents are needed yet.

  2. 2

    Assessment

    An advocate explains the routes open to you, the requirements, the timeline and the costs.

  3. 3

    Preparation and filing

    We prepare documents, translations and legalisation, and file the application with the authority. You follow each step in your client portal.

  4. 4

    After the decision

    We remind you about renewals and help with permanent residence, citizenship and family members joining you.

Legal updates

All legal updates

Tools

Last Updated on October 13, 2026 by Immigration Team

Who prepares these guides

Immigration.BG is written and checked by practising Bulgarian advocates at Advocate Markov law firm. We have helped people move to Bulgaria since [2009 or 2012: please confirm], when we launched Immigration2Bulgaria.com, one of the first websites on Bulgarian immigration.

Advocate Vasil Markov

Advocate Markov law firm

  • Investment Migration Council field office for Bulgaria [source]
  • Recognised by the Regional Court of Plovdiv for professional and moral qualities [source]
  • Contributor to IMI Daily [source]

Advocate Petar Markov

Advocate Markov law firm · founder of Immigration.BG

  • Legal counsel to Bulgaria AIF [source]
  • Built Immigration2Bulgaria.com, Bulgarian-Citizenship.com and BulgarianCompanies.com

Our earlier websites

How we work

  • Every guide names the law it is based on and links to the official text where one is available.
  • Each guide shows when a lawyer last reviewed it. When the law changes, we update the page and record the change.
  • We say clearly when something is our view or what happens in practice, rather than the text of the law.
  • We explain the requirements in full. Whether a route suits you depends on your circumstances, and that is what a consultation is for.

Anyone can learn the law. Experience is what makes the application go smoothly.

Advocate Petar Markov

Contact

Tell us your nationality, why you are moving and who is coming with you. An advocate will reply with the routes worth considering and the next step.

Please do not send passport copies or other personal documents at this stage. Once we work together, documents are exchanged through the secure client portal.

Book a consultation

15-minute advisory call with an advocate: €50, paid in advance. Deducted from our fee if you instruct us.