Since Brexit, UK citizens moving to Bulgaria are treated as non-EU citizens and need a Visa D before applying for residence. UK citizens who received a Bulgarian residence card before Brexit keep the simpler rules for EU citizens, and so do their non-EU family members. An expired pre-Brexit card can usually be renewed without a Visa D.
Last Updated on October 17, 2026 by Immigration Team
At a glance
| Status after Brexit | UK citizens are treated as non-EU citizens Law |
| Moving to Bulgaria now | The rules for non-EU citizens apply, starting with a Visa D |
| Residence card issued before Brexit | You keep the simpler rules for EU citizens |
| Family members | Non-EU family members of UK citizens with a pre-Brexit card can join them under the same simpler rules |
| Expired card | Can usually be renewed without applying for a Visa D Practice |
UK citizens moving to Bulgaria now
Since the end of the Brexit transition period, UK citizens are treated as non-EU citizens, and the rules for non-EU citizens apply. To obtain a residence card, you first need a Visa D from a Bulgarian embassy or consulate general.
UK citizens with a residence card from before Brexit
UK citizens who received a Bulgarian residence card before Brexit continue to benefit from the simpler rules for EU citizens. Law [cite the Withdrawal Agreement article] The same applies to their non-EU family members who want to join them in Bulgaria through family reunification.
Expired residence card
If you are a UK citizen and your Bulgarian residence card has expired, we can help you renew it without applying for a Visa D.
Do not wait
The longer a card has been expired, the harder it can be to keep your rights from before Brexit. Contact us as soon as you notice your card has expired. Contact us
Questions
Do UK citizens need a visa to live in Bulgaria?
Yes, if you are moving now. You need a Visa D before you can apply for residence. UK citizens with a residence card from before Brexit do not.
My card from before Brexit has expired. Do I lose my rights?
Not necessarily. In many cases the card can be renewed without a Visa D. Contact us before you travel or apply.
Can my non-EU spouse join me?
Yes. If you hold a residence card from before Brexit, your non-EU family members can join you under the simpler rules for family members of EU citizens.
Not sure which rules apply to you?
Tell us when you first registered in Bulgaria and what card you hold. We will tell you whether you keep the pre-Brexit rules. Ask an advocate
Related routes
This page gives general information and is not legal advice. Immigration rules change and individual circumstances matter. Reading it does not create a lawyer–client relationship.