Anna Galchenko insta web Editor-in-chief of tripmydream
Advantages of living in Bulgaria
- Affordable prices: relatively inexpensive real estate to buy, adequate prices for food, medicine, clothing.
- Relatively inexpensive higher education.
- Friendly attitude towards foreigners.
- The warm climate, the sea, the mountains and the amazing beauty of nature.
- Bulgaria is a member of the Schengen agreement, so a residence permit and citizenship of this country open the way to visa-free travel in Europe.
Disadvantages of living in Bulgaria
- Good housing in new houses is rare, instead there are many options for budget housing of old construction.
- It is difficult to find a decent job with good working conditions.
- Low standard of living by European standards.
© depositphotos Author of the photo – kanuman
Visas to Bulgaria
Starting in the autumn of 2023, to enter Bulgaria, you must register on the ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) website. The registration fee is 7 euros (for children and pensioners free of charge), the validity period is 3 years.
There are two types of visas to Bulgaria:
- Short-term visa of category C (tourism, business, work trip, attending sports events, transit): the period of stay in the country is up to 90 days per half year.
- Long-term visa of category D (work, study, family reunion, Bulgarian origin): with this visa, while already in the country, you can immediately apply for a residence permit or permanent residence. It is also called an immigration visa.
Documents for obtaining a visa:
- completed application form;
- passport, national passport and copies (with 2 blank pages and valid for at least 3 months);
- photo 3.5×4.5 on a light background;
- document confirming the availability of financial funds;
- medical insurance;
- for children under 16 years of age – a copy of the birth certificate;
- for pensioners – a copy of the pension certificate;
- a receipt for payment of the visa fee.
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How to get a residence permit and permanent residence in Bulgaria
To obtain a residence permit, you will need the following documents:
- Passport.
- Proof of the availability of housing (purchase and sale or lease agreement).
- Confirmation of a sufficient level of funds for living in Bulgaria. Usually, the amount should be the minimum wage or the minimum pension multiplied by 12, and be in your bank account. If a residence permit is requested for a period of less than a year, the calculation will be made for the appropriate number of months.
- Certificate of no criminal record.
- Medical insurance.
- Receipt of payment of the state duty.
You must provide documents confirming the purpose of the move, for example, an invitation to work, study or a marriage certificate.
A residence permit can also be obtained by investing from 512,000 EUR in government bonds, shares of Bulgarian companies, a trust account or intellectual property rights.
The documents must be translated into Bulgarian and notarized.
To obtain permanent residence, it is necessary to stay in Bulgaria for a total of at least 30 months for five years.
Bulgarian citizenship
Bulgarian citizenship can be obtained only in the following ways:
- By origin (it is necessary to prove that there were Bulgarians in the family, up to the third generation: parents, grandmother, grandfather).
- By naturalization (5 years of residence in Bulgaria on the basis of permanent residence).
