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From 1 January, Bulgaria expects another rise in minimum wages and pensions. How will this affect foreigners?
In 2020 the minimum wage in Bulgaria is 610 leva; from 1 January it will increase by 40 leva and amount to 650 leva. At the same time, the minimum pension will increase. Pensions are usually raised in July, but in 2021 Bulgarian pensioners will enjoy higher payments as early as January. The minimum pension will rise from 250 to 300 leva. The maximum pension will also increase – from 1200 leva per month to 1440.
For Bulgarian citizens such changes come in very handy; as for foreigners, the rise in wages and pensions means higher costs.
Those who pay their own social security contributions after obtaining a permanent residence permit or EU long-term resident status will now pay more – the amount of the contributions depends directly on the minimum wage.
It will be even harder for foreigners holding a long-term residence permit in Bulgaria. When obtaining a type D visa and a long-term residence permit, as well as when extending the permit, you must provide the migration service with proof of funds. For this, the account in a Bulgarian bank must hold between 6 and 12 minimum wages (and for those obtaining a long-term residence permit on the “pensioner” grounds — minimum pensions).
In 2020, to obtain a type D visa or a long-term residence permit for six months, those who have not yet retired needed to have 3660 leva in their account. From the new year the amount will rise to 3900 leva. To obtain a long-term residence permit for a year you will need to have 7800 leva in your account instead of 7320.
For pensioners the amounts are different. For now they need to pay 1500 and 3000 leva for a long-stay visa and a one-year long-term residence permit, respectively. From 1 January they will have to put up 1800 leva for a type D visa or a six-month residence permit, and 3600 leva for a one-year long-term residence permit.
Residence permit in Bulgaria (long-term residence permit)
Type D visa — a long-stay visa.
Residence permit for pensioners in Bulgaria (long-term residence permit)
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