Type D visa refusals after Bulgaria's accession to Schengen

In 2024 Bulgaria’s long-awaited accession to Schengen took place. Holders of a Bulgarian long-term residence permit can now travel freely throughout Schengen: by air and by sea even without document checks. Documents are required to cross land borders, but a visa is no longer needed.

These changes led consultants who help people obtain Bulgarian residence to promote their services as an opportunity to live freely inside Schengen outside Bulgaria after obtaining a Bulgarian long-term residence permit. Such advertising did not escape the attention of the Bulgarian authorities. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs may now refuse a type D visa if there is a suspicion that the foreigner plans to use the Bulgarian long-term residence permit for access to the Schengen countries rather than to live in Bulgaria.

To determine the purpose for which a foreigner is obtaining a long-term visa, officials look at whether the person owns housing, a business or a job in the country. If none of this exists, doubts may arise as to whether Bulgaria is the visa applicant’s “centre of vital interests”, which means there is a risk that the visa will be refused.

Refusals related to the size of the pension of foreigners seeking a type D visa as financially secure pensioners are also becoming more frequent. Although the law does not specify the required pension amount, in practice pensioners with small pensions often cannot obtain a type D visa regardless of the amount in their Bulgarian bank account.

Residence permit in Bulgaria (long-term residence permit)

Company registration in Bulgaria

Residence permit for pensioners in Bulgaria (long-term residence permit)