Obtaining a long-term residence permit in Bulgaria for EU citizens

What is required for a long-term stay in Bulgaria?

The entry and stay of foreigners from the EU in Bulgaria is governed by the Law «за влизането, пребиваването и напускането на Република България на гражданите на Европейския съюз и членовете на техните семейства». On the whole, it is significantly simpler and cheaper for EU citizens to stay in Bulgaria lawfully than for citizens of other countries outside the EU. This requires a minimum of documents.

For up to 3 months, EU citizens may stay in Bulgaria without notifying the Bulgarian authorities. The only requirement is to hold a valid identity document. No visa is required.

Those wishing to stay for a longer period must notify the migration service of this and obtain the corresponding certificate (not a permit, as is the case for citizens of countries outside the European Union).

The certificate is issued to an EU citizen who meets one of the following conditions:

• is employed or is a self-employed person in Bulgaria;
• has health insurance and the necessary financial means allowing them not to resort to the assistance of social services;
• is enrolled in a Bulgarian educational institution, has health insurance and the necessary means.

Persons temporarily unable to work due to illness or an accident, persons registered as unemployed, and persons who have started vocational training are also treated as employed and self-employed.

In order to obtain a certificate of long-term stay, within three months of entering Bulgaria an EU citizen must submit the following documents to the migration service:

• an application;
• a valid identity document (card or passport);
• confirmation of the circumstances on the basis of which the person is in Bulgaria (work, study, availability of means and insurance);
• confirmation of housing in Bulgaria (a lease agreement or a document of ownership)
• a receipt for payment of the state fee (7 leva).

The documents are submitted in person. The certificate of long-term stay, valid for up to 5 years, is issued on the day after the application is submitted. If some documents are missing, they can be submitted within a week; if the required documents are still not provided after a week, the migration service may refuse to issue the certificate.

In addition, a card certifying long-term stay is issued; its cost is 18 leva and the production period is up to 3 months. Fast production of the card in 1-3 days is possible, in which case a fee of 36 leva rather than 18 leva must be paid.

After 5 years of long-term stay, it is possible to obtain a certificate of permanent stay.

The certificate of permanent stay is issued to an EU citizen the day after the application is submitted to the migration service, provided that all the necessary requirements are met.

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