Inspections of trade representative offices have become more frequent. What should you do?

Many even managed the paperwork on their own, since registering a trade representative office in Bulgaria was comparatively simple.

Now the situation has become more complicated, and the Migration Directorate has begun to check immigrants more closely. Last year trade representative offices were required to provide BCCI certificates of a new format. Obtaining them no longer just means filling in an application and paying the fee — a whole package of documents must be submitted.

Monitoring the activities of representative offices is not among the tasks of the Migration Directorate, but if a TRO is the ground for obtaining a residence permit (long-term residence permit), then its officers will check such organisations carefully.

In the summer of 2018, representatives faced new difficulties. Inspections of trade representative offices have now become more frequent. This was not previously the practice, so calls from the Migration Directorate and visits by its officers came as an unpleasant surprise for many.

There are grounds to assume that such inspections are connected with the discovery of a large number of abuses relating to the activities of TROs.

What exactly is checked?

The Migration Directorate examines closely all applications from trade representatives seeking to obtain a Bulgarian residence permit. Officers may verify all the information stated in the documents. Some checks are carried out remotely, but representatives of the authorities may also come directly to the office at the address stated in the documents. They may ask to be shown the lease agreement, check the address registration, assess the condition of the office on the spot and see how far the premises correspond to their intended purpose.

What should you do?

It is important that the representative office’s address be an office address, not the address of an apartment. Even if you are used to working from home, it will not be easy to convince the officers of the Migration Directorate of this. So if you want to obtain or extend a long-term residence permit in Bulgaria, it is better not to take risks and to arrange the lease of suitable premises.

In addition, all documentation should be put in perfect order. Pay attention to the dates in the contracts, and make sure the documents contain no corrections that would render them invalid.

Working out all the details on your own, without a thorough knowledge of Bulgarian law, can be difficult. For this reason it is better to use the services of competent specialists. Bulgarian lawyers will help you draw up the lease agreement correctly, ensure the documentation is prepared properly, and obtain a Bulgarian residence permit within a short time and without unnecessary expense.

You can always contact “Bulgarian Expert” for advice on all matters relating to the registration of a trade representative office in Bulgaria, immigration and obtaining a long-term residence permit.

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