Residence permit in Bulgaria for students

University study differs from other grounds for obtaining a residence permit in that, when the period of residence in the country is later calculated for EU long-term resident status or a permanent residence permit, only half of the time the student spent in Bulgaria is counted. This means that out of five years of living in the country, only 2.5 years are credited. Anyone wishing to obtain a permanent residence permit or a long-term residence permit in Bulgaria should take this fact into account.

There is also good news: there is no age limit for students, so not only twenty-year-olds but also older people can move to Bulgaria and obtain a long-term residence permit.

How can a student obtain a long-term residence permit in Bulgaria?

To obtain a visa, and subsequently a residence permit, a permit issued by the Ministry of Education of Bulgaria is required. This is done through the university that admits the student. First the documents are reviewed by the educational institution (10-15 days), then by the Ministry – within 1 month.

To obtain the permit, the following documents are required:

• School-leaving certificate (diploma).
• A document from the school confirming completion of general education and eligibility to study at universities.
• A notarised copy of the passport.
• A medical certificate.
• An academic transcript with information on the number of study hours in all subjects.
• An address certificate (registration document).
• For minors, a declaration from the relatives who are prepared to pay for the studies.
• A certificate confirming funds sufficient to live in Bulgaria for one year.
• 12 colour photographs 3.5 by 4.5 cm.

Studies are conducted in Bulgarian or English. Those who know English need to take a test remotely. It costs 150 euros on average. Those who do not know English are offered the opportunity to study the language for a year before starting at the university.

The permit obtained is required in order to receive a type D visa. It must be submitted to the consulate together with the application form, documents on financial means and accommodation (owned, rented, or a place in a hall of residence), and medical insurance.

To avoid getting lost in the numerous papers required for university admission and for a type D visa, it is better to seek help from professionals. The specialists of Bulgarian Expert will help you put together the necessary set of documents without losing valuable time. Processing documents for a type D visa takes up to 2 months, so applicants who plan to start their studies on time should hurry in order to complete all the necessary steps.

Education and life

The quality of education at Bulgarian universities gives no cause for complaint. Graduates are readily hired both in Bulgaria and in other countries.

In addition, educational institutions in the country are popular among those who expect to stay in Europe after graduating from university. This is realistic, but it must be taken into account that obtaining a permanent residence permit immediately after finishing studies will not be possible due to the way the period of residence in the country is calculated. Former students planning to stay in Bulgaria will therefore need to live here for some further time on another ground. The specialists of Bulgarian Expert will help find the best option in such a situation and will advise on other grounds for residing in the country.