What do you need to obtain a long-term residence permit on the grounds of a “freelance profession”? The term “freelance profession” means any self-employed work without setting up a legal entity. Foreigners may work in any field except those where, by law, only Bulgarian citizens may be employed (this includes a number of legal professions).
Some professions require additional steps. For example, doctors have to have their diploma recognised and complete further training.
To work (and, accordingly, to obtain a residence permit on these grounds) you will need a licence, which can be obtained from the Employment Agency.
To obtain it you will need to:
— Legalise your diploma and prove at least two years of experience in the specialty stated in the diploma.
— Pass a Bulgarian language exam at a certified training centre (at least level B1) and obtain the corresponding certificate.
— Confirm your qualifications (if the profession is on the list of regulated ones).
— Describe the purpose and nature of your professional activity in Bulgaria and draw up a detailed work plan for the year.
— Prove that the activity is financially covered in accordance with the plan. In practice, the amount in the account must not be less than 12 Bulgarian minimum wages.
— Submit an application to the Employment Agency, attaching the documents listed above, as well as a copy of your international passport and two colour photos.
— Pay 400 leva for the review of the application.
— The Agency’s staff may request additional documents – depending on the nature of the activity. These will have to be provided within 15 days.
The documents are reviewed within 30 days. The licence is issued for a period of up to 1 year. It then has to be renewed (if the need for a long-term residence permit on these grounds has not disappeared). To do so, you must submit to the Employment Agency evidence of your professional activity – a report on the implementation of the plan, at least two concluded contracts, and a declaration of taxes and social security contributions paid. A BULSTAT certificate and a copy of the residence permit will also be required. Since the application will be reviewed over the course of a month, you should take care of renewing the licence in advance – at least 30 days before the previous one expires.
After obtaining the licence, you must notify the labour inspectorate of the start of your activity, then enter your details in the BULSTAT register and register with the tax office.
How to change the grounds?
No surprises are expected at this stage. When changing the grounds, a new set of documents is simply submitted to the migration service, and the application states the new grounds – Art. 24, para. 1, item 15 of the ЗЧРБ.
At least 10 working days before the long-term residence permit expires, the following must be submitted to the migration service:
— the freelance practice licence issued by the Employment Agency;
— international passport;
— the valid long-term residence permit card;
— medical insurance;
— a bank statement confirming at least 12 Bulgarian minimum wages in the account (for those who want to obtain a long-term residence permit for a year);
— a document confirming housing – a notarial deed or a rental agreement with a declaration from the owner.
Copies must be made of all documents and 10 leva must be paid for the review of the application. The review takes 2 weeks, after which the residence permit is issued. Its term cannot exceed the validity period of the licence.
Our client very conveniently recalled his earlier experience as a musician and his work experience in that specialty. A couple of months went into collecting the necessary documents in his home country, sending them over and legalising them in Bulgaria, drawing up an activity plan, and obtaining the licence. He managed to do all of this exactly 2 weeks before the long-term residence permit expired, and within the required time frame the Bulgarian Expert client brought the set of documents to the migration service. Two weeks later the long-term residence permit on the new grounds was obtained.
Long-term residence permit in Bulgaria on the grounds of a “Freelance profession”
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