Permanent residence permit for parents of a Bulgarian citizen after 3 years of a long-term residence permit

Parents of a Bulgarian citizen who provide for them financially in accordance with the law and have resided permanently and continuously on Bulgarian territory for the last three years are entitled to apply for the status of permanent resident (permanent residence permit).

This ground is covered by Art. 25, para. 1, item 4 of the Law on Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria (ЗЧРБ).

How does this work in practice?

A permanent residence permit on this ground may be obtained, for example, by the parent of a child who acquired Bulgarian citizenship "by descent" (from the other parent). In such a situation, even if no official marriage was concluded or the marriage has broken down, the foreign parent retains the lawful possibility of living with the child in Bulgaria — provided they have three years of legal residence in the country and provide financial support for their son or daughter.

It is important to bear in mind that the obligation of support is not limited to minors only. Under Art. 144 of the Bulgarian Family Code, parents are obliged to support adult children as well, if they are studying full time at secondary or higher education institutions, for the whole period of their studies:

When studying at a gymnasium or another secondary school, the obligation remains until the child reaches the age of 20.

When obtaining higher education (at a university), the child must be supported until the age of 25.

An important legal clarification: a parent is obliged to support adult children in education only if they are unable to support themselves from their own income or property, and if making these payments does not create insurmountable financial difficulties for the parent.

Thus, a permanent residence permit under Art. 25, para. 1, item 4 of the ЗЧРБ may be applied for by foreign nationals who support their minor Bulgarian children, as well as adult children up to the age of 25 who are in full-time education, after 3 years of continuous and lawful residence in Bulgaria (holding a long-term residence permit).

Step-by-step procedure and set of documents

The documents are submitted in person by the applicant at the office of the Migration Directorate at the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior (ОДМВР) for the place of permanent address.

Submission and processing deadlines:

The set of documents must be submitted after 3 years of continuous residence have elapsed, but no later than 2 months before the end of the current authorised period of stay (the valid long-term residence permit).

The standard processing time for an application is 2 months. In cases of legal or factual complexity, the management of the migration service may extend this period by a further 2 months, requesting additional documents.

Current list of documents:

Application (молба): Completed on the prescribed official form.

Processing fee: Receipt for payment of the mandatory administrative fee of €5 (the equivalent of the former 10 leva).

Foreign passport: The original (valid for at least another 3 months at the time of submission) + plain copies of the pages with personal data, the valid long-term residence permit and the stamp of the last entry into the country.

Proof of secured accommodation: A title deed (if the home is owned) or a notarised lease agreement. In the latter case, a notarised declaration from the owner providing the address of residence (адресна декларация) must be attached to the agreement.

Proof of financial stability: A certificate from a Bulgarian bank confirming funds in a personal account. The amount must be no less than the minimum wage or the minimum pension in Bulgaria multiplied by the number of months of planned residence (it is recommended to show a year's worth).

Declaration of support ("Декларация за издръжка"): A notarised statement from the foreign parent that they undertake and are able to provide financially for the child who is a Bulgarian citizen.

The child's documents: The child's birth certificate (Bulgarian duplicate) and a document confirming their Bulgarian citizenship (the child's identity card/passport or a certificate from the Municipality).

For adult children (from 18 to 20/25 years of age): An official up-to-date certificate from the educational institution (school, gymnasium or university) confirming that the child is studying full time in the current academic year/semester.

Documents collected ex officio: A certificate of no criminal record in Bulgaria no longer has to be provided on paper. The migration service requests it electronically (служебно) from the Ministry of Justice.

Final formalities, ЕГН and the new fees in euro (€)

Once the Migration Directorate issues a positive decision and provides notification of approval of permanent resident status, the procedure moves into its final phase:

Payment of the state fee for the status: The fee for granting a permanent residence permit to parents of a Bulgarian citizen is set in euro and amounts to €512 (the equivalent of the former 1000 leva). It is paid via a bank or a terminal at the migration office.

Registration with the Municipality (ЕСГРАОН): With the original decision of the migration service, you must approach the city administration (the Municipality) for your place of residence. There the applicant is entered into the national database, assigned an ЕГН (Единен граждански номер) and issued a Certificate of permanent address.

Ordering the plastic identity card: After receiving the ЕГН and the address documents from the Municipality, you must return to the migration service to have your biometrics taken and to order the plastic permanent residence permit (Карта на постоянно пребиваващ чужденец). The cost of producing the card under the standard procedure (30 days) is around €23 (45 leva).