Long-term residence permit for extended medical treatment and rehabilitation in Bulgaria

Foreign nationals who need extended treatment or a course of rehabilitation at medical institutions in Bulgaria have the legal right to obtain a long-term residence permit for a period of up to 1 year. The main condition is a confirmed medical plan and sufficient funds to cover medical and living expenses.

Special medical documents (proof of grounds)

For the migration authorities to approve the status, the receiving medical clinic or sanatorium in Bulgaria must provide an officially issued set of documents:

Certificate from the medical establishment: An official document from the medical organisation, which must be certified by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Bulgaria. The certificate must set out the treatment and rehabilitation plan in detail.

Contract and financial guarantees: A contract for the provision of medical services. If treatment has already been paid for in advance, a receipt and an invoice must also be attached to the set of documents.

Accompanying persons: If the patient's state of health requires an accompanying person, the medical institution must issue a corresponding certificate. In this case the accompanying person collects exactly the same personal set of documents for joint entry and residence.

Financial requirements and costs in euros (€)

With Bulgaria's transition to the euro (€), all fees, duties and bank balance requirements are calculated exclusively in the single European currency. The financial threshold is tied to the minimum wage, which as of 1 January 2026 is 620 €.

Account with a Bulgarian bank: The applicant must provide a certificate from any commercial bank in Bulgaria confirming an open personal account and the funds held in it:

For a type D visa (for 6 months): no less than 6 minimum wages — 3 720 €.

For a long-term residence permit (for 1 year): no less than 12 minimum wages — 7 440 €.

Consular fee (type D visa): 100 €.

Fee for processing the long-term residence permit documents: 5.11 €.

Annual duty for the long-term residence permit (after approval): 255.65 €.

Production of the personal card: Paid separately at the migration service depending on the chosen speed of issue of the plastic document.

General (standard) set of documents

The same documents are submitted for the type D visa and for the subsequent long-term residence permit. Foreign certificates must be apostilled/legalised and have an official translation into Bulgarian.

Passport: Valid for no less than 18 months (1.5 years) from the day of submission. The passport must have been issued no more than 10 years ago and have at least 2 blank pages. A copy of the first page is also required.

Application: A legibly completed and personally signed visa application form (for the visa) or an application of the established form (for the long-term residence permit).

Current colour photograph: 1 pc., format 3.5x4.5 cm on a light background (taken no more than 6 months ago).

Proof of housing in Bulgaria:

For owners: A copy of the notarial deed.

For tenants: A notarised copy of the rental agreement plus a mandatory notarial declaration from the owner (address declaration of consent to the foreigner's residence).

Medical insurance: A specialised policy for foreigners with coverage of no less than 30 000 €. For a type D visa the policy is taken out for a minimum of 6 months, for a long-term residence permit — strictly for 12 months.

Certificate of no criminal record: Required for all persons over 18 years of age (except stateless persons). Provided with a legalised translation. The certificate is valid for 6 months, but at the time of submission no less than 1 month of its validity must remain.

Step-by-step procedure and timeframes

Stage 1: Obtaining the type D visa (in your home country)

The documents are submitted in person by the applicant at the Bulgarian consulate in the country of lawful residence.

Processing time: Minimum 30 working days.

Result: A long-term type D visa is issued for 180 days.

Stage 2: Obtaining the long-term residence permit (in Bulgaria)

After entering Bulgaria on a type D visa, you must apply to the regional Migration Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior at your place of actual stay (in the regional city). The documents must be submitted no later than 14 days before the visa expires.

Processing time: 14 days.

Result: A residence permit is issued, after which the applicant is photographed and orders a personal resident card.

Annual renewal

If the course of treatment or rehabilitation requires more than a year, the long-term residence permit status can be renewed inside the country. To do this you must apply to Migration at least 2 weeks before the current permit expires and provide an updated medical plan and a recent statement from the Bulgarian bank.

An important advantage: When renewing the status, a certificate of no criminal record does not need to be provided again. A copy of the current personal residence card is simply attached to the set of documents.