Long-term residence permit for persons under special protection

The Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act provides for a special humanitarian mechanism of legalisation for persons in a vulnerable position who cooperate with the country's law enforcement authorities

Under Art. 25 of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, the right to obtain special protection status (специална закрила) is granted to persons who have become victims of human trafficking and have given their official consent to cooperate with the investigation in order to catch and expose the criminals

What does special protection status include?

Period of validity: The residence permit is granted for the entire duration of the preliminary investigation and the court proceedings. The period of the foreigner's stay in Bulgaria is determined individually in each specific case.

Social support: The status includes the possibility of accommodation in a specialised guarded shelter, as well as the granting of a long-term residence permit on the territory of Bulgaria.

Scope of rights: Throughout the entire period of authorised stay, such persons enjoy practically the same rights as holders of a permanent residence permit.

Exception: They do not have the right to leave Bulgaria and re-enter it freely without arranging the relevant visa documents.

Procedure for granting the status

Filing the application: The victim of human trafficking declares readiness to cooperate with the investigating authorities.

Issuance of the act: Within three days of the application being received, the prosecutor issues an official act granting the person special protection status. This document is the main legal confirmation of the ground for obtaining a long-term residence permit.

Identification: To arrange the long-term residence permit, the foreigner must provide identity documents or — if there are none — give the police authorities maximum assistance in establishing their identity.

List of documents for the migration service

Unlike standard immigration grounds, in this case the foreigner does not need to leave the country beforehand and arrange a type D visa. The long-term residence permit is obtained directly inside Bulgaria.

The applicant approaches the regional Migration Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior and provides:

An application in the prescribed form.

An official document (letter) from the competent state authority (the prosecutor's office) confirming that special protection status has been granted and that there are grounds for staying in the country.

A document confirming payment of the state fee. The fee for processing the documents has been converted into the single European currency and amounts to 5,11 € (the equivalent of the former 10 leva).

Conditions for revocation and loss of the status

Long-term stay in Bulgaria on this ground may be terminated early by the migration authorities. A person is unconditionally deprived of special protection in the following cases:

If it is established that the foreigner has resumed contacts or connections with the criminals in whose capture they undertook to assist the authorities.

If the person's actions or conduct pose a real threat to public order, national security or the interests of the Republic of Bulgaria.