Long-term residence permit for students, school pupils and interns in Bulgaria

Bulgarian law grants the right to obtain a long-term residence permit to full-time university students, school pupils (under exchange programmes), and foreigners undergoing an official internship in the country.

Who can apply for the status

Students and interns under the general procedure: they apply for a long-term type D visa at the Bulgarian consulate in their country of lawful residence. Visa cost: 100 €.

Foreigners of Bulgarian origin: persons admitted to full-time study at Bulgarian universities are entitled to obtain a long-term residence permit without first obtaining a type D visa, provided they submit documentary proof of their origin.

Students under EU mobility programmes: students holding a valid residence permit from another EU country may enter and study in Bulgaria for up to 1 year if they fall under European Union programmes, intergovernmental programmes or agreements between universities. For other EU students not covered by such programmes, the long-term residence permit is issued for the duration of the studies, but for no more than 2 years.

Step-by-step process for obtaining the permit

After obtaining the type D visa (which is not required only for students of Bulgarian origin), you must enter Bulgaria and go through the following stages:

Submission of documents: you must apply in person to the Migration Directorate at your place of study and residence no later than two weeks before the visa expires.

Processing fee: a fee of 5.11 € (the equivalent of 10 leva) is payable.

State fee: after approval, a fee of 51.13 € (the equivalent of 100 leva) is payable for the residence permit on this ground.

Production of the plastic card: paid separately depending on the urgency chosen:

Standard rate (30 days): 23.01 € (the equivalent of 45 leva).

Fast rate (15 days): 46.02 € (the equivalent of 90 leva).

Express rate (2 days): 127.82 € (the equivalent of 250 leva).

Financial requirements in euro (€)

With Bulgaria's transition to the euro, all financial criteria are calculated in the single European currency. The minimum wage in Bulgaria as of 1 January 2026 is 620 €.

Account with a Bulgarian bank: a bank statement confirming funds for living costs, calculated as follows:

For the type D visa (for 6 months): at least 6 minimum wages — 3 720 €.

For the long-term residence permit (for 1 year): at least 12 minimum wages — 7 440 €.

Medical insurance: a specialised policy for foreigners with coverage of at least 30 000 € (the equivalent of the former 60 000 leva) for the entire period of stay. Not required if the student is included in Bulgaria's compulsory health insurance system.

List of required documents

For the long-term type D visa and for the subsequent long-term residence permit, the migration authorities require the same set of documents. All foreign certificates must be apostilled/legalised and officially translated into Bulgarian.

Standard basic package (for all applicants):

Foreign passport: valid for at least 1.5 years (18 months) from the date of submission. Plain copies of the first page and of the spread with the stamp of the most recent entry are provided.

Application: a visa application form with a colour photo (for the consulate) or an application of the prescribed form (for the Migration Directorate).

Medical insurance: with coverage from 30 000 €.

Accommodation: a title deed (for owners) or notarised copies of the housing lease agreement and an address declaration from the owner.

Bank statement: a certificate confirming the funds available (a minimum of 3 720 € / 7 440 €).

Criminal record certificate: only for adults (except stateless persons). It must be issued no earlier than 5 months before submission. When renewing the permit annually, the certificate does not need to be provided again.

Additional specific documents:

For students of Bulgarian universities:

An official certificate from the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science (МОН) confirming admission to studies (migration service officers may request it directly from the ministry).

A certificate from the university confirming that the student will study at that institution in the relevant year.

A document confirming payment of the university enrolment fee (submitted directly when applying for the residence permit).

For persons of Bulgarian origin: the original birth certificate or a certificate of Bulgarian origin from ДАБЧ.

For students moving under mobility programmes from other EU countries:

A valid residence permit issued by another European Union country.

A document confirming that part of the studies will take place in Bulgaria under an EU programme or an inter-university agreement.

A certificate of admission to a Bulgarian university and confirmation of payment of tuition (if applicable).

For school pupils on exchange programmes:

A certificate of enrolment in a Bulgarian secondary educational institution.

Documents confirming participation in an official school exchange programme.

A letter of guarantee from the exchange organisers covering living, study, medical and return travel costs.

Confirmation of accommodation with a family selected under the programme's rules or in the school's dormitory.

Notarised consent (declaration) from the parents or guardians.

For interns (under the law on labour migration):

The long-term residence permit is issued solely for the duration of the internship, but for no more than 1 year.

A copy of the official employment contract stating the dates, place and conditions of the internship.

A certificate confirming the approved internship programme.

A document confirming completed or planned language training required to perform the internship tasks.

A higher education diploma (obtained no earlier than 2 years before the date of application) or an official document confirming attendance of a course of study leading to an academic degree.

Annual renewal and important features of the status

To renew the permit, the student submits the same set of documents and a copy of the current ID card no later than 2 weeks before the current status expires. The criminal record certificate is not submitted again.

The main specific feature of the student permit:

Time spent in Bulgaria on the basis of a student long-term residence permit counts towards the period required for a permanent residence permit only by half (50%). Thus, after living in the country for 5 years while studying, the legal period counted towards a permanent residence permit will be only 2.5 years, which does not give the right to apply for permanent status. Upon graduation, the ground of residence must be changed.

Preferential extension for job seeking (up to 9 months):

Condition: within 7 working days after completing full-time studies, the graduate has the right to register with the Employment Agency (Агенцията по заетостта) as a job seeker.

Submission deadlines: documents for extending the residence permit on this ground must be submitted at least 30 days before the current student status expires.

Result: the residence permit is extended for up to 9 months to look for vacancies or start a business. After official employment, the foreigner can successfully renew the residence permit as an employee.