As the name implies, this is not a purely
Bulgarian, but a pan-European status. It is
somewhat more difficult to get it than
permanent residence, but many choose this
option for economic reasons.
To obtain the status, you need to be on the
territory of Bulgaria for 5 years prior to
submitting the application - legally and
continuously. In this case, the continuity of stay
means that during this entire period the
foreigner must have a residence permit or other
permit for stay. You can leave the country, but
the terms of absence are strictly regulated: no
more than six months in a row and no more than
10 months in the entire five-year period.
The five-year period required to obtain the status
does not include the periods during which
foreigners stayed in Bulgaria:
-
as members of diplomatic, consular missions or
members of their families;
-
as members of international organizations
accredited in Bulgaria, as well as members of
their families;
-
temporarily, working under the au pair program,
seasonally, as providers of cross-border services
and their subordinates sent to Bulgaria;
-
if the residence permit was formally restricted.