ABOUT BULGARIA PROGRAM
The Bulgarian Permanent Residency provides foreigners visa-free travel, family security, health care, business privileges, and access to EU education.
Applicants for the Bulgarian residency program must be above 18 years old, in good health condition, and without any trace of criminality. Furthermore, applicants are expected to deposit a certain amount in a Government Bond Portfolio as an investment for 5 years. There is no further payment required after.
COUNTRY STATISTICS:
Bulgaria is known to be one of the youngest states in the EU. The country is blessed with a temperate climate, diverse culture, and one of the best locations in South East Europe. Get a full taste of the European life and economy by living in this country. It is an ideal center for work, living, and tourism across the continent.
FACTS ABOUT BULGARIA:
- The country is officially known as the Republic of Bulgaria
- Hold a population density of about 6.9 million people and an area of 110,879km square
- So far, the capital is recognized as one of the largest and most beautiful cities in Europe, also the second oldest city in Europe
- It operates standard political parliamentary democracy
- The country proudly has more than 4,000km of railways, 40,000km of roads, and 130 airports
- The country is major in producing zinc and copper in Europe. Some other industries in the country include chemicals, electronics, machinery, firearms, vehicle parts, steel, among others
- The country is a bonafide member of the EU, UN, NATO, EEA, OSCE, WTO, and BSEC.
- The Bulgarian authority plans to join the Schengen area soonest
- Amongst other Western European countries, Bulgaria has the most affordable cost of living
- Bulgaria is an industrialized, upper-middle-income, and a free market economy
- Age Demographics in the country: 0-14: 14.2%, 15-64: 66.9%, 65+: 18.9%.
- Languages spoken are: Bulgarian: 76.9%, Turkish: 8.2%, Roma: 3.8%, Other: 11.1%.
- Recognized religions include: Eastern Orthodox: 59.4%, Muslim: 7.8%, Other: 29.1%, None: 3.7%.
- Eastern European Time (UTC +2).
BENEFITS OF BULGARIAN RESIDENCY
- High Standard of Life
There exist a moderate cost of living in Bulgaria, thereby improving the standard of goods and services. - Visa-free Travel
Permanent residents of Bulgaria are automatically a resident of the EU. Therefore the individual has the right to freedom of movement in the country. - Tax Relief
There are low tax rates, financial stability, and free trade within the European Union with macroeconomics. - Health and Education
Residents gain easy access to all sorts of educational institutes and standard healthcare. - Minimal Residency Requirement
No physical residency criteria. An applicant can choose to visit at any time before and after application. - Dual Citizenship Allowed
Citizens of foreign countries are allowed to maintain their nationality and keep up with permanent stay as a resident in Bulgaria.
VISA FREE COUNTRIES FOR BULGARIA RESIDENCY
Permanent residents of Bulgaria are automatically a resident of the EU. Therefore they have the right to freedom of movement in the country. Also, with the Bulgaria Permanent Residency granted, you can travel to any of the following countries:
(Free Circulation within Schengen Area)
- Austria
- Belgium
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
In addition, as soon as you have been approved Bulgarian Citizenship and passport, you will gain visa-free or visa-on-arrival entrance to more than 120 countries across the world. These are countries you can travel to after obtaining your Bulgarian Citizenship.
(Visa-free and visa-on-arrival countries)
- Albania
- Andorra
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Benin
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Cambodia
- Canada
- Cape Verde
- Chile
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Costa Rica
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Gabon
- The Gambia
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guinea-Bissau
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macedonia
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Norway
- Oman
- Palau
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Rwanda
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- Somalia
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Swaziland
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
GUIDELINES FOR PERMENANT RESIDENCY APPLICATION IN BULGARIA
1. Document Screening
We assist you in screening your document in preparation for government approval. For this process to go smoothly, applicants are expected to make down payment for opening the application. After this, the applicant will book an appointment with the Bulgarian Consulate for a document stamp. The applicant then transfers the fund (investment).
2. Issuing of Certificate & Second Appointment
The applicant gets the investment certificate at this stage. Then book another appointment with the Bulgarian Consulate to apply for the Schengen Visa (type D – for long stay).
3. Submission of Application for Permanent Residence
As soon as the type D visa is granted, the applicant travels down to Bulgaria to submit of Application for Permanent Residence.
4. Submission of Application for Bulgarian Permanent Residence Card
When the Permanent Residence application is granted, the applicant makes a second travel to Bulgaria to submit the Application for Bulgarian Permanent Residence Card. 3 days after the application, the applicant will receive the Bulgarian Permanent Residence Card.
5. Application for Dependent(s)
Once the Bulgarian ID document application is approved and issued, the process for the applicant’s family members (dependents) starts. Getting a Bulgarian ID for dependents may take up to 6 months. Between, two compulsory trips to Bulgaria must be made by the qualifying dependent(s). After that, the applicant needs to book an appointment with the Bulgarian Consulate for the signing of the documents.
6. Delivery of Certificates
At the end of the process, we will send the Permanent Residency certificates to the applicants via courier. Before sending the certificate, the applicant needs to pay off the balance of professional fees.
The expected timeframe for the application process is 6 months. The first stage of the document collection can differ in length depending on the applicant’s ability to gather the documents. Our team guides this process with samples and best practice advice.
The reviewal stage is subject to the respective Government schedule and can be impacted by factors which we, as authorized agents have no control over. We collaborates with the Government throughout the entire process, and we aim to provide the quickest and smoothest experience for the applicant.
COST OF PERMANENT RESIDENCY IN BULGARIA
a) Refundable Bond
Applicants who prefer this option must deposit BGN (€511,292) into a Government Bond Portfolio for 5 years of investment. After this, there won’t be any further payment required. After 5 years, the government will give back the original BGN 1 million (€511,292) to the investor (applicant) without any interest. Government bonds secure this investment.
Minimum amount – EUR 511,292
b) Financial Investment
Applicants may choose to apply for the Financial Investment option. This option permits the applicant to invest a lower amount of €180,000. The investment is used to finance a BGN 1 Million (€511,292) loan from a Bulgarian Chartered Bank for 5 years and six months. After the investment duration, the loan is paid back to the investor without interest. Besides, the applicant would need to show international assets of above €1,000,000. This is the requirement from a Chartered Bank if the applicant chooses the financial investment option.
Minimum amount EUR 180,000
Government Fees
Deposit non-refundable fees
Applicant and spouse EUR 25,000
Per qualifying dependent USD 2,500
Applicants should note that administration fees, translation charges, professional fees, and background investigations are payable and depend on the size of the family, nationality, and the complication of the Residency application.
Notwithstanding, our professional fees, certificate of Citizenship, passport, official application forms, and other disbursements are the only charges inclusive of the cost. A detailed quotation without any hidden charge will be made available.
PROGRAM DURATION
The duration of 6 months is the specified timeframe for the residency application process. However, the initial duration of document collection could be a bit longer depending on how fast the applicant provides the required documents. We are fully on the ground to assist our client (applicant) pass-through this stage faster with samples and professional advice.
The duration of the renewal stage depends on the availability of the agency that would handle it. We have no regulation over this particular process. However, we assure you that we work with the best Government agencies to fasten the entire process and make our client (applicant) get quick approval.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS & LEGAL GROUNDWORK
MAIN APPLICANT CRITERIA
QUALIFIED DEPENDENTS
*Note that parents and children above 18 are dependent on the applicant.
LEGAL GROUNDWORK
This is provided in conformity with the Foreigners in Art. 25, para 1, items 6 or 7, of Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria. The Investor Program for Residence and Citizenship includes a fast-track citizenship option. To easily get qualified, the applicant must meet up with one of the listed options for investment.
With the Bulgarian Permanent Residence Permit granted by the immigration, the applicant (investor) has access to every right of a Bulgarian citizen, except the right to vote. Applicants can freely enter and move out of Bulgaria and travel to European countries visa-free.