If you are an EU citizen, holder of a valid ID card or passport, you can reside in Bulgaria for a period of up to three months following your entry into the country. You must then apply for a long-term residence permit.
We have translators who can assist you with your application in the Burgas region. email us expatassistbulgaria@gmail.com
The Foreign Nationals in the Republic of Bulgaria Act provides for three types of residence permits:
a. Extended residence permit – with a term of validity of up to one year
b. Long-term EU residence permit – for initial period of five years and option for renewal
c. Permanent residence permit – for an indefinite period of time.
Here we are are only going to discuss Residence certificates. LONG-TERM AND PERMANENT RESIDENCE IN BULGARIA FOR EU CITIZENS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS
European citizens are issued two types of residence certificates:
a. Long-term residence certificate – with a term of validity of up to five years, and
b. Permanent residence certificate – for an indefinite period of time. However, you will find they are dated for a 10 year period and need replacing.
LONG-TERM RESIDENCE PERMIT FOR EU CITIZENS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS
EU citizens, holders of a valid ID card or passport, can reside in Bulgaria for a period of up to three months following their entry into the country; they must then apply for a long-term residence permit. They are required to submit a set of documents to the local Migration office of the Ministry of Interior.
If you have health insurance and sufficient financial resources to cover your expenses and those of your family members during the duration of your stay, you must submit
the following:
- a completed application form available at the local migration office. It is to be completed in Bulgarian
- a valid ID document (a government issued ID card or passport)
- proof of valid health insurance (European Health Insurance Card or medical insurance policy)
- sufficient financial means equivalent to one minimum monthly wage per family member (a copy of a credit/debit card, pension statement or any other proof of pension benefits) A bank statement with the amount in the bank is sufficient, Monthly minimum wage at this time is 610 BGN.(Jan 2020)
- a rental contract or proof of address (Title Deeds)
- your previous long-term residence permit (if reapplying)
- a payment receipt. Payment can be made at your local Migration office, electronically or in person at the bank affiliated with your local Migration office.
- If you have children you may be asked to supply a letter stating that you will "shelter" them.
- and possibly documentary evidence that they are family members , a birth certificate (translated)
Translate any supporting documents and include them with the originals if they are not in Bulgarian. There is no requirement to notarise/legalise the translation.
Process.
Register with the Bulgarian authorities to receive a long-term residence certificate. Documents must be submitted within three months of arrival in the country. Your application will be processed within 24 hours of submission. A laminated paper copy residence certificate will be issued once approved. It looks like this...
Optional. Apply for a personal number. The personal number is required in addition to the residence certificate in order to register with the Bulgarian government institutions and utility service providers. If you have children attending school you will need this number.
Upon request, a plastic card residence permit will be issued. You must have completed the above registration to do this. The plastic card requires additional payment. See the fees the below. You will have to return to collect this when ready. There is an express service of 3 days and standard service upto a month. Photographs for the card are done at the immigration office. You will receive a personal number in addition to the residence certificate in order to register with Bulgarian government institutions and utility service providers.
An A4 paper copy residence certificate with your personal number will be issued immediately a plastic card residence certificate with your personal number will be issued either via the express service (within three working days) or the standard service (within 30 consecutive days) the plastic card requires additional payment. Prices are below.A long-term residence certificate can be valid for up to five years. However, your residence certificate validity may vary according to the expiration dates of the documents you have provided in your application.
Permanent Residence Permit
If you have resided legally in Bulgaria for a period of five years on the basis of a consecutive long-term residence permit, you and your family members are entitled to a permanent residence permit. Valid for 10 years before renewal is required.
Documents must be submitted at least three days prior to the expiry of your long-term residence permit. Your application will be processed within 24 hours of submission. A laminated paper copy residence certificate will be issued once approved. It looks like this....
Upon request, a plastic card residence permit will be issued. The plastic card requires additional payment. See the fees the below. You will have to return to collect this when ready. There is an express service of 3 days and standard service up to a month. Photographs for the card are done at the immigration office.
To obtain a permanent residence permit, you need to provide the following documents and complete the following steps: (Please note at this point, this is what should be asked for, but we all know things are different in different regions and some immigration officers may ask you to jump through hoops.)
- a completed application form available at your local Migration office completed in Bulgarian.
- a valid ID document (a government issued ID card or passport)
- your valid long-term residence permit or (if reapplying) previous permanent residence permit. Payment receipt. Payment can be made at your local Migration office, electronically or in person at the bank affiliated with your local Migration office.
Bulgarian personal identification number (abbreviated as PIN or ЕГН (EGN) in Bulgarian) is a 10-digit number that is unique for each Bulgarian citizen or foreign resident.
A foreigner, staying on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, shall have the right to Bulgarian identification document. The competent bodies shall not have the right to refuse the issuance, to revoke or detain Bulgarian identification documents besides by the order and in the cases determined by a law.
The names of the foreigners in the Bulgarian identification documents shall be written by order and number as written in the travel documents by which they have entered the Republic of Bulgaria. The names of the foreigners in the Bulgarian identification documents shall also be written by Bulgarian transcription according to rules approved by an act of the Council of Ministers.
For issuance of Bulgarian identification documents the persons shall be obliged to present photos corresponding to the following requirements:
1. size - 45 mm by 35 mm;
2. the photo shall be taken en face;
3. the height of the face from the beard to the top of the height must be between 25 mm and 35 mm.
When at the points of acceptance of applications it is technically possible, digital taking of a photograph of the person shall be done there.
This information is readily available and sourced from the BG government web site.
Residency after Brexit
IMPORTANT New Residency Rules.
As we leave the EU people who own property in Bulgaria and want to take the option of Bulgarian residency please read the following information
expatassistbulgaria@gmail.com
From February 2020 a new residency permit format will be introduced, which will state that you are protected by the withdrawal agreement to enjoy the same rights as Eu citizens.
If you are already registered, or are lawfully resident in Bulgaria BEFORE the 31st January 2020, you need to exchange your current permit for the new format permit, or register for the first time at immigration by 31st December 2021.
UK nationals moving to Bulgaria during the transition period, need to register within 90 days of arrival, and no later than 31st December 2020. expatassistbulgaria@gmail.com
If anyone needs assistance with residency please email for an appointment. Our charges cover the application, assistance with notary letters if required for family members, translation where necessary, and transport.(additional charge may apply if outside of SB and Burgas city) expatassistbulgaria@gmail.com
You do not have to live here to obtain residency. You only have to own a property, or have long term rental. Plus you should not be absent from the country for more than 2 years and anyone stopping over 90 days you should get registered.
expatassistbulgaria@gmail.com
NB Please respect that I have a very busy schedule and that this is the only information about residency I will be giving for now. So, I politely request that you do not pm me. I will reply to emails that wish to make appointments for assistance only. expatassistbulgaria@gmail.com
