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BulgariaPermanent residence

Permanent residence in Bulgaria

Permanent residence is granted to foreign nationals for an unlimited period after they have obtained a type D visa. The programme is open to former Bulgarian citizens, parents of Bulgarian citizens, people of Bulgarian origin and children of Bulgarian citizens or of foreign nationals with permanent residence. The application is filed with the units of the Migration Directorate for the place of residence.

Source: Ministry of the Interior, Migration Directorate — Разрешения за пребиваване

Grounds for obtaining the permit

Permanent residence in Bulgaria is available on several grounds, depending on your ties with the country.

Former Bulgarian citizens and parents

  • People who lost Bulgarian citizenship under resettlement agreements
  • People who lost citizenship at their own request
  • Parents of Bulgarian citizens

People of Bulgarian origin and children

  • People of Bulgarian origin with an employment contract for at least 6 months
  • Young children of Bulgarian citizens
  • Minor children of Bulgarian citizens or of foreign nationals with permanent residence

Spouses and family members

  • Foreign nationals lawfully married to a Bulgarian citizen
  • Family members of Bulgarian citizens living in the country
  • Family members of foreign nationals with permanent residence

When the programme is not a fit

You have no ties with Bulgaria and this is your first entry into the country

Consider the long-stay programmes (a residence and work permit)

A short stay for tourism or a business trip

Apply for a short-stay visa (type C) at the Bulgarian embassy

An intention to work before the status is granted

First obtain a work permit through the programme for attracting labour migrants

Documents to gather

The documents listed below are required in order to file the application. Some documents have to be notarised.

  • An application on the Migration Directorate's standard form
  • A passport (with the stamp showing lawful entry into the country)
  • A notarised declaration of secured accommodation (property, a tenancy agreement)
  • A notarised declaration of financial means for living in the country
  • A criminal record certificate from the country of origin or the country of residence
  • A type D visa for permanent residence (where applicable)

How the process runs

Obtaining permanent residence consists of several stages, each with its own time limits.

  1. 1

    Obtaining a type D visa for permanent residence

    valid for up to 6 months

    On one of the legal grounds you file an application at a Bulgarian embassy or consulate abroad. The visa allows you to live in Bulgaria for no more than 180 days during its period of validity.

  2. 2

    Filing the application for a permanent residence permit

    no later than two months before the end of the period of stay on the visa

    After arriving in Bulgaria, and while waiting for the visa to expire, you file the application with the unit of the Migration Directorate for your place of residence. The application may also be filed three months before the end of the permitted period of stay if you are already in the country.

  3. 3

    Examination of the application

    under the administrative rules

    The Migration Directorate checks that the documents meet the requirements and verifies the grounds for granting the status.

  4. 4

    Receiving the permanent residence permit

    open-ended

    If the decision is positive you receive a permanent residence permit for Bulgaria. The permit is valid for life and does not need to be renewed, but it records your personal details and the conditions of your stay.

Who you can bring with you

Family members have particular conditions and may also apply for permanent residence, or obtain the status together with the main applicant.

Spouse of a Bulgarian citizen or of a foreign national with permanent residence
May obtain permanent residence on producing documents on the marriage and on living together. A criminal record certificate is required.
Minor children of a Bulgarian citizen
Are entitled to permanent residence as children of Bulgarian citizens. The parents have to confirm custody and the availability of the relevant financial means.
Parents of a Bulgarian citizen (a young man or woman)
May obtain permanent residence through the family reunification programme if their child is a Bulgarian citizen and lawfully lives in the country.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

The qualifying period depends on the ground. A parent of a child who is a Bulgarian citizen is credited with three years of continuous lawful residence. A family member of a Bulgarian citizen — five years of continuous residence.

A permanent residence permit is open-ended and does not need to be renewed. The document may, however, be re-issued if it is damaged or lost, or if your personal details have changed. Re-issue takes place on the same grounds and under the same procedure as the initial grant of the permit.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

The application is filed no later than two months before the end of the permitted period of stay. If you are applying for the status for the first time — two months before the end of the D visa period.

Frequently asked questions about Permanent residence

Is a type D visa needed before applying for permanent residence?
Yes. Under the procedures of the Bulgarian Ministry of the Interior, a foreign national may obtain a permanent residence permit only after being issued a type D visa for permanent residence. The visa is issued on one of the grounds (ties with Bulgaria through family, origin or other grounds) and is valid for up to 6 months.
Which documents are needed if I was previously a Bulgarian citizen?
If you lost Bulgarian citizenship under resettlement agreements or at your own request, you will need a certificate of the loss of citizenship, evidence of your origin, a criminal record certificate and documents confirming that you have the means to live in Bulgaria. Your type D visa is the basis for starting the process.
Can the application be filed during the stay on a type D visa, or do I have to wait until the end of the period?
The permanent residence application is filed no later than two months before the end of the permitted period of stay on the type D visa. This means you may file the application while the visa is still valid, but no later than that deadline. If you already live in Bulgaria on another permit, the application is filed no later than three months before the end of that permit.
Does a permanent residence permit have to be renewed?
No, a permanent residence permit is issued for an unlimited period and does not need to be renewed. Once you have the permit you are entitled to live in Bulgaria permanently without having to re-issue the document. Re-issue is only required if the document is damaged or lost, or if your personal details change.

Other ways to move to Bulgaria

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Bulgaria.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.