EuropeSelect the passports you hold to see short-stay access and per-route eligibility for Bulgaria.
Short stays: tourism, transit, business trips, medical, pilgrimage.
Tourist Visa
Electronic travel authorisation for visa-exempt nationals (e.g. US, UK, Canada, Japan). Valid 3 years for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. We apply on your behalf end-to-end. Fees illustrative.
Tourist Visa
Short-stay visa for tourism: up to 90 days within any 180-day period. We prepare your forms and documents; you attend the consulate/VFS appointment to submit biometrics. Government fee EUR 90 (illustrative).
Tourist Visa
The Type C short-stay visa is the standard entry route for tourism, visiting family/friends, cultural or sporting events and short private travel. It permits a stay of up to 90 days within any 180-day period and is issued by Bulgarian diplomatic and consular missions abroad. Since Bulgaria joined the Schengen area (land borders from 1 January 2025) the Type C visa is issued as a uniform Schengen visa and the standard consular fee is EUR 80 (reduced/waived categories apply for children and certain agreements). Nationals of visa-exempt countries do not need it for stays under 90/180 days. The visa does not permit settling in Bulgaria, taking up employment, or converting to a residence permit; longer or settlement stays require a Type D long-stay visa.
Transit Visa
Required by some nationalities to pass through the international transit area of a Schengen airport without entering. Whether you need one depends on your nationality. Government fee EUR 90 (illustrative).
Business Visitor Visa
Short-stay visa for business trips (meetings, conferences, negotiations): up to 90 days within any 180-day period. We prepare forms and documents; you submit at the consulate/VFS. Government fee EUR 90 (illustrative).
Business Visitor Visa
The Type C visa issued for business purposes covers meetings, negotiations, conferences, trade fairs and other short professional visits of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. It is the same short-stay/Schengen visa category as the tourist visa but supported by a business invitation from a Bulgarian or EU company. It does not authorise taking up employment or providing paid services inside Bulgaria; remunerated work requires a work-based Type D visa and a labour-market or single permit. Visa-exempt nationals may make equivalent business visits without a visa for stays under 90/180 days.
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Universities, language courses, internships and exchanges.
Student Visa
For stays over 90 days to study. Issued under national rules -- apply at the consulate of your destination country. We guide you; submission is in person. Fees and processing times vary by country.
Student Visa
For third-country nationals admitted to full-time higher education at an accredited Bulgarian institution (or an upper-secondary exchange programme). The student first obtains a Type D long-stay visa abroad (EUR 100 consular fee) based on an admission/enrolment letter, proof of paid tuition, accommodation, health insurance and sufficient means, then registers a residence permit with the Migration Directorate (processed within about 14 days of arrival). The permit duration is aligned to the study programme, granted for up to one year and renewable. Students may work up to 20 hours per week during the academic year and official holidays without a separate work permit, and after graduation have 9 months to seek and start work if they register with the Employment Agency within 7 working days. Study time counts toward long-term residence.
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Digital nomad, freelance, skilled employment and company transfers.
Digital Nomad Visa
Bulgaria's digital nomad route was created by Article 24p of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act (amendments adopted 18 June 2025; implementing rules approved by the Council of Ministers on 11 December 2025; applications open since 20 December 2025). It is for third-country nationals who work remotely for employers or businesses registered outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, owners holding more than 25% of a company registered abroad, or freelancers who have served non-Bulgarian clients for at least one year. Applicants must show average annual income of at least 50x the Bulgarian minimum monthly wage - EUR 31,000 (50 x EUR 620) based on the prior calendar year, a threshold that rises automatically with the minimum wage. The applicant first obtains a Type D visa abroad (EUR 100 consular fee), then registers a one-year residence permit with the Migration Directorate, renewable once for a further year. Holders may not access the Bulgarian labour market or serve clients inside Bulgaria.
Freelancer Visa
Non-EU freelancers obtain a freelance work permit (detailed freelance activity plan required), then a Type D long-stay visa and a 1-year renewable residence permit, showing funds of at least the minimum wage (BGN 1,213/month in 2026) for 6-12 months.
Self-Employment Visa
Third-country nationals practising a liberal profession or working as self-employed/freelance providers may obtain a continuous-residence permit on the basis of a permit for freelance activity issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy / Employment Agency. Applicants typically submit a business plan, evidence of professional qualification and at least 2 years' relevant professional experience, and proof of sufficient means of subsistence and accommodation. No labour-market test is required for freelance permits. The worker applies for a Type D visa abroad (EUR 100 consular fee) and then registers a residence permit valid up to one year, renewable. After 5 years of legal residence, long-term resident status becomes available.
Startup / Entrepreneur Visa
Ministry of Innovation and Growth issues a free certificate (decided in 30 days, valid 1 year) for high-tech/innovative projects, leading to a long-term D visa and residence permit; supporting evidence such as a patent, a BGN 100,000+ investment commitment or a Seal of Excellence is required.
Skilled Work Visa
For stays over 90 days to work. Requires employer sponsorship / a work permit before you can apply, so eligibility is conditional. Issued under national rules -- apply at the consulate of your destination country. Fees and processing times vary by country.
Skilled Work Visa
The Single Permit (combined residence-and-work permit) is the standard route for third-country nationals with a Bulgarian employer. The employer must first carry out a labour-market test - advertising the vacancy for at least 15 days and showing no suitable Bulgarian, EEA, Swiss or long-term-resident candidate is available - and obtain access to the labour market via the Employment Agency. The worker then applies for a Type D visa abroad (EUR 100 consular fee) and registers the permit with the Migration Directorate. The number of employed third-country nationals may not exceed 20% of an employer's average workforce (35% for SMEs). The permit is initially valid up to one year, renewable up to a maximum of three years, after which the worker must leave for one month before reapplying. It is employer- and position-specific; changing jobs requires a new application. After 5 years of legal residence the worker may apply for long-term resident status.
Skilled Work Visa
The EU Blue Card (Directive 2021/1883) is Bulgaria's permit for highly qualified third-country professionals. Eligibility requires a work contract of at least 6 months for highly qualified employment, evidence of high qualification (a higher-education diploma from a programme of at least 3 academic years, or - for listed professions including IT specialists - equivalent professional experience), and a gross salary of at least 1.5x the average gross annual salary in Bulgaria per National Statistical Institute data. No labour-market test applies. The card is issued for the contract duration plus 3 months, up to a maximum of 5 years, and is renewable. Blue Card holders enjoy facilitated EU mobility, faster family reunification, and time in other EU states can count toward long-term residence. Initial issuance of the residence card is around BGN 110 (about EUR 55); the Type D visa consular fee is EUR 100.
Seasonal Work Visa
Seasonal work is available to third-country nationals in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries and the hotels/restaurants (HORECA/tourism) sectors. For stays up to 90 days the worker is registered by the employer with the Employment Agency and, where a visa is needed, a Type C short-stay visa is issued for the work period; nationals of certain countries (e.g. North Macedonia, Albania, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, the USA) need only the registration. For 90 days to 9 months within any 12 months the employer obtains a labour-market authorisation and the worker applies for a Type D visa. The employer must provide suitable housing meeting health and safety standards, travel insurance and, in many cases, travel costs. Seasonal status does not lead to a residence permit. The Type D consular fee is EUR 100.
Intra-Company Transfer Visa
The ICT permit (Directive 2014/66/EU) lets managers, specialists and trainee employees transfer from a company outside the EU to a Bulgarian entity of the same group. Managers and specialists need at least 12 months' prior continuous employment with the group (6 months for trainees). No labour-market test applies. Permits are issued for up to 3 years for managers and specialists, and up to 1 year for trainees, and are not renewable beyond those caps. Family members may join and may take up employment or freelance activity (subject to Employment Agency labour-market access). Short-term EU mobility (up to 90 days in 180) is by notification; longer mobility requires a separate authorisation. The Type D visa consular fee is EUR 100.
Golden visas, real estate, citizenship by investment, passive income.
Golden Visa (Residence by Investment)
Bulgaria's investor permanent-residence route (Art. 25(1)(6) of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act) grants direct permanent residence to foreigners who invest more than BGN 1,000,000 (about EUR 511,300 at the fixed 1.95583 rate) in qualifying Bulgarian assets - exchange-traded shares of Bulgarian companies, government or municipal bonds and treasury bills with at least 6 months to maturity, or related instruments held through a licensed depositary. The permanent residence permit is issued without the usual 5-year prior-residence requirement and there is no minimum physical-presence obligation, making it Bulgaria's closest equivalent to a golden visa. The investment must generally be maintained, and after 5 years of holding permanent residence the investor may become eligible to apply for Bulgarian citizenship by naturalisation. The fast-track citizenship option (by doubling the investment) was abolished by 2022 amendments to the Citizenship Act. State granting fee is BGN 1,000 (about EUR 511).
Residence by Real Estate
Foreigners who invest at least BGN 600,000 (~€307,000) of new funds in Bulgarian real estate, paid through a Bulgarian bank, qualify for a prolonged (temporary) residence permit renewed annually.
Citizenship by Investment
Parliament abolished investor citizenship on 24 March 2022, effective 5 April 2022, under EU pressure; only investor residence (no direct citizenship) remains.
Business Investor Visa
Under Art. 25(1)(16) of the Foreigners Act, a foreigner may obtain permanent residence by paying at least BGN 500,000 (about EUR 255,600) into the capital of a Bulgarian company in which the applicant is a partner or registered shareholder holding at least 50% of the capital, where the investment results in new tangible/intangible assets of at least BGN 500,000 and the creation and maintenance of at least 10 jobs for Bulgarian citizens for the residence period. A parallel BGN 250,000 tier applies for investments in economically disadvantaged regions certified under the Investment Promotion Act (with 5 jobs). The route grants permanent residence; the jobs and investment must be maintained, and after 5 years of permanent residence the investor may apply for citizenship by naturalisation. State granting fee is BGN 1,000 (about EUR 511).
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Retirement visas and working holiday schemes.
Retirement Visa
Retired third-country nationals may settle in Bulgaria on a Type D long-stay visa and a continuous-residence permit on the basis of pension income and sufficient means. Applicants must show stable, regular and sufficient means of subsistence at least equal to the Bulgarian minimum monthly wage or minimum pension, plus obligatory health insurance and accommodation; in practice consulates and the Migration Directorate ask for bank evidence of funds (commonly a balance equal to around twelve Bulgarian minimum pensions for the residence-permit stage). The Type D visa (EUR 100) is valid up to 6 months and is exchanged for a residence permit granted for up to one year, renewable annually. Pensioners who have resided legally for 30 months within any 5-year period may apply for permanent residence; after 5 years, long-term resident status is available.
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Reunification, spouse routes and ancestry-based repatriation.
Family Reunification Visa
Family reunification under the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act allows the spouse, minor unmarried children and dependent parents/ascendants of a third-country national holding a continuous, long-term or permanent residence permit to obtain residence in Bulgaria. The sponsor must show adequate accommodation, sufficient means of subsistence not below the minimum wage, and health insurance for the family. Reunified members receive a continuous-residence permit aligned to the sponsor's status (typically up to one year, renewable). After lawful residence, family members may access the labour market and, over time, qualify for long-term or permanent residence in their own right. EU Blue Card holders benefit from facilitated, immediate reunification. The Type D visa consular fee is EUR 100.
Ancestry / Repatriation
Foreigners of Bulgarian origin (under Art. 25(1)(1) of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act) may be granted permanent residence without the usual five-year prior-residence requirement. Bulgarian origin is established by a birth certificate or, where that is not possible, a certificate issued by the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad. The permanent residence permit gives free access to the labour market and education and is the usual stepping stone to citizenship by origin: under Article 15 of the Citizenship Act, a person with at least one ancestor (up to grandparent/great-grandparent) who was a Bulgarian citizen or ethnic Bulgarian may naturalise by descent, exempt from the language test, income test and renunciation of other citizenship, with decisions typically issued in about 9 months. State fees for the permanent residence permit are BGN 10 for the service and BGN 50 on granting (about EUR 31 total).
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Talent, religious, humanitarian, media, official and permanent residence.
Talent / Highly Skilled Visa
Researchers carrying out a research project under a signed hosting agreement with an approved Bulgarian research organisation may obtain a continuous-residence permit and are exempt from a work permit. The permit is aligned to the hosting agreement and granted for up to one year, renewable; a Type D visa (EUR 100 consular fee) is obtained abroad and then converted into a residence permit at the Migration Directorate. The researcher cannot change host organisations without reapplying. EU intra-mobility lets the holder conduct short-term research (up to 180 days per 360) or long-term research (over 180 days, up to 2 years) in other member states on the basis of a valid permit. On completion the researcher may seek work for 9 months if registered with the Employment Agency within 7 working days.
Long-Term Residence Permit
After 5 years of legal and continuous residence in Bulgaria (continuous-residence permits), third-country nationals may apply to the Migration Directorate for EU long-term resident status under Directive 2003/109/EC, showing stable and regular means of subsistence not below the minimum wage, accommodation and health insurance. The status is documented by a residence card valid 5 years and renewable, gives near-equal treatment with nationals (including free labour-market access) and facilitates mobility to other EU states. Absences must not exceed the directive's limits (generally no single absence over 6 months or 10 months in total over the period). Bulgaria also issues national permanent residence permits on parallel grounds. Long-term residents may later apply for Bulgarian citizenship by naturalisation.
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