Residence in Bulgaria for people of Bulgarian origin

A foreign national with at least one Bulgarian ascendant (parent, grandparent and so on) can obtain a permanent residence permit in Bulgaria (Art. 25(1)(1) of the Foreigners Act). The usual route is a D visa from a Bulgarian consulate, entry into the country and an application to the Migration Directorate of the Ministry of Interior or the migration unit of a regional police directorate. Permanent residence has no end date.

D visa

€100

consular fee

stay on a D visa

up to 180 days

visa valid up to 6 months

decision

up to 2 months

+ up to 2 months if complex

permanent residence

indefinite

Types of residence

Proving your origin

The main document is a birth certificate (yours and, if needed, your parent’s or grandparent’s) showing the link to a Bulgarian. Foreign documents need legalisation or an apostille and a Bulgarian translation.

A certificate of Bulgarian origin from the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad is needed only if a birth certificate cannot prove your origin and the Migration Directorate cannot check it in the Agency’s database itself (Art. 24c(3) of the Act). It is free and the Agency sends it directly to the Migration Directorate or the consulate. Details: certificate of Bulgarian origin.

Step by step

1. Prepare your documents

   Birth certificates proving origin, a criminal record certificate, proof of accommodation and means — legalised or apostilled and translated.

2. Apply for a D visa

   In person at a Bulgarian embassy or consulate. The fee is €100 and is not refunded if the visa is refused. The visa is valid for up to 6 months and allows a stay of up to 180 days.

3. Enter Bulgaria and apply to the Migration Directorate

   In person, at the Migration Directorate in Sofia or the migration unit of a regional police directorate — for permanent residence, or first for extended residence.

4. Wait for the decision

   Within 2 months of applying; in legally or factually complex cases, or if more documents are needed, up to 2 months more.

5. Receive the permit

   With it you register an address and become compulsorily health-insured in Bulgaria.

Students

A foreign national of Bulgarian origin admitted to full-time study at a Bulgarian university can obtain extended residence without a D visa (Art. 24c(3)). The application includes a birth certificate or, if that is not enough, a certificate of Bulgarian origin. See applying to Bulgarian universities.

Work and health insurance

With a permanent residence permit you have free access to the labour market — you work without a work permit, under the Labour Migration and Labour Mobility Act. Whether this also applies while you hold only extended residence, check with the Migration Directorate or the Employment Agency.

Foreign nationals with long-term or permanent residence are compulsorily insured with the National Health Insurance Fund from the date of the permit (Art. 33(1)(3) of the Health Insurance Act). Contributions are paid as for Bulgarian citizens.

Fees

The D visa costs €100 under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Tariff No. 3. Residence permit fees are paid to the Migration Directorate under the Ministry of Interior’s Tariff No. 4. We could not confirm the current euro amounts from an official source — check them when you apply.