Bulgaria Residence by Investment

What Is Bulgaria's Permanent Residence by Investment?

Bulgaria grants a permanent residence permit directly — with no separate temporary-permit stage first — to foreigners who make a qualifying investment under Article 25(1) of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act. Several investment grounds qualify, at different minimums, and the Foreigners Act still states them in Bulgarian leva (BGN), even though Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026.

The lowest route is a company investment: contribute at least BGN 500,000 (EUR 255,646 at the fixed euro conversion rate) to the capital of a Bulgarian company, hold registered stock as a partner or shareholder owning at least 50% of that capital, acquire new tangible and intangible fixed assets worth at least the same amount, and create and maintain at least 10 jobs for Bulgarian nationals. Bulgaria also grants permanent residence for at least BGN 1,000,000 (EUR 511,292) in a concession, a Bulgaria-based collective investment scheme, or an alternative investment fund, or for at least BGN 2,000,000 (EUR 1,022,584) in listed shares or bonds of a Bulgarian company; higher routes exist for a certified priority investment project (BGN 2,000,000; EUR 1,022,584) and for an unlisted Bulgarian company (BGN 6,000,000; EUR 3,067,751).

The Investment Routes

Minimums set by Article 25(1), items 6 and 16 of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, converted to euro under the Euro Introduction Act's fixed rate. Source: the Act and the InvestBulgaria Agency's prior-approval service page (Administrative Register, IISDA) (checked on 24 September 2026).

Who Can Apply?

To apply for Bulgaria's investment-based permanent residence permit, you must:

• Complete one qualifying investment in full: the job-creating company investment, or one of the listed-securities, concession, collective-investment-scheme or alternative-investment-fund routes.
• For the listed-securities, concession or fund routes, obtain the InvestBulgaria Agency's prior approval before making the investment, supported by proof of the funds, their lawful origin, and a clean criminal record certificate.
• For the job-creating company route, have the Ministry of Innovation and Growth certify the investment after it is made, based on the company's reasoned request that your residence is needed to carry it out.
• Maintain the investment above the required minimum for 5 years from the date permanent residence is granted; after that period you may end or change the investment without losing your residence.

Who Can Be Included?

On family inclusion:

• Article 2 of the Foreigners Act defines your family members as your spouse, and any unmarried children under 18 of you or your spouse (including adopted children) who live with you in the same household; unmarried children 18 or older with a serious health condition that requires personal care may also qualify.
• Each family member applies for their own residence permit on the basis of family reunification, alongside or following your own application.

Fees

Costs on top of the investment:

• The InvestBulgaria Agency's prior-approval service for the listed-securities, concession and fund routes is free of charge. The state fee for the permanent-residence application to the Migration Directorate is set by Tariff No. 4 of the Ministry of the Interior; Trem Global could not confirm the current amount — contact us for a current cost estimate.

Application Process

1. Choose your route. For the listed-securities, concession, collective-investment-scheme or alternative-investment-fund routes, apply to the InvestBulgaria Agency for prior approval before investing; for the job-creating company route, make the investment and create the jobs first.
2. Complete the investment: transfer the funds, acquire the securities or concession rights, or contribute to the company's capital, meeting the minimum amount and, for the job-creating route, the 50% ownership, new-assets and 10-jobs conditions.
3. Obtain the document confirming your investment — for the securities, concession and fund routes, confirmation of the approved investment (certified through the Central Depository for the securities and fund routes); for the job-creating route, the Ministry of Innovation and Growth's certificate — then apply at a Bulgarian consulate for a long-stay (type D) visa for permanent settlement.
4. Enter Bulgaria on that visa and submit your permanent residence application in person to the Migration Directorate or the relevant Regional Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior, with your passport, proof of funds, a criminal record certificate and the investment certificate.
5. Receive a decision within 2 months of submission (extendable by up to 2 further months in legally or factually complex cases), and maintain the investment above the minimum for 5 years from the date permanent residence is granted.

Sources: the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act and the InvestBulgaria Agency's prior-approval service page (Administrative Register, IISDA) (checked on 24 September 2026).

Why Bulgaria?

Official source: InvestBulgaria Agency — prior investment approval service (Administrative Register, IISDA)

This page follows Article 25 of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, the InvestBulgaria Agency's prior-approval service page (Administrative Register, IISDA), the State Gazette's DV 52/27.06.2025 amendment (the 5-year investment-change rule) and the Euro Introduction Act's fixed-rate conversion of statutory lev amounts, all read on 24 September 2026. A Council of Ministers bill amending the Foreigners Act (No. 52-602-01-29, submitted 28 July 2026) is before the National Assembly's committees; its Article 25 changes only restate these thresholds in euro (e.g. BGN 500,000 → EUR 255,645.94) and have not been adopted. Amounts, fees and conditions are set by the Bulgarian authorities and can change.