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All other citizens

Do I need to register when residing in Bulgaria?

All foreign nationals who have entered the territory of Bulgaria are obliged to register within 48 hours after their entry into the country. They have to register their address in Bulgaria either at the services for administrative control of foreign nationals, or at the nearest district police station, depending on the address where they are staying. This registration includes: full name, date of birth, citizenship, as well as the number and series of their identity documents. Address changes also have to be reported within 48 hours.

Natural persons or legal entities, which provide shelter to foreign nationals, are obliged to notify within 48 hours either the relevant service for administrative control of foreign nationals, or the nearest district police station. If a foreign national is staying in a hotel, the receptionists are obliged to perform this duty. If a foreign national is paying a private visit, the Bulgarian host is obliged to register the foreigner who is his guest.
 
 
 
Am I allowed to work in the Republic of Bulgaria?

Under the Foreign Nationals Act, foreign nationals who have been allowed to reside permanently in Bulgaria are allowed to work under the same conditions, which are valid for Bulgarian nationals.

Foreign nationals with short-term or long term residence permits of the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, may enter into labour contracts only with a work permit issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy. Foreign nationals with a short-term residence permit, who have obtained work permits, may apply for long-term residence visas in Bulgaria. This procedure is also valid for the nationals of those countries, with which Bulgaria has signed Agreements for visa-free short-term residence.

Foreign nationals, who have obtained work permits, may work only for the employer determined in the work permit and only for the duration of time specified in the permit.

No work permits are required for the following foreign nationals:

  • Foreign nationals with permanent residence permits in the Republic of Bulgaria or with equal rights through right of asylum, refugee status or humanitarian status;
  • Foreign nationals who have been hired or sent to work by force of an international agreement, to which the Republic of Bulgaria is a party, if the withdrawal of the obligation to possess a work permit is provided in the agreement;
  • Foreign nationals who have been sent to the country by force of inter-governmental agreements and programmes for providing legal, financial, expert, humanitarian and other assistance to Bulgarian institutions, with which they do not have labour contracts;
  • Foreign nationals who are managers of trade companies or branches of foreign legal entities;
  • Foreign nationals who are members of boards of managers or boards of directors of trade associations, inasmuch as they do not work under labour contracts;
  • Foreign nationals who are representatives of foreign trade associations, registered at the Bulgarian Chamber of Trade and Industry;
  • Foreign nationals who are accredited as members of foreign diplomatic, consular and commercial missions, as well as representative offices of international organizations in the Republic of Bulgaria;
  • Foreign nationals who are accredited officially by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria as correspondents of foreign news media;
  • Foreign nationals who, while normally residing abroad, participate in scientific, cultural or sport events of public importance, if their activity in the Republic of Bulgaria does not exceed 3 months;
  • Foreign nationals, who are applying for a refugee status, asylum or humanitarian status, have the right of labour at the specialized centres established by the State Refugees Agency. 

What do I need to do if I am a victim of crime in Bulgaria?

Foreign nationals need to contact the Consular Relations Directorate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the competent law enforcement and judicial authorities.

 

I want to settle permanently in Bulgaria, is that possible?

The following categories of foreign nationals may obtain a permanent residence permit:

  • foreign nationals of Bulgarian origin;
  • foreign nationals who married either a Bulgarian national, or a foreign national residing permanently in Bulgaria since two years;
  • children and juveniles, whose parent is either a Bulgarian national, or a foreign national residing permanently in the country, and who are not married;
  • the parents of a Bulgarian national, if they are providing the alimony stipulated by force of the relevant legislation, or, in cases of adoption or fathering a child, three years after the adoption or fathering;
  • foreign nationals who have resided legally in the country for the last five years without travelling abroad;
  • foreign nationals who have invested in the country more than 250,000 US dollars in accordance with the legislation;
  • foreign nationals who have no Bulgarian origin but who were born in the Bulgarian territory, and having lost their Bulgarian citizenship under expatriation agreements or upon their own will, would like to settle permanently in the territory of Bulgaria;
  • foreign nationals who entered the territory of Bulgaria, reside in the country or were born here, before 27 December 1998, and whose parent married a Bulgarian national. 

Foreign nationals residing in Bulgaria have equal rights and obligations to those concerning Bulgarian nationals, with the exceptions of such rights and obligations, for which Bulgarian citizenship is required.

 

Can I buy real estate property in Bulgaria?

Under the Foreign Investment Act, a foreigner may acquire the right of property and limited rights of possession of real estates. Foreign nationals are not allowed to possess land.

There is a special regime of granting permissions in cases when a foreign national would like to obtain a permit for right of ownership of buildings and limited rights of possession of real estates in border regions and other territories. Such permits are issued either by the Council of Ministers, or by an authorized body, which takes a decision upon a request within 45 days. Refusals to issue permits are motivated. 
 
 
 
Do I have the right to address Bulgarian courts?

All citizens who may be potential parties to penal procedures are equal before the law. No privilege or restrictions on the basis of nationality, origin, religion, sex, race, education, social or material status, are allowed.

The language used in penal procedures is Bulgarian. If a person does not know Bulgarian, he may use his native language, as well as another language. An interpreter is appointed in such cases.

Defendants have the right to be defended. Defendants, as well as other citizens taking part in penal procedures, have access to all procedural tools necessary for protection of their rights and legal interest.

The court and the pre-trial authorities inform the defendant and the other persons who are parties to penal procedures, on their procedural rights, and provide them with the opportunity to exercise such rights. 
 
 
 
Do I need a Bulgarian lawyer?

A foreign national can be represented either by a Bulgarian lawyer or a lawyer of the country of origin.

Under the Bar Act, a foreign national who has earned the right to work as a lawyer under the legislation of his own country, may stand before the judicial authorities of Bulgaria as the counsel for the defence or the ward of a national of his country in a penal trial. He may stand together with a Bulgarian lawyer in case this is provided by force of an agreement between Bulgaria and the respective foreign country, or on the basis of reciprocity, following a request thereof submitted to the Chairman of the Bar Association. The countries for which the principle of reciprocity is applicable are determined by the Minister of Justice, upon the request of the Chairman of the Bar Association.

 

Updated on at Thursday, June 14, 2007