How does Permanent Residence by Investment work in Bulgaria, and who qualifies?

Bulgaria does offer permanent residence to foreigners who make a qualifying investment under the Foreigners Act — for example, a sizeable stake in licensed Bulgarian investment vehicles (such as collective investment schemes or alternative investment funds focused on Bulgarian companies) or other recognised priority investments. You'll need to maintain the investment for the required period, and, as with other routes, obtain a Type D long-stay visa on the investment ground before entry.

This is the part that's often misunderstood, so it's worth being precise. The old fast-track citizenship-by-investment scheme — the so-called "golden passport" — was repealed in 2022, and the earlier option to obtain permanent residence by buying Bulgarian government bonds was also removed. What remains is an investment route that leads to permanent residence, not a quick passport; citizenship is only possible later through normal naturalisation.

Because the qualifying investments and thresholds have been revised and can change again, this is an area where verifying the current rules with official sources before moving any money is essential — and we'd treat any offer of a fast Bulgarian passport for money with real caution.

Given how much this route has shifted, ACME's free initial consultation can help you understand what genuinely qualifies today before you commit funds.