How does Type D Long-Stay Visa work in Bulgaria, and who qualifies?

The Type D visa is the entry gateway to living in Bulgaria. As a non-EU (third-country) national, you generally can't just show up and apply for a residence card from inside the country — almost every long-stay route starts with a Type D visa, applied for at a Bulgarian diplomatic mission abroad rather than in Bulgaria.

Bulgarian law recognises a long list of grounds for issuing the D visa — work, study, family, investment and more — each with its own conditions. You apply on a specific ground, with a valid travel document and supporting documents matching that ground. Once you arrive with the D visa, you register and apply for the corresponding residence permit at the Migration Directorate of the Ministry of Interior (MVR).

Skipping the D-visa step is generally not an option for most long-stay routes, so it's worth getting the ground right from the start, since it shapes which residence permit you can then apply for.

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are a separate case and don't go through this route. Because requirements differ by ground and can change, confirm the current rules with the official source (mvr.bg) before applying — and ACME's free initial consultation can help you pick the right ground for your situation.