Does permanent residence let me travel freely in the Schengen area?

Holders of a Bulgarian residence permit can travel within the Schengen area for short stays, generally up to 90 days in any 180-day period, without needing a separate short-stay visa. This makes day-to-day travel across the EU much easier than holding only a national visa.

Permanent residence does not, however, give you the automatic right to live or work in another EU country. If your long-term goal is mobility across the EU, the long-term EU resident status carries additional rights to apply to reside in another member state under defined conditions. Confirm which status best fits your plans before applying.