How do I apply for a Bulgarian student residence permit - visa first or permit first?

The process is two-stage. After you receive your admission to a Bulgarian institution, you apply for a national long-stay (Type D) visa at the Bulgarian embassy or consulate in your home country. This visa lets you enter Bulgaria to take up your studies.

Once in Bulgaria, you apply to the Migration Directorate for the student residence permit, and you must register your local address shortly after arrival. Missing the address-registration step or applying too late can cause problems, so treat both stages and the registration deadline as part of one connected timeline.