How many years of legal residence do I need before applying for Bulgarian permanent residence?

Permanent residence is the long-term status for third-country nationals who have already built a settled life in Bulgaria. The standard route requires five years of continuous, legal residence in the country directly before the application, normally on the basis of a prior long-term or extended residence permit.

There are special categories with different rules - for example certain family members of permanent residents or of Bulgarian citizens, and some investor categories - but for the ordinary applicant the five-year continuous-residence test is the core requirement. Always confirm your specific category with the Migration Directorate before applying.