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For non-EU students accepted onto a course at a recognised Bulgarian institution. You generally secure your admission, get a Type D visa for study, then apply for a continuous (renewable) residence permit at the Migration Directorate once you're in Bulgaria. The permit is renewed alongside your studies.
Bulgaria's route for highly qualified non-EU professionals. The Blue Card pairs a skilled job offer with a salary above a national threshold (set at 1.5 times the average gross salary using National Statistical Institute figures, so it moves over time) and recognised higher qualifications. It tends to be more flexible than the Single Permit, with a longer validity and a clearer path toward long-term residence and movement within the EU.
For people moved within their own company group from a non-EU branch to a Bulgarian one. The ICT permit covers managers, specialists and trainees on assignment. A nice feature: your employment relationship stays with the sending company abroad, so you don't sign a new Bulgarian contract. The permit is issued by the Ministry of Interior and carries a positive opinion from the Employment Agency.
For seasonal jobs in sectors like agriculture and tourism. There are two tracks: short seasonal work up to 90 days only needs employer registration with the Employment Agency (plus a Type C short-stay visa if your nationality requires one), while longer seasonal work from 90 days up to 9 months in a 12-month period needs a continuous residence and work permit of the 'seasonal worker' type, issued by the Ministry of Interior.
After five years of continuous, lawful residence in Bulgaria, most non-EU nationals can step up from a continuous (prolonged) permit to long-term EU resident status. This is the 5-year EU long-term residence permit: it gives near-equal treatment with Bulgarian nationals and, under certain conditions, the right to move to other EU states. It sits above the continuous permit and is a key milestone on the way to permanent residence and, eventually, citizenship.
Bulgaria's most settled status short of citizenship. Most people reach it after holding a continuous (prolonged) residence permit and living legally in Bulgaria for five years, though some routes (like qualifying investment) can lead to it more directly. Permanent residence is granted for an indefinite period and is a stepping stone toward Bulgarian citizenship by naturalisation.
The Type D visa is your front door to living in Bulgaria. Non-EU nationals 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 embassy or consulate abroad, on a specific legal ground (work, study, family, investment, and so on). Once you arrive with the D visa, you then apply for the matching residence permit at the Migration Directorate.
Bulgaria offers 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 priority investments. Important and often misunderstood: the old fast-track citizenship-by-investment and the government-bond permanent-residence option were repealed (citizenship fast-track in 2022), so this route now leads to permanent residence, not a fast passport. Always verify the current qualifying investments and thresholds with the authorities before committing funds.
Lets a non-EU person who already holds a qualifying Bulgarian residence permit be joined by close family, typically a spouse and minor children. The family member usually gets a Type D visa on the family ground, then a continuous residence permit at the Migration Directorate that tracks the sponsor's status.
Bulgaria's main work route for most non-EU employees. The Single Permit bundles the right to work and the right to reside into one document tied to a specific employer and position. Behind the scenes the Employment Agency checks access to the labour market and the Migration Directorate issues the permit; you enter Bulgaria on a Type D visa first, then collect your residence card.
