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1 program for Bulgaria. Explore the options and get an expert assessment.
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.
Family members can apply for Type D visas under the family reunification ground, as a separate application with its own requirements.
The Type D long-stay visa is Bulgaria's front door for stays over 90 days. Non-EU nationals apply for it at a Bulgarian embassy abroad on a specific ground (work, study, family, investment), then apply for the matching residence permit after arriving.
You apply in person at the Bulgarian embassy or consulate in your country of residence, well ahead of your intended travel.
You generally need a valid passport, proof of accommodation, health insurance, sufficient funds, and a valid long-term reason for your stay.
Apply to the Migration Directorate for the matching residence permit before your visa-based stay runs out, and register your local address as required.
No. The Type D visa lets you enter for a long stay, but you must convert it into a residence permit to live in Bulgaria long term.
It is a national long-stay visa for non-EU nationals who plan to stay in Bulgaria longer than 90 days, and it is the first step before applying for a residence permit.
After five years of continuous lawful residence, most non-EU nationals can step up from a continuous permit to long-term EU resident status — a five-year permit giving near-equal treatment with Bulgarian nationals and, under conditions, mobility to other EU states.
Take the assessment or ask Acey, our immigration assistant.
Visit — Bulgaria