Bulgaria Spouse of a resident

One-year renewable residence permit for the spouse of a foreigner holding long-term resident status, with an independent permit after five years and permanent residence five years after marriage to a permanent resident. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

What you must show

• Income of at least EUR 620.2 a month (≈ $690) · Minimum national monthly salary (EUR 620.20 (≈ $690) from 1 January 2026); the legal alternatives are the minimum scholarship or minimum pension. ^{6 1}

Requirements

• Applicant is the spouse of a foreigner residing in Bulgaria on a long-term basis. ⁴
• A second spouse cannot be admitted for family reunification where the foreigner already has one. ⁴
• Applicant has means of subsistence of at least the minimum national monthly salary, minimum scholarship or minimum pension, without recourse to social assistance. ⁴
• The minimum monthly wage is EUR 620.20 (≈ $690) (BGN 1,213 (≈ $690)) from 1 January 2026. ¹
• Secured housing, mandatory health insurance and documents supporting the visa application. ⁴
• A criminal record certificate from the country of citizenship, origin or habitual residence for applicants over 18. ⁴
• The permit is applied for under the Implementing Regulations and cannot exceed the sponsor's authorised stay. ⁴
• The permit is valid one year and renewable. ⁴
• After five years in Bulgaria without a permit on other grounds the spouse can obtain an independent long-term permit. ⁴
• A permanent residence permit may be granted five years after marriage to a permanently residing foreigner, with five years of lawful continuous residence. ⁴

Stay

• One year with renewal, not exceeding the sponsor's authorised period of stay.
• Initial permitted stay: 12 months.
• Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

Nationality

Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

Work

Family members of long-term and permanent residents need no labour-market access permit; employment is declared under the Implementing Regulations (Labour Migration and Labour Mobility Act Art. 9(1) item 2, Art. 9(2)).

Family

Spouse and unmarried children under 18 living in the same household of a long-term resident; a spouse can get an independent permit after 5 years.

Checked 2026-10-11

Official sources

1. Decree setting the minimum monthly wage from 1 January 2026 (BGN 1,213; EUR 620.20) · State Gazette of Bulgaria · checked 2026-10-11
2. Issue of Residence Permits to Third Country Nationals · Ministry of Interior Migration Directorate · checked 2026-10-10
3. Law amending the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act (State Gazette 52/2025) · National Assembly of Bulgaria (State Gazette) · checked 2026-10-11
4. Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, consolidated text (amended to State Gazette 52/2025) · Ministry of Labour and Social Policy (consolidated text, printed 13 February 2026) · checked 2026-10-11
5. Labour Migration and Labour Mobility Act (Bulgarian text, as amended to 2021) · Ministry of Labour and Social Policy · checked 2026-10-11
6. Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act (English consolidated text) · Migration Directorate / Council of Ministers of Bulgaria · checked 2026-10-11
7. Bulgarian Citizenship Act (Zakon za balgarskoto grazhdanstvo), Art. 12-13 · Ministry of Justice, Bulgaria · checked 2026-10-11
8. Visa D (long term): documents and Art. 24 categories (June 2023) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2023-06