Bulgaria Investor · BGN 250k regional

Capital contribution of at least BGN 250,000 (≈ $143,000) to a Bulgarian company with new fixed assets in a municipality with above-average unemployment and at least five jobs for Bulgarian citizens. ^{1 2 3 4 5 6}

What you must show

• An investment of at least BGN 250,000 (≈ $143,000) · Minimum bank-certified contribution to the capital of a Bulgarian commercial company; the foreigner is a partner or registered shareholder holding at least 50% of the capital; new tangible and intangible fixed assets of at least BGN 250,000 (≈ $143,000) are acquired and located in an economically disadvantaged municipality (unemployment at or above the national average). Statute amount in leva; the euro replaced the lev on 1 January 2026 at EUR 1 (≈ $1) = BGN 1.95583 (≈ $1). ^{1 2 4}

Requirements

• The foreigner is a partner or registered shareholder holding at least 50% of the capital. ^{1 5}
• At least 5 jobs for Bulgarian citizens are created and maintained for the whole stay, per foreign person. ^{2 1 5}
• The contribution to the capital of a Bulgarian commercial company is at least BGN 250,000, (≈ $143,000) certified by a bank. ^{1 5}
• New tangible and intangible fixed assets of at least BGN 250,000 (≈ $143,000) are acquired. ^{1 5}
• The assets are located in an economically disadvantaged municipality, with unemployment at or above the national average. ^{1 5}
• A National Revenue Agency employment certificate confirms the jobs. ^{2 1 5}
• The audited cost report for the new assets is submitted. ^{3 2 5}
• The shareholders' book and annual accounts are submitted. ^{3 2 5}
• The Ministry of Innovation and Growth issues the certificate of circumstances within one month, free of charge. ^{3 2 5}
• The certificate is valid 6 months. ^{3 2 5}
• Holders who keep the investment for 5 years can apply for permanent residence under Art. 25(1)(17). ^{1 5}

Stay

• Visa D, then a long-term residence permit for the duration of the maintained investment.
• Visa validity: 6 months. Validity is the window to use the visa, not the length you may stay.
• Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

Nationality

Third-country nationals. 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

No access to the Bulgarian labour market as an employee (Labour Migration and Labour Mobility Act Art. 8(1)(2)); the holder may run the invested company.

Family

Spouse and unmarried children under 18 living in the same household can get one-year renewable prolonged-stay permits, not beyond the holder's authorised stay; after 5 years the spouse and adult children can get their own permit.

Checked 2026-10-11

Official sources

1. Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act (English translation, consolidation of 2022) · Ministry of Innovation and Growth · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2022-11
2. Rules for issuing certificates under Art. 24(1)(20) and Art. 25(1)(7), (13), (16) of the Foreigners Act (June 2023) · Ministry of Innovation and Growth · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2023-06
3. Service 2372: certificates of investment for the purpose of a residence permit (Art. 24(1)(20) and Art. 25(1)(7), (13), (16) of the Foreigners Act) · Ministry of Innovation and Growth · checked 2026-10-10
4. Bulgaria adopts euro as of 1 January 2026 (fixed rate EUR 1 = BGN 1.95583) · European Commission, Access2Markets · checked 2026-10-10
5. 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
6. Labour Migration and Labour Mobility Act (Bulgarian text, as amended to 2021) · Ministry of Labour and Social Policy · 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