Bulgaria Investor · BGN 600k property

Investment of at least BGN 600,000 (≈ $343,000) in Bulgarian real estate, or ownership of more than 50% of a Bulgarian company that has bought real estate of that value, gives a long-term residence permit. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

What you must show

• An investment of at least BGN 600,000 (≈ $343,000) · Minimum amount invested per foreigner to acquire ownership of real estate in Bulgaria, or invested in the capital of a Bulgarian commercial company of which the foreigner owns over 50% and which acquires real estate of that value; the full amount must be paid and visible in an account at a licensed Bulgarian credit institution on the application date; any outstanding loan may not exceed 25%. Statute amount in leva; the euro replaced the lev on 1 January 2026 at EUR 1 (≈ $1) = BGN 1.95583 (≈ $1). ^{1 2 3}

Requirements

• For a company investment, the foreigner owns over 50% of the Bulgarian commercial company. ^{1 4}
• At least BGN 600,000 (≈ $343,000) per foreigner is invested to acquire real estate in Bulgaria or in the capital of the Bulgarian company. ^{1 4}
• A company investment must acquire real estate of that value. ^{1 4}
• The full amount is paid and visible in an account at a licensed Bulgarian credit institution on the application date. ^{1 4}
• Any outstanding loan may not exceed 25%. ^{1 4}
• A bank document from a licensed Bulgarian credit institution for at least BGN 600,000 (≈ $343,000) is submitted. ^{2 4}
• With a loan, a bank document for the outstanding part, at most 25%, is submitted. ^{2 4}
• Proof of ownership of the real estate (of the foreigner or the company) is submitted. ^{2 4}
• For a company, a cost report with purchase contracts and an inventory book or amortisation plan shows capitalisation of the new assets. ^{2 4}
• Holders who keep the investment for 5 years can apply for permanent residence under Art. 25(1)(17). ^{1 4}

Stay

• Visa D up to 6 months, then a long-term residence permit.
• 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. Visa D (long term): documents and Art. 24 categories (June 2023) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2023-06
3. Bulgaria adopts euro as of 1 January 2026 (fixed rate EUR 1 = BGN 1.95583) · European Commission, Access2Markets · checked 2026-10-10
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. Bulgarian Citizenship Act (Zakon za balgarskoto grazhdanstvo), Art. 12-13 · Ministry of Justice, Bulgaria · checked 2026-10-11