Bulgaria · Business / Startup
Bulgaria Certified investor PR
Investment needed: from BGN 1M ≈ $571k
Permanent residence for businesspeople certified under the Investment Promotion Act (Art. 25(1)(13))
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Certified investor PR is a business / startup route for Bulgaria. Applicants need an investment from BGN 1M ≈ $571k. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Money needed
- from BGN 1M ≈ $571k
Cost, time and long term
Invested and heldBGN 1M+ ≈ $571k · +4 more
- BGN 1,000,000 (≈ $571,000)Lowest Class B tier: high-technology and knowledge-intensive services; the project must also create at least 25 new jobs. Euro equivalent at EUR 1 (≈ $1) = BGN 1.95583 (≈ $1) (EUR 511,292 (≈ $571,000)) applies from 1 January 2026.
- BGN 1,500,000 (≈ $857,000)Class B tier for storage, administrative and auxiliary office and call-centre activities.
- BGN 2,000,000 (≈ $1,140,000)Class B tier for a site in a municipality with above-average unemployment, or high-technology industry; at least 10 new jobs.
- BGN 5,000,000 (≈ $2,860,000)Class B tier for the processing industry.
- BGN 2,000,000 (≈ $1,140,000)Lowest Class A tier: high-technology and knowledge-intensive services; at least 50 new jobs. Other Class A tiers run from BGN 3,000,000 (≈ $1,710,000) to BGN 10,000,000 (≈ $5,710,000).
RenewalRenewal rules
Permanent residence has an indefinite term, so no renewal of status is needed.
Permanent residenceTime here counts
This route grants a permanent residence permit directly.
CitizenshipAfter 5 years as a permanent resident
Naturalisation requires holding a permanent or long-term residence permit for at least 5 years, plus income, no intentional-crime conviction and Bulgarian language.
Where to applyFrom abroad
Certificate of investment from the ministry first; then the permanent residence application.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Applications are made from outside Bulgaria, not after arriving
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports
What you'll need
Who can apply1
- Applicants hold certification under the Investment Promotion Act as a Class A, Class B or priority investment.
What you must show1
- The certified project meets the Class B minimum, from BGN 1,000,000 (≈ $571,000) for high-tech services, with jobs created.
Documents1
- A Ministry of Innovation and Growth certificate under Art. 25c confirms the certification.
What happens at day 183
How Bulgaria decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- More than 183 days in each 12-month periodResiding in Bulgaria more than 183 days makes a person a resident for tax purposes.
- Foreign-source income
Total annual tax base of residents on worldwide income; Bulgarian-source income of non-residents.
All tax rules for Bulgaria Tax records checked
Full official text
Permanent residence for foreigners who carry on business certified as a Class A or Class B investment or a priority investment project under the Investment Promotion Act. 1 2 3 4
What you must show
- An investment of at least BGN 1,000,000 (≈ $571,000) · Lowest Class B tier: high-technology and knowledge-intensive services; the project must also create at least 25 new jobs. Euro equivalent at EUR 1 (≈ $1) = BGN 1.95583 (≈ $1) (EUR 511,292 (≈ $571,000)) applies from 1 January 2026. 5 1
- An investment of at least BGN 1,500,000 (≈ $857,000) · Class B tier for storage, administrative and auxiliary office and call-centre activities. 5 1
- An investment of at least BGN 2,000,000 (≈ $1,140,000) · Class B tier for a site in a municipality with above-average unemployment, or high-technology industry; at least 10 new jobs. 5 1
- An investment of at least BGN 5,000,000 (≈ $2,860,000) · Class B tier for the processing industry. 5 1
- An investment of at least BGN 2,000,000 (≈ $1,140,000) · Lowest Class A tier: high-technology and knowledge-intensive services; at least 50 new jobs. Other Class A tiers run from BGN 3,000,000 (≈ $1,710,000) to BGN 10,000,000 (≈ $5,710,000). 5 1
Requirements
- Applicants hold certification under the Investment Promotion Act as a Class A, Class B or priority investment. 1 2 3
- The certified project meets the Class B minimum, from BGN 1,000,000 (≈ $571,000) for high-tech services, with jobs created. 5 1
- A Ministry of Innovation and Growth certificate under Art. 25c confirms the certification. 1 2 3
Stay
- Permanent residence permit.
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.
Family
Spouse and unmarried children under 18 living in the same household can join on one-year renewable prolonged-stay permits; unmarried minor children can obtain permanent residence.
Official sources
- Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act (English translation, consolidation of 2022) · Ministry of Innovation and Growth · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2022-11
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Investment class and priority investment project requirements (Class A and Class B minimum investments) · Ministry of Economy and Industry of Bulgaria · checked 2026-10-11
- Bulgarian Citizenship Act (Zakon za balgarskoto grazhdanstvo), Art. 12-13 · Ministry of Justice, Bulgaria · checked 2026-10-11
Certified investor PR and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified investor PR | Needs an investment from BGN 1M ≈ $571k | – | – |
| Freelancer permit | Needs income of €620+ a month ≈ $690 | 1 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Business with 10 jobs | – | – | – |
| Startup visa | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| Startup Visa Portugal | Needs savings of €6,446+ ≈ $7,200 | 2 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Certified investor PR?
An investment of at least BGN 1,000,000 (≈ $571,000). Lowest Class B tier: high-technology and knowledge-intensive services; the project must also create at least 25 new jobs. An investment of at least BGN 1,500,000 (≈ $857,000). Class B tier for storage, administrative and auxiliary office and call-centre activities. An investment of at least BGN 2,000,000 (≈ $1,140,000). Class B tier for a site in a municipality with above-average unemployment, or high-technology industry; at least 10 new jobs. An investment of at least BGN 5,000,000 (≈ $2,860,000). Class B tier for the processing industry.
How long can I stay on the Certified investor PR?
Permanent residence permit.
Can I bring my family on the Certified investor PR?
Spouse and unmarried children under 18 living in the same household can join on one-year renewable prolonged-stay permits; unmarried minor children can obtain permanent residence.
Who can apply for the Certified investor PR?
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.
Does the Certified investor PR lead to permanent residence in Bulgaria?
Time on the Certified investor PR counts toward permanent residence in Bulgaria. Time on the Certified investor PR counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 5 years as a permanent resident.
How are Certified investor PR holders taxed in Bulgaria?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Certified investor PR. The standard rules apply: Bulgarian tax residents pay a flat 10% on the total annual tax base; dividends are taxed at a final 5%.
More in Bulgaria
Business / startup visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 6 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act (English translation, consolidation of 2022) · Ministry of Innovation and Growth · checked 2026-10-10
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Investment class and priority investment project requirements (Class A and Class B minimum investments) · Ministry of Economy and Industry of Bulgaria · checked 2026-10-11
- Bulgarian Citizenship Act (Zakon za balgarskoto grazhdanstvo), Art. 12-13 · Ministry of Justice, Bulgaria · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.