Bulgaria Permanent Residency by Investment
The ideal gateway into the European economy and way of life. Bulgaria is diverse, culturally rich and perfectly placed for working and traveling in and around the continent.
Minimum investment: EUR 512,000 in units of investment fund
Processing time: 6 to 9 months
Residency type: Permanent residency for lifetime
Visa-free access: 171 countries
Family inclusion: Spouse, children & financially dependent parents
The Bulgaria Investor Program for Permanent Residence
As one of the youngest Schengen member states and a member of the European Union (2007) and NATO (2004), Bulgaria boasts a rich and diverse culture, temperate climate and an ideal location in Southeast Europe — and the Investor Program for Permanent Residence in Bulgaria helps get you there faster.
Benefits of the program:
- Fast process to permanent residency (6 to 9 months)
- Special exemption from physical residence enforced with legislation
- Stable investment in licensed and regulated investment fund
- No language requirements for permanent residence
- Possibility to transfer the permanent residence status to unlimited number of generations
- Possibility to obtain temporary residence status for financially dependent parents
- Permanent residency for lifetime
- Free movement within the Schengen countries
- Lowest tax rates and free-trade environment within the EU
- Access to high-quality health care in Bulgaria and the EU
- Access to high quality education in the country
Bulgaria Investor Program qualifications
The Investor Program for Permanent Residence is offered in accordance with the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act.
To qualify, applicants must fulfill the investment requirement in addition to meeting the following criteria:
- Be a non-EU citizen
- Possess a valid passport or another substitute foreign travel document
- Have a personal net worth greater than €512,000
- Provide documents supporting the source and origin of the declared and invested funds
- Hold no criminal record
- Pay application fees
- Make the minimum statutory trips to Bulgaria
European gateway, rich cultural heritage
From the vibrant capital of Sofia and historic monasteries to the Black Sea coastline and ski resorts, Bulgaria offers an exceptional quality of life at one of Europe's most competitive price points.
Investment structure
Investment Fund — EUR 512,000
A minimum investment of EUR 512,000 in units of investment fund licensed by the Bulgarian Financial Supervision Commission.
Applicants must deposit the investment amount for a minimum period of five years as of the date of their permanent residence approval with no further payments required.
- The investment fund must meet the requirements set by the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act
- Minimum net asset value of the fund: 5,000,000 BGN
- Licensed by the Financial Supervision Commission of Bulgaria
- The investment strategy is focused on shares and/or bonds of Bulgarian companies traded on a regulated market or multilateral trading system in the Republic of Bulgaria
ELANA Bulgaria Mutual Fund
VisaVoy partners with one of the first asset management companies in Bulgaria — ELANA Fund Management. With over 20 years of experience in the field of fund management, it is part of the oldest non-banking financial institution in Bulgaria — ELANA, known as a leader and innovator in the finance and investments sector for over 32 years now.
ELANA Fund Management manages 8 mutual funds and close to 100 million EUR assets. It is one of the mutual funds which meets the requirements of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act and an investment in its units will qualify an investor for permanent residence in the country.
How the investment works
To qualify for a foreign investor in Bulgaria applicants undergo a preliminary verification and approval by the government authority supervising the foreign investment process in the country — Invest Bulgaria Agency.
VisaVoy fully facilitates and represents its clients in the pre-approval process.
Once Invest Bulgaria Agency grants its positive opinion on the applicant and issues an official statement, they can proceed further with the process of obtaining permanent residence in Bulgaria where the next step is at the Bulgarian Embassy.
Application fees associated with the Investor Program for Permanent Residence in Bulgaria include government application fees, legal and translation fees, and service fees related to the background verification and validation of source of funds.
All application fees charged by the Bulgarian government and by VisaVoy are subject to change. These fees depend on the number of applicants and the complexity of the process. Please contact us if you have any questions or need more information.
Common questions about Bulgaria permanent residency
Yes, you can but you will be classed as a foreign student and will need to pay additional student fees. However, the European Commission has launched many exchange programs between the EU Universities to enable students to have easier access to study abroad.
There are two statutory trips for each applicant at different stages of the process.
Under the express procedure, the cards are ready on the third business day following the day of application.
How the Bulgaria residency process works
VisaVoy coordinates the end-to-end process in collaboration with licensed partners and legal professionals in Bulgaria, ensuring all steps are completed accurately and in compliance with Bulgarian immigration law.