The Bulgarian Golden Visa program is a golden opportunity for non-EU investors to acquire permanent residency and even citizenship in Bulgaria through a safe investment process. The program was introduced in 2023 and aims to stimulate economic development and offer exceptional benefits to international investors in the European Union.
Buying a property to get a Bulgarian residency
The acquisition of a property in Bulgaria is, by far, one of the most beneficial methods of moving to the country in 2025. This was also an option within the Golden Visa. Nowadays, foreigners can purchase real estate in the most picturesque places of the country, either on the seashore or in the mountains. The future owner has to consider the following when he or she is trying to purchase a property:
- To apply the due diligence process by which the real estate is checked to be free of encumbrances.
- To think about a down payment to reserve the chosen house or flat.
- Aliens are allowed to purchase houses, apartments or any other form of property, and they are also allowed to move to Bulgaria quite easily once they have received their residence permits.
It is also a good idea to start a business in Bulgaria in case you are looking to enjoy low corporate tax in Europe. Other than this, the registration process is quite easy and can be done within a few days. It is also among the quickest means of getting a Bulgarian residence permit in 2025.
The year 2025 family immigration
Immigration to Bulgaria based on the golden visa program had one of the primary advantages in the fact that it also made the relocation of the family possible. The primary applicant was allowed to come with his/her spouse and children.
The Bulgarian business permit as an alternative to the Golden Visa
To open a business, the Bulgarian business visa may be an excellent choice that is offered to those who are not planning to settle down here, or to have a preview of life in the country first. The key benefit of such a visa is that after it is issued, it is valid for 6 months and it is a multiple-entry visa, where each entry is restricted to 3 months.
The business visa may also grant a visa in the form of a long-term residence permit, when the applicant undertakes to:
- Establishing a new company which employs at least 10 Bulgarian citizens for at least 6 months;
- Establishing a branch office and hiring a minimum of 10 Bulgarian citizens for a minimum term of 6 months.
What one should know when applying for a Bulgarian business visa
A Bulgarian business permit has disadvantages and advantages when compared to the previous golden visa scheme. Nevertheless, in many cases, advantages outweigh the disadvantages of a business visa.
These are some of the key points that may lead you to choose a business visa in Bulgaria rather than a residence permit:
- It is possible to establish a representative office of your foreign company in Bulgaria.
- You do not have to employ people (although you can do it optionally) through a liaison office.
- Your passport should have a validity of at least 3 months (instead of the 6 months that are advised in the case of residence permits).
- You should be able to support your residence in Bulgaria with enough money, which is substantially lower than the minimum investment you would need to make under a golden visa.
- That you are free to enter and leave the country whenever you require, without being obliged to respect the conditions of living according to a certain residence program.
In case you are interested in immigrating to Bulgaria without the need, necessarily, to apply and receive a residence permit in Bulgaria, the business visa can be an excellent option, particularly in case you are an entrepreneur.
The Bulgarian startup visa is a newly introduced program aimed at foreign investors
The Startup Visa program was introduced in February 2022 in the format of an addition to the Citizenship Act and is designed to bring non-European investors to the country. Those interested in entering the program must meet a series of conditions, the ones that we indicate below:
- The person has to establish a revolutionary firm.
- To this end, the applicant should receive a certificate from the Bulgarian State Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation (SASRI).
- The visa applicant should be the owner of the company or at least 50% of it. Therefore, it is also possible to enter partnership with the spouse and relocate to Bulgaria with him/her.
The following information is to be provided to receive the SASRI certificate, including:
- Applicable experience of the founder in the line the business is going to work.
- The novelty of the business and the profit-making capabilities of the business.
- Whether technology is used in the project, and whether the respective technology is registered or not as intellectual property.
When applying for a Bulgarian startup visa, a project assessment is required
A project evaluation procedure is one of the key requirements to receive a startup visa in Bulgaria. Every project is evaluated by the Council of Experts at the Ministry of Innovation.
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