As a citizen of an EU country you can live, work, study or retire in Bulgaria without a visa or a residence permit. Citizens of Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland are treated the same way. Free movement comes with one formality: if you stay longer than three months, you register with the migration authorities and receive a certificate of residence. It is quick and inexpensive — and it unlocks almost everything else, from a bank account to a doctor.
The first three months
For the first three months a valid identity card or passport is all you need. Keep evidence of the date you arrived — a ticket or a booking — because the three months run from your entry.
Registering: the certificate of residence
Address
Have an address in Bulgaria you can prove: a notarial deed if you own the property, or a lease if you rent. Where you rent, the authorities usually also ask for the owner’s notarised declaration that you may live there.
Grounds
Be ready to show why you are staying: an employment contract or registration as self-employed; or, if you are not working, sufficient means and health insurance; or enrolment at a school or university.
Application
Apply in person at the Migration Directorate or the regional migration unit, with your identity card or passport and the receipt for the small state fee.
Certificate
The standard service takes up to 30 days; an express service, for a higher fee, takes up to three days. The certificate is valid for up to ten years.
Your personal number (LNCh)
The certificate comes with a personal number for foreigners — the LNCh. It is the number banks, notaries, the tax authority, employers and doctors will ask for. Without it, everyday steps such as opening a personal bank account, signing up with a GP or putting utilities in your name become harder.
Family members from outside the EU
Spouses, children and dependent parents who are not EU citizens can live with you. They apply for a residence card as family members of an EU citizen within three months of arriving; a temporary certificate is issued when they apply, and the decision follows within three months. This route is much lighter than the family reunification procedure for families of non-EU residents.
Health insurance
| Your situation | Health cover |
|---|---|
| Employed in Bulgaria | Through the contributions paid on your salary |
| Self-employed in Bulgaria | Through the contributions you pay yourself |
| Receiving a pension from another EU country | Usually from your home country, using form S1 registered with the Bulgarian health fund |
| Not working and no S1 | Private insurance, or Bulgarian health contributions you pay yourself |
| Short stays | Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) |
Tax
Registering does not make you tax resident, and not registering does not keep you out of the Bulgarian system. You become tax resident — and taxed on your worldwide income at a flat 10% — if you spend more than 183 days a year here or your centre of vital interests moves here. See becoming tax resident in Bulgaria.
After five years: permanent residence
After five years of continuous lawful residence you can obtain a certificate of permanent residence. It confirms a right you have earned and is no longer tied to work or means.
Questions clients ask
Do I need a work permit to work in Bulgaria?
No. EU citizens can work for a Bulgarian employer, freelance or run a company on the same terms as Bulgarians. The only formality is the registration certificate if you stay longer than three months.
Can I set up a Bulgarian company before I register?
Yes. A company can be owned and managed by anyone, resident or not — see registering a Bulgarian company. Once you live here, the certificate and your LNCh make banking and daily administration much easier.
What if I stay longer than three months without registering?
Registration is required by law for stays over three months, and without the certificate and an LNCh daily life quickly becomes difficult. Register as soon as you know you will stay.
This guide is general information about Bulgarian law as it stood on the date of publication. It is not legal advice for your specific case. Unfamiliar terms are explained in our glossary.
