Many founders who built a business in Dubai reach the point where they want an EU base as well: a company that European clients and banks deal with easily, residence in the Schengen area for the family, and a predictable tax system. Bulgaria offers all three, with a 10% flat income and corporate tax. This guide is for UAE residents — expatriates and Emiratis alike — and follows the order in which the steps should be taken.
Who this guide is for
- Non-EU nationals living in the UAE — the largest group. Whatever your nationality, you need a ground for residence in Bulgaria and, as a rule, a Type D visa before you move.
- Emiratis. UAE citizens travel to the Schengen area without a visa for short stays, but living in Bulgaria still needs a residence ground and, as a rule, a Type D visa.
- EU citizens living in Dubai do not need a permit; they register their residence after arriving. See moving to Bulgaria as an EU citizen.
Step 1 — Choose the residence ground first
The residence ground decides how the Bulgarian set-up has to look, so it comes before the company, not after it.
| You plan to… | The ground that usually fits | What it requires |
|---|---|---|
| Run your own Bulgarian company | Manager of a Bulgarian company | The company must create at least 10 full-time jobs for Bulgarian citizens for each foreign partner or manager — see company formation |
| Keep running your UAE business from Bulgaria | Trade representative office of your UAE company | Registration with the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry; the office promotes the company but does not trade itself — see representative office |
| Work remotely for UAE clients or an employer outside the EU | Digital nomad | Income above the statutory level; renewable only once — see remote workers |
| Buy a home | Property owner | An investment in Bulgarian real estate above the statutory value, paid through a Bulgarian bank — see residence through property |
| Invest | Investor permanent residence | Fund units, listed securities or a priority project above the statutory amounts — see investor residence |
| Join a family member | Family reunification | A family member who already holds Bulgarian residence — see family reunification |
Founders often combine routes — for example a Bulgarian company for the business and a property purchase or the remote-work route for residence. The full map is in our overview of residence options.
Step 2 — Set up the company from Dubai
The Bulgarian side of a remote set-up is the same for every founder abroad — see running a Bulgarian company from abroad and setting up a limited company. What is specific to the UAE is how your signatures and documents reach Sofia.
Sign before a notary in the UAE, then legalise
The documents are attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then legalised by a Bulgarian mission in the UAE. An apostille is not available, because the UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention.
Or sign before the Bulgarian consul
Where consular notarial services are available at the Bulgarian mission, signing there avoids the legalisation chain. Ask the consulate before booking.
Or sign in Sofia
If you plan a trip anyway, signing in person removes the paperwork altogether.
If the shareholder will be your UAE company — mainland or free zone — the bank and the register will also need its trade licence, constitutional documents and a chart of its ownership, legalised and translated into Bulgarian. See powers of attorney signed abroad.
Step 3 — The bank account
Bulgarian banks look closely at funds and owners connected with jurisdictions outside the EU, and money coming from the Gulf usually attracts follow-up questions. A well-prepared file answers them before they are asked:
- Proof of address in the UAE, such as a utility bill or a registered tenancy contract.
- Evidence of where the capital comes from — bank statements, a salary certificate, or the accounts and trade licence of your UAE business.
- A short description of what the Bulgarian company will do, with whom and in which countries.
- The same spelling of your name on the passport, the Emirates ID and every certificate.
More in our guide to opening a Bulgarian business bank account.
Step 4 — Visa and residence
For residents of the UAE, Type D applications are submitted at the Consular Section of the Bulgarian Consulate General in Dubai, by appointment. VFS Global handles only short-stay visas, so do not book there for a Type D visa. The practical details — documents, legalisation, timing — are in our guide to applying for a Bulgarian D visa from the Gulf. After arriving in Bulgaria, you apply for the residence permit at the Migration Directorate before the visa expires.
Step 5 — Tax: what changes when you move
- Becoming Bulgarian tax resident. You become tax resident if you spend more than 183 days in Bulgaria in any 12-month period, or if your centre of vital interests moves here. From then on Bulgaria taxes your worldwide income at a flat 10%. See becoming tax resident in Bulgaria.
- The Bulgaria–UAE treaty. A double tax treaty between the two countries has been in force since 2008 and applies from 2009. It settles which country treats you as resident if both could, and divides taxing rights over cross-border income.
- Your UAE company. Once you live in Bulgaria, dividends you take from the UAE company are taxed here, and running that company from Sofia can raise the question of where it is really managed. Some steps — such as timing a distribution or deciding who will manage the UAE company — are easier to plan before you become resident.
- The Bulgarian company. It pays 10% corporate tax, and dividends to you are taxed at 5% — see paying yourself from a Bulgarian company.
Family and daily life
Spouses and children usually follow through family reunification. Sofia has several international schools teaching in English, and the cost of living is moderate by Gulf standards. Health insurance is needed for the residence application; once you are insured in Bulgaria, you have access to the public system as well as private clinics.
Mistakes we see
- Booking a VFS Global appointment for a Type D visa — VFS handles short-stay visas only.
- Letting the UAE residence visa or Emirates ID run close to expiry during the procedure.
- Apostilling UAE documents — they need legalisation instead.
- Names transliterated differently from Arabic on different documents.
- Setting up the company before choosing the residence ground, then finding the structure does not fit it.
Questions clients ask
Can I set up the Bulgarian company without coming to Bulgaria?
Yes. With a power of attorney signed in the UAE and legalised — or signed before the Bulgarian consul — we sign the documents, open the capital account and file the registration for you. Some banks ask to meet the manager once; we check this before you start.
Can my Dubai company own the Bulgarian company?
Yes. A UAE company, mainland or free zone, can be the sole shareholder. Its documents must be legalised and translated, and the individuals who ultimately own it are declared as beneficial owners.
Does owning a Bulgarian company give me residence?
Not by itself. Residence as a company manager requires the company to meet the statutory conditions, including the local jobs. For other routes, see the table above.
How long does the whole move take?
The company can be registered within two to four weeks of the first call. Residence depends on the ground: allow two to seven weeks for the visa and a few weeks more for the permit after you arrive.
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.
