Retiring to Bulgaria — Residence for Pensioners from Outside the EU

A mild climate, a moderate cost of living and the Black Sea coast bring a steady stream of retirees to Bulgaria. Citizens of EU countries simply register — see moving to Bulgaria as an EU citizen. Pensioners from outside the EU, including the UK, need a residence permit, and the Foreigners Act has a ground made for them.

What you must show

• A pension right. A pension you are entitled to under a state pension system. Private pension plans, voluntary schemes and annuities from insurance contracts may not count on their own — check before you apply.
• Enough income. Regular income of at least the Bulgarian minimum monthly wage or the minimum pension, received without relying on social assistance. The law is not clear about which of the two applies to pensioners, so we prepare files that clear the higher figure where possible.
• Health insurance valid in Bulgaria for at least the period of the permit.
• Accommodation in Bulgaria — a title deed or a lease.
• A criminal record certificate from your country of nationality or residence.

The steps

1. Type D visa

   Apply in person at the Bulgarian consulate in the country where you live lawfully, with proof of your pension, income, insurance and accommodation. A consular fee is charged. The visa cannot be applied for from inside Bulgaria.

2. Residence permit

   After you arrive, apply to the Migration Directorate or the regional migration unit with your passport and visa, the pension documents, bank statements showing the pension being paid, insurance, accommodation and the criminal record certificate. A state fee is payable when the permit is issued.

3. Renewal

   The permit is issued for up to a year and renewed for as long as the conditions are met. File the renewal well before the current permit expires.

Documents from abroad

Pension certificates, bank statements and criminal record certificates must be apostilled or legalised and translated into Bulgarian. They are the slowest part of the file, so order them first. A power of attorney lets us handle much of the Bulgarian side while you are still at home — see powers of attorney signed abroad.

Healthcare

Health insurance is a condition of the permit, so most non-EU retirees take a private policy accepted for residence purposes. Before you buy, check the exclusions for age and existing conditions, and whether the policy covers treatment in Bulgaria rather than only emergencies.

From yearly permits to permanent residence

Years on the pensioner permit count towards the five years of lawful, continuous residence needed for permanent residence, which ends the yearly renewals. Keep the permits continuous and your time abroad within the limits.

How your pension is taxed

Bulgaria does not tax pensions from compulsory insurance — Bulgarian or foreign — under Art. 13(1)(6) of the Personal Income Tax Act. Other income, such as rent, investments or private pensions, can be taxable if you become tax resident here, and your home country may keep the right to tax your pension under the tax treaty. Check both sides before you move; see becoming tax resident in Bulgaria.

Questions clients ask

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.