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Bulgaria Golden Visa
Permanent residency in Bulgaria through an investment of €512,000 in a regulated fund.
Manager registered with the Financial Supervision Commission (FSC), Bulgaria
Overview
Why investors choose the programme
Permanent residency
The residency card is issued within days of the biometrics appointment, and the whole procedure usually takes 6 to 8 months.
No stay requirement
Permanent residency is not lost by living abroad (Art. 40, para. 2, item 5 of the Bulgarian Foreigners Act).
Path to citizenship
After five full years of permanent residency, with the investment kept throughout, and basic Bulgarian (A1), you may apply for naturalisation.
Travel in Europe
Visa-free travel across the European Union and the Schengen Area.
€512,000
Investment for the Golden Visa
€100,000
Minimum investment in the fund
0%
Subscription and redemption fee
Comparison
How Bulgaria compares
| Bulgaria | Portugal | Greece | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | €512,000 | €500,000 | €250,000 |
| Permanent residency | Immediate | After 5 years | After 7 years |
| Path to citizenship | 5 years | 15 years | 7 years |
| Residency requirement | None | 7 days a year | None |
10%
Flat personal income tax
0%
Tax on pensions
5%
Tax on dividends
Four steps
How the process works
1
Due diligence
The Bulgarian Investment Agency reviews your application. A fixed service fee of €2,500 applies to all applicants and covers all costs of the pre-approval stage.
Read more →2
Fund subscription
You subscribe to a regulated fund that meets the programme requirements.
Read more →3
D visa
You apply at a Bulgarian consulate with proof of investment and a clean criminal record. Processing typically takes about 2 months.
4
Permanent residency
The application is processed in about 2 months. It needs two visits: one to apply and one, a few months later, for biometrics.
The programme is run by the Bulgarian authorities and its conditions may change. This page is general information and not legal advice; an investment in the fund carries risk, and you may lose capital.
Why Choose Our Team to Process Your Bulgaria Golden Visa
In addition to our proven track record as a leading law firm in the Bulgarian Citizenship by Investment program (2013–2022), we have evolved into a fully integrated fund management company—Bulgaria Fund Management—which operates its own Golden Visa fund. While marketed as a Golden Visa vehicle, the fund is managed by a company registered with the Financial Supervision Commission and functions as an investment platform designed to grow capital, just like any standard investment fund.
This strategic development reflects our commitment to continuous progress and allows us to offer a more streamlined, efficient, and controlled process. By managing the fund internally, we remove reliance on third parties, enabling us to prioritize your application and retain full oversight of every stage.
Beyond administrative efficiency, we are confident in the strength and resilience of our investment strategy. Unlike passive, index-tracking models—which tend to underperform in the Bulgarian market compared to more mature economies like the U.S.—our fund is actively managed and diversified, targeting stable, long-term returns through carefully selected, government-backed assets.
Full Support
From the initial consultation to receiving your residency card—and later assisting with family reunification—we offer full, end-to-end support to ensure a smooth and stress-free experience. If you choose to pursue Bulgarian citizenship, our support continues. We provide access to a remote Bulgarian language course and guidance on eligibility for exemption where applicable.
Priority Handling
For your contributions, our team will assist you as a priority and always first. We also organize D visa and Residency bookings, and have your citizenship application be first in the queue. We may also accompany you during your applications abroad if a member of our team visits your region.
Return on Investment
To satisfy the Bulgaria Golden Visa requirements, Funds should invest only in Bulgarian assets. Thus, investing in our Fund you indirectly support the development of the Bulgarian economy. Your funds will be invested in sensible government approved and subsidized projects that ensure stable and predictable profitability.
Who Is Behind Our Operations?
Our operations are led by a balanced and experienced team of legal and financial professionals.
The legal and regulatory direction is overseen by Advocates Petar and Vasil Markov, who bring years of expertise from their leadership in the Bulgarian Citizenship by Investment program (2013–2022). They maintain excellent working relationships with regulatory authorities as well as both local and central government bodies, ensuring compliance and efficiency throughout the process.
We also proudly collaborate with key partners and contributors who are essential to the fund’s success, including our Investment Brokerage Partner – DSK Bank Bulgaria, a member of the OTP Group (Hungary); our Media Partner – SeeNews.com; and our dedicated compliance team, administrative staff, and advisors.
Together, this diverse and accomplished leadership enables us to offer a fund that combines legal precision, regulatory strength, and real investment performance—all under one integrated platform.
What if I do not have €512,000?
The Bulgaria Golden Visa programme does not offer a financing option, unlike the former Citizenship by Government Bond investment route available between 2013 and 2022. Applicants who do not have €512,000 to invest under the Fund Investment Route may still apply for the Bulgaria Golden Visa through a real estate investment of €312,000.
This option grants temporary residency within approximately four months and features a faster, more straightforward application process.
Bulgaria Golden Visa guide
Download the Bulgaria Golden Visa guide (PDF, 2025).
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