🇧🇬Bulgaria
Investor (Type D) Permit
EU residency at low-tax 10% PIT — Sofia and Black-Sea coast as bases.
Required documents
- ·Investment confirmation (bonds or company)
- ·Bulgarian address registration
- ·Health insurance
- ·Criminal record (apostilled)
Things to know
- ·Citizenship-by-investment programme was abolished in 2022.
- ·Bulgaria became a full Schengen member (including land borders) on 1 January 2025 (air/sea since March 2024).
- ·Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026 — confirm exact euro thresholds and fees on the official portal (mvr.bg).
Apostille & legalization
Apostille routeApostille only — both United States and Bulgaria are parties to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention.
Documents that must be apostilled
- ·Police / criminal-record clearance
- ·Document explicitly flagged for legalisation
Bank statements, employment contracts, photos, passport copies and the application form itself do not need an apostille.
- Obtain originals or certified copies of each civil/criminal record (birth certificate, marriage certificate, police clearance, diploma, etc.).
- Have each document apostilled by the competent authority in United States (U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications).
- Translate the apostilled document into the official language of Bulgaria — the apostille itself is also translated.
- Submit the apostilled + translated bundle directly to the Bulgaria immigration authority or consulate; no further consular stamp is required.
Translation: Bulgaria only accepts translations from a court-sworn / officially recognised translator — agency translations are routinely rejected.
Issuing authority in United States: U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications
Documents older than 3–6 months are often rejected. Plan to obtain fresh originals shortly before your visa application.
Last verified 31 May 2026 — reconfirm on the official portal before applying.
Other residency programs in Europe
