The documentation needed for viewing property for sale and for living in your Bulgarian property.
Short tourist trips to view property for sale in Bulgaria can be made by a UK passport holder but if you plan longer or regular visits to your new Bulgarian property, you will need a visa. For long stays or residence in your property in Bulgaria, you will need to apply for a residency permit.
Viewing property for sale in Bulgaria and other short trips
Providing your trips to look at property for sale in Bulgaria do not exceed 30 days within a six-month period, UK nationals do not require any special documentation to enter the country. However, there must be at least three months validity remaining on your passport on your intended departure date.
Visiting your property in Bulgaria
If you plan to stay in your property in Bulgaria for 30-90 days in a six-month period, either in one visit or in multiple visits, you will need to apply for a C type visa (34 GBP). Applications, with cash or postal orders only, should be submitted to the Bulgarian Embassy in London. Further details are available on the embassy“s website
For longer visits to your Bulgarian property you will need a D-type visa, which allows a visit of up to six months. This visa costs 44 GBP (cash or postal orders only) from the Bulgarian Embassy in London. You must apply in person.
As an owner of property in Bulgaria, you can apply for a D-type visa in the “Foreign Investor“ category. You will need a document from the Bulgarian Ministry of Finance confirming your investment in Bulgarian property, and a notarised copy of a document relating to that investment (usually the title deeds).
Temporary residence permits for owners of Bulgarian property
If you are retiring on a pension to your Bulgarian property, you can obtain a renewable D-type visa, valid for 12 months at a time, from the Bulgarian Embassy in London. You will need to present a notarised document confirming your pension entitlement, and a letter from a Bulgarian bank confirming your bank account can receive transfers of that income.
Whether you are a pensioner or not, you can apply for a temporary residence permit shortly before your D-type visa expires. This must be done at a regional passport office in Bulgaria. Pensioners are usually granted temporary residency for one year at a time. Most other owners of property in Bulgaria are issued with permits for six-months at a time.
You have to prove you have sufficient funds or income (at least 2,000 GBP per annum pro rata) for the duration of your permit.
Permanent residence in your Bulgarian property
After living in your property in Bulgaria continuously for five years (two years if your spouse is Bulgarian) you can apply for a permanent residence permit.
You will also be eligible for an indefinite residence permit if you have invested 250,000 USD in Bulgaria.
Whatever your interest in Bulgarian property you must announce your arrival!
All foreign visitors, whether inspecting property for sale in Bulgaria or already owners of Bulgarian property, are required to register with the authorities within five days of arrival. Hotels do this on behalf of their guests (you will need to leave your passport with the receptionist when checking in) but if you are staying in your own (or a privately-owned) property in Bulgaria you need to register yourself at the local police station. Just take your passport along.
