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Bulgaria Residence Permit Through a Representative Office
A residence permit for the head of a representative office that your existing foreign company opens in Bulgaria. It suits business owners who want to live in the EU and move with their family.
Bulgaria's law on foreigners allows a representative of a foreign company to obtain residence. This is how a Bulgaria residence permit through a representative office works: your company abroad registers a trade representative office with the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and appoints you as its head. On that basis you get a D visa and then a residence permit. Your spouse and minor children can move with you.
A representative office does not trade or make a profit: it handles marketing, finding clients and market research for the parent company. According to the latest available information, the rules have become stricter: the parent company must have been operating for at least two years and must have no tax debts. We check your company and documents first, and only then start the registration.
Who it is for
- Owners of an established business abroad who want to enter the EU market
- Managers whom their company is sending to Bulgaria
- Entrepreneurs for whom moving together with their family matters
- Companies that want to explore the Bulgarian market before opening a trading company
Requirements
- An operating foreign company, according to the latest available information at least two years old and with no tax debts
- A company resolution to open a representative office and appoint you as its head
- Registration of the office with the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- A description of the office's non-commercial activity: marketing, business contacts, market research
- Funds to live on, housing in Bulgaria and health insurance
- A criminal record certificate obtained shortly before filing
What we do
- Check the parent company: its age, financial statements and tax history
- Prepare the resolution to set up the representative office and its activity plan
- Arrange translations into Bulgarian, apostilles and legalization
- Register the representative office and obtain its identification numbers
- Prepare you for the D visa application and interview
- Handle the residence application in Bulgaria, your family's permits and renewals
Key documents
- Passport
- The parent company's incorporation documents with an apostille and translation
- Resolution to set up the representative office and appoint its head
- The parent company's financial statements
- Criminal record certificate
- Proof of housing and health insurance
- Bank statements showing funds to live on
- Marriage and birth certificates with an apostille and translation
How it works
- Company checkage, financial statements and taxes: does the company meet the requirements
- Documentsresolution on the representative office, translations, apostilles and activity plan
- Registrationthe office is registered with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, usually in one to four weeks
- D visaapplication and interview at a Bulgarian consulate
- Residence permit in Bulgariaapplication to the migration office and residence cards for you and your family
- Renewalevery year, as long as the grounds remain
Timeline
Registering the representative office usually takes one to four weeks, then the D visa and the residence application in Bulgaria; several months in total, depending on the consulate and the migration office.
Timelines are approximate: government agencies, consulates and banks set them.
What to watch out for
- A young company or unpaid taxes rule out this route
- A representative office cannot trade, and breaking this rule puts the residence permit at risk
- A criminal record certificate is valid only for a short time, so it is ordered last
- Errors in translating the parent company's documents set the process back by weeks
- Opening a corporate account with a Bulgarian bank involves a source-of-funds check
FAQ
How much does it cost?
Our service fee is from $15,000. Government fees, translations, insurance and other mandatory costs are paid separately; we send the full estimate before you sign.
What is a representative office of a foreign company in Bulgaria?
It is a registered office of your foreign company with no right to carry out commercial activity. It promotes the parent company's products, looks for clients and studies the market. The office does not pay profit tax because it makes no profit, but it still needs bookkeeping and reporting.
What are the requirements for the parent company?
It must be an operating company with real activity and financial statements. According to the latest available information, it must have been operating for at least two years and have no tax debts. If your company is younger, we will suggest another route to Bulgaria or to a different EU country.
Can my family move with me?
Yes. Your spouse and minor children get residence as family members of the head of the representative office. You need marriage and birth certificates with an apostille and a Bulgarian translation. If the marriage ends, the former spouse loses the basis for residence.
Can I work for another Bulgarian company on this permit?
No, the representative's residence permit is tied to the work at the representative office. Employment with another company requires a separate permit. Working remotely for the parent company is the core of this route.
When can I get permanent residence and citizenship in Bulgaria?
Permanent residence comes after 5 years of continuous residence on a temporary permit. Citizenship, under the general rules, comes later, with an exam and, as a rule, giving up your previous passport. Long absences can get in the way of renewals and break the residence period.
How long does it take to get a Bulgaria residence permit through a representative office?
Registering the representative office usually takes one to four weeks, followed by the D visa and the residence application in Bulgaria. In total, plan for several months. Timing depends on the consulate and the migration office.
Do you guarantee the result?
No. Decisions are made by government agencies, consulates and banks. We are responsible for preparing and checking documents, filing and support, and we tell you about the risks upfront.
Related programs
Let’s discuss your case
We will check whether the program fits your citizenship, income and family, and send an estimate with the full list of costs.
