Family – As part of residence program investors are entitled to include their spouse (if marriage period is not less than 5 years) and underaged children. Physically or mentally challenged children might be included regardless their age. Citizenship by descent is allowed for dependants regardless their age, marital status and despite former residence application.

Living, Working, Studying and Traveling – After obtaining resident status investors and their families are free to live, work and study in Bulgaria, though moving within Schengen area requires visas. Once received citizenship, applicants have rights of living, working and studying expanded to EU and Schengen zone, as well as visa-free travels to over 140 countries.

Regular – Qualifying investment of 512 000 EUR is required in non-interest bearing government bonds. Full amount is refunded after 5 years of maintaining residence status, when citizenship is granted.

Fast-track – Double investment of total 1 024 000 EUR speeds citizenship application up and grants it in overall 2 years. 50% of total amount is initiated before residency application. Once residence status reaches 1 year, investors place the second half of investment amount. Both injections must be kept for 2 years after receiving citizenship.

Financed – Financing from European bank may be received on demand for qualifying investment of 512 000 EUR. Non-refundable costs of approximately 200 000 EUR (payment and finance costs may vary) occurs financing for a 5-year period.

Regardless selected option the upfront non-refundable application fee of 25 000 EUR for main applicant (spouse is included) and 2 500 per each dependant is required.

*Government bonds must be held for minimum 4 years under fast-track citizenship and 5 years under regular investment option.

Taxes – Bulgaria offers favorable tax regime towards investors applying 0% rate on world wide income tax if they do not reside within country. Nevertheless, citizens of Bulgaria has one of the lowest taxes on income (10% only) and free trade environment with European Union.

Step 1 (3 – 5 days)

Pre-due diligence allows avoiding possible issues and assure eligibility. It also allows ineligible applicants saving unnecessary costs, time and effort.

• Contract form (fill and sign)
• Passport copies (including dependants)
• Residential address
• Full information about dependants
• Full details on profession or business
• Origin of finances
• Banking details (name, address, SWIFT/BIC code, IBAN No, account number

In cases of questionable pre-due diligence outcomes, enhanced background checks may be required, including possible cooperation with the relevant authorities. Full agent fee applied.

Step 2 (1 month)

Collection and preparation of documentation usually takes approximately 1 month to prepare all documents which must be translated to English and certified if applicable.

Step 2 requires:

• Program application forms (investor and spouse)
• Client facilitator and investment agreements (investor only)
• Legal power of Attorney (signed by all applicants in Bulgaria on the first trip)
• Financing Power of Attorney (if applicable)
• Investment Power of Attorney (signed by all applicants in Bulgaria on the first trip)
• Certified investor’s passport copy (recommended passport validity is 24 months)
• 2 signed copies of CV (investor only)
• Copy of education certificate (investor only)
• Original proof of address (investor only)
• Original bank reference letter (issued within 3 months)
• 2 original statement describing source of funds (signed by investor)
• All applicants previous passport copies (required if current passport is issued within a year)
• 4 passport photos taken within 6 months (all applicants)
• Original and legalized police clearance certificate (investor and spouse)
• Legalized copy of birth certificate (all applicants)
• Legalized copy of marriage certificate
• Passport copy (all pages, all applicants)
• Evidence owning assets of 1 000 000 EUR (assets may be under the investor’s or spouse’s name or joint ownership)
• Bank statement showing at least 50 000 EUR (Investor and spouse)
• Employment letter, stating company name, position and the period of employment (Investor and spouse)

Step 3 (5 weeks)

Our legal representative opens bank account on behalf of investor. At this step full investment is required, after which the Investment Certificate is obtained. Financing may be arranged on demand. Investment and residential address must be maintained for 5 years under regular basis. Nevertheless, there is no physical residence requirement.

Step 4 (8 weeks)

Submit visa application at local Bulgarian embassy. Be sure that passport validity is not less than 12 month, otherwise national visa D may be denied. Application processing takes up to 45 days on average, though some separate cases might require longer period of time. Provide passport within 30 days to receive visa after approval is issued.

Step 5 (3 months)

Consult suitable first trip date to Bulgaria that falls within business week. Assistance booking hotels and airport transfer may be provided if requested. Our legal representative accompanies investor to submit residence application. Application processing takes up to 90 days.

Step 6 (4 days)

After the approval is issued schedule the second trip to Bulgaria and submit permanent residence card application. On the third business day of the application residency cards are ready and must be collected in person.

Step 7 (8 months)

Once investor receives residency card, family is allowed to apply for visa D, submit permanent residency and permanent residency card applications accordingly. All the same procedures are applied as for main applicant. Applicable fees will be required.

Step 8 (10 months)

Naturalization process might be started after 1 or 5 years of maintaining residence status by having official address and holding investment.

Fast-track to citizenship option is not mandatory and it is only executed on demand by investor. To receive citizenship and passport within 1 year after 1 year of sustaining resident status main applicant must double the investment and deposit 1 024 000 EUR in total.

On regular program basis naturalization process starts 5 years after receiving permanent residence. This step requires 3 separate trips to Bulgaria: application submission, interview for citizenship, application and collection of national passport and ID card.

Once investor completes naturalization process, family members may apply by descent. Application fess must be paid.