Getting the residence permit in Bulgaria it’s the beginning of your journey to get permanent residence or even Bulgarian citizenship.
And to acquire the permanent resident status you need to have legally lived in Bulgaria for five (5) consecutive years, more exactly, more than 30 months during this period.
The period starts since your first entry to Bulgaria with the visa D (for non-European citizens).
In order to legally live in Bulgaria, you need to have during the whole period a valid long-term residence permit. If you for some reason fail to renew your long-term residence on time, you may lose the residence rights and need to start the process again from the beginning eventually including getting a new D visa for Bulgaria.
If your extended residence permit is about to expire, the renewal process is particularly important.
Keep in mind that the specific documents can be requested depending on the reason of your stay in Bulgaria (family member, as a pensioner, as student, or with working contract, etc.) and they wont be covered in this article.
Each time you apply for residence permit renewal, you will need to ensure your eligibility, this means that you have to show proof that the reasons that make you eligible the previous time you got your residence permit are still valid.
If your circumstances have changed, you may still be eligible for a residence permit through different means.
Documents for this application should be submitted no later than 2 weeks before the expiration date of the existing applicant visa/permit.
Renewal long-term residence permit in Bulgaria process step by step.
Step 1
Check the validity of your long term residence permit!
You must apply for a renewal of your Long term residence permit (Bulgarian ID card) at least 14 calendar days before your old one expires.
The whole process takes about six weeks and you will need to go in person to the Migration Office, at least three times. Remember to take your passport with you every time you go there.
Important:
If you apply less than 14 days before the expiration date of your visa you will be fined, they range from 20 to 100 BGN.
Step 2
Before going to the immigration office collect the following documents:
1. International passport with which you have entered Bulgaria
2. Two copies (A4 size) of the first page of your passport
3. Copy (A4 size) of the last stamp you received in your passport when you came
4. Copy of your Bulgarian ID card
5. Document for address of residence – Title deed or respectively another document proving the ownership, or a lease agreement, respectively another document proving the occupation of the property. In case a lease agreement is presented, a notarized declaration of the owner for providing of address of residence should be presented as well.
6. Health insurance for a at least a year
7. A document from the bank (‘Spravka’) that you have enough money for the period of your application renewal (it will depends of which ground you got your residence permit). It can be in BGN/ USD/ EUR.
Step 4
Take all documents listed above to the Migration Office, and after 10 days if all documents are correct you will be able to continue the renewal process.
Step 5
In two weeks go back to the Migration Office with a copy of your passport and a copy of your housing certificate. Pay the following:
Stay extension fee: for up to one year – 500 BGN (+BGN bank commission) or 300 BGN for a 6 months period for non EU citizens.
Card issuing fee: Regular service – 45 BGN (+BGN bank commission) within 30 consecutive days; and 18 BGN (+BGN bank commission) for EU Citizens.
Fast service – 90 BGN (+bank commission); within 10 working days
Express – 225 BGN (+ bank commission) within 3 working days
Step 6
At the next day, you go to the immigration office, you will need to fill up the form, you will need to write most of the information in Bulgarian, then its a good idea to go with somebody that can help you with that in case that your Bulgarian skills aren’t enough.
After you give back the form, they will take a picture of you, check your finger prints and make you to confirm your signature in an electronic device,
and they will give you a receipt with the date when you have to go and pick up your new ID card (renewed residence permit).
Step 7
Collect the ID card at the immigration office.
Our final advice: keep an eye on the expire dates of your documents, passport, ID cards and so on, this will save you time on the long run, and take your time to do the renovation process, remember that can take up to six weeks!
Good luck
Migration Office working hours:
8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Bulgarian immigration office web site in english.
