Getting Bulgarian residency through your Company: What to Expect
Most entrepreneurs who contact us have already spent an evening reading about Bulgaria's tax rates and come away thinking the hard part is over. Registering a Bulgarian company is relatively straightforward. Getting Bulgarian residency through that company is a separate process, and the two are not automatically linked. If you are a non-EU citizen who wants to actually live and work in Bulgaria, you need to follow the immigration route correctly from the start. Get that wrong and you can end up with a perfectly registered company, a 10% tax rate on paper, and no legal right to be in the country. We have guided over 50 people through this process, and we know exactly where the confusion happens.
Bulgaria is now a full Schengen member and adopted the euro in January 2026, which makes it an even more practical base for international business. Opening a company in Bulgaria is step one. Getting your residency locked in is step two. Both matter, and both need to be done in the right order.
Owning a Bulgarian company does not automatically grant you the right to live there. Registering a company does not automatically grant the right to reside in Bulgaria. A third-country national can register a company remotely, but if they wish to live and work in Bulgaria, they must obtain a residence permit under the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act. The route most non-EU entrepreneurs take is registering a Bulgarian EOOD (a single-member limited liability company) and then applying for a Type D visa on the basis of that company. That visa allows you to enter the country and then apply for a temporary residence permit.
The typical cost for the full route runs between EUR 2,000 and EUR 5,000, covering company registration, legal fees, the D visa and documents. The timeline is 3 to 6 months from start to residence permit, and the result is a 1-year temporary residence permit, renewable annually. That permit is not a formality. Consulates look carefully at whether the business is genuine. An empty company with no real plan will not get through.
There is no residency requirement for company founders or directors in Bulgaria. EU citizens can register and manage a Bulgarian company without obtaining Bulgarian residency. For EU passport holders, the immigration side is simpler: you can move to Bulgaria and register your address as a EU citizen without needing a separate company-based visa. The company is then structured to match your actual situation. Non-EU entrepreneurs face more steps, but the path is very workable when the process is followed in the right order.
The process has a clear sequence. Skipping a step or doing things in the wrong order is the single most common reason applications get delayed. Here is what the journey looks like when it is done correctly.
Before anything moves, you need to get your paperwork in order. For the company registration itself, a notarised and apostilled power of attorney lets your representative handle the process in Bulgaria while you are still abroad. For the residency side, the typical document set includes:
- Valid passport with sufficient remaining validity
- Proof of Bulgarian company registration
- Proof of a registered company address in Bulgaria
- Evidence of genuine business activity (a business plan, contracts, invoices or similar)
- Proof of sufficient funds (bank statements showing financial stability)
- Proof of accommodation in Bulgaria
- Health insurance valid in Bulgaria
- Clean criminal record certificate from your home country, translated and apostilled
At Expats Varna, we check exactly which documents are needed for your specific situation, coordinate the translations through our network of professional translators and keep everything organised in our online client application so nothing gets lost at a critical moment.
| Stage | What happens | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|
| Company registration | EOOD registered, address set, bank account opened | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Document preparation | Translations, apostilles, business plan, criminal record | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Type D visa application | Submitted at Bulgarian consulate in home country | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Entry and address registration | Arrive in Bulgaria, register at municipality | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Residence permit application | Filed at the Migration Directorate in Varna | 4 to 8 weeks |
The full journey typically takes 3 to 6 months. Starting the process at least three to four months before your planned move gives you the right buffer. Our busiest period is September through December, when entrepreneurs want to be settled in Bulgaria before the new financial year begins. If that is your goal too, now is the right time to start.
Here is the part of the process that surprises people most. Starting a business in Bulgaria as a foreigner does not automatically allow citizens to work and settle in the country or guarantee the successful application of a residency permit. And registering a Bulgarian company does not automatically mean you will pay Bulgarian tax on your income.
The company must reflect a genuinely structured setup. Tax residency, where the business is actually managed from, where the owner lives, and whether real economic activity takes place in Bulgaria, can all matter depending on your home country's tax rules. An empty company with a Bulgarian bank account is not a tax strategy. It is a risk. The goal is legal tax efficiency based on a proper, practical business setup, not an empty shell that could create problems with your home country's tax authorities later.
This is not a reason to avoid the process. It is a reason to do it correctly. We help entrepreneurs understand exactly what their structure needs to look like, what genuine activity in Bulgaria means in practice, and how to build something that will hold up under scrutiny. You can read more about the full picture on our tax in Bulgaria page.
The reason so many international entrepreneurs are exploring Bulgarian residency through their company is simple: the numbers are hard to ignore. Bulgaria's statutory corporate income tax remains a flat 10%, the lowest in the EU and well below the current EU average of 17.50%. Add to that a 5% dividend tax, and the combined rate stays at 15% even after you have paid yourself.
Consider what that means for a Dutch business owner earning €250,000 in taxable annual profit. In the Netherlands, the 2026 rate is 19% on the first €200,000 and 25.8% on profit above that, resulting in approximately €50,900 in corporate tax. The same profit in Bulgaria would result in approximately €25,000 in corporate tax, a difference of around €25,900 every year. For a French business earning €500,000, the gap is even wider: approximately €75,000 per year based on France's standard 25% rate compared with Bulgaria's 10%.
Those are real numbers, not theoretical projections. But they only materialise when the company is structured and operated correctly, and when the owner's residency situation has been properly arranged. That is exactly where we come in.
Once your company and residency are in place, your life in Bulgaria as a business owner starts to make sense on every level: lower operating costs, a lower cost of living, and a genuinely good quality of life in a city like Varna.
Rini Petersen, one of the founders of Expats Varna, went through this process himself. His own relocation took more than three months and involved rejected documents, duplicate payments, conflicting advice and visits to multiple offices. Different providers could each handle one small part of the process, but nobody took responsibility for the whole thing.
That experience is why Expats Varna was built around one principle: one trusted local team that coordinates everything, keeps your documents and progress organised in a central online application, and personally accompanies you to appointments with banks, notaries and government offices. You never have to stand at a counter alone without understanding the language or the documents in front of you.
Our network includes seven professional translators, trusted lawyers, accountants, notaries and local administrative specialists. Nothing is outsourced to a random provider. Everything runs through one team, one plan and one digital environment where you can see exactly what has been done and what is coming next.
"We are really happy with the online digital system they have. I even asked for a function and they added it directly. Also they have their accounting in the web app, wonderful."
If you want to understand what opening a company in Bulgaria looks like end to end, including the residency process, that page gives you the full picture.
Bulgaria maintains its position as the lowest-taxing country in the European Union with a flat 10% corporate tax. The rate applies to profits and has been in effect since 2007, with no legislative changes for its increase adopted to date. The dividend tax stands at 5%, giving a combined corporate plus dividend rate of just 15%. Personal income tax is also a flat 10%. That consistency and simplicity is part of why Bulgaria has become increasingly attractive for entrepreneurs relocating from higher-tax countries in Western Europe.
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If you are seriously considering getting Bulgarian residency through your company, the best next step is a direct conversation. We will look at your current business structure, your home country situation and your goals, and give you an honest picture of what the process looks like for you specifically. No generic checklists, no vague advice. A real plan, built around your situation.
Call us on +359 87 728 2945 or book a free online meeting and we'll take it from there.
At Expats Varna we handle company registration, residency, accounting, translations, legal coordination and personal support throughout the process, all through one team and one digital environment. You can learn more about who we are, explore everything that goes into life in Bulgaria as an expat, check the full details of tax in Bulgaria, or go straight to the company formation page to see how registration works. When you are ready, plan a meeting with us and we will handle the rest.
Which countries do you mainly work with?
We work with entrepreneurs and business owners from across Europe and beyond, including the Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Turkey, Ukraine and the UK. If you are relocating your company to Bulgaria from anywhere in the world, we can help. The first step is always a conversation about your specific situation.
Can you handle the full process remotely before I arrive in Bulgaria?
Yes. We can register your Bulgarian company, prepare your documents, coordinate translations and guide you through the visa application while you are still abroad. Once you arrive in Varna, our local team handles the in-person steps with you, including accompanying you to the Migration Directorate and any other appointments.
What is included in your online client application?
Your documents, translations, appointment records, progress updates and important communications are all stored in one secure digital environment. You can follow the status of your relocation from anywhere in the world. Clients have even requested specific features and we have added them directly. Nothing gets lost and you always know what happens next.
Do you work with lawyers and accountants, or do I need to find my own?
We coordinate everything through our own trusted network, which includes lawyers, accountants, notaries, translators and local administrative specialists. You do not need to find separate providers for each part of the process. One team, one plan, one point of contact from start to finish.
Does registering a Bulgarian company automatically give me residency?
No. Company registration and residency are two separate processes. You can own a Bulgarian company without living there, and living in Bulgaria requires a separate residence permit application. The company can serve as the basis for your visa and permit, but it does not replace the immigration procedure.
How long does it take to get Bulgarian residency through a company?
The full process typically takes 3 to 6 months from initial company registration to an approved temporary residence permit. The timeline depends on how quickly documents are prepared, how long the consulate takes to process your Type D visa, and any delays at the Migration Directorate. Starting 3 to 4 months before your target move date gives you a realistic buffer.
What type of company do most entrepreneurs register in Bulgaria?
The most common structure is an EOOD, which is a single-member limited liability company. The minimum share capital is just EUR 1, and the company can be registered remotely through a notarised power of attorney. It is a straightforward and flexible structure well suited to consultants, agency owners, SaaS founders and service businesses.
Will I need to physically be present in Bulgaria to apply for my residence permit?
Yes. The residence permit application itself must be submitted in person at the Migration Directorate after you enter Bulgaria on your Type D visa. The company registration can be done remotely, but once you are in Bulgaria, a local team member can accompany you to the appointment so you are never navigating the process alone.
Can I move my whole family to Bulgaria through a company residency?
Yes. Once you hold a valid residence permit, your spouse and dependent children can apply for family reunification residence permits. The process requires additional documentation, but it follows a clear legal route. We coordinate this alongside the main business relocation so the family side of the move is handled at the same time.
Do I need to pay tax in Bulgaria if my clients are all abroad?
A Bulgarian resident company is taxed on its worldwide profits at 10%, regardless of where its clients are located. What matters is where the company is managed and where you, as the director, are resident. Having foreign clients is perfectly normal and does not prevent you from benefiting from Bulgaria's 10% corporate tax rate.
What is the difference between temporary and permanent residency in Bulgaria?
Temporary residence through a company is initially granted for 1 year and can be renewed annually. After five years of continuous temporary residence, you become eligible to apply for permanent residency. Permanent residence gives you broader rights and is not tied to maintaining the company, though your accounting and tax obligations continue independently.
Is Bulgaria a good country for digital nomads and online businesses?
Bulgaria is increasingly popular with online business owners, consultants and SaaS founders precisely because the 10% corporate tax applies regardless of where your clients are. Combined with a low cost of living, full EU and Schengen access, and a straightforward company structure, it is a genuinely practical base for location-independent businesses of all sizes.
Found this useful? Imagine not having to do any of it yourself.
You can maybe sort this on your own. But if you would rather not spend your first weeks in queues and government offices, we handle the whole move from A to Z, in your own language. Complete relocation packages, plus the aftercare most people forget about, like swapping your driving licence once you are settled.
- No more hunting for a sworn translator on your own
- No more being sent away for two months because you do not speak Bulgarian
- No more wishing you knew a local who could come along and vouch for you
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