An essential issue for all foreign nationals wishing to live and work in Bulgaria is getting permission to stay in the country. According to present regulations citizens of most EU countries, by law, are allowed to stay in Bulgaria for 3 months out of every 6, whilst those from Great Britain and Ireland can only stay for one month out of 6. This regulation will supposedly change when Bulgaria enters the European Union, but for now cases are decided upon individually and there are many pitfalls to be aware of.
Most importantly, don’t forget to register as soon as you enter the country. If you are staying in a hotel this will be done by the hotel authorities, but if you are staying in your own property or with a friend you’d better get a move on and register yourself within 48 hours, otherwise you will receive a fine. It’s easy to register, just go to the nearest passport office and fill in a simple form with your passport details and the exact address of the place you are staying at. Your residence will then be considered legal and you can start to put together the long list of documents required when you apply for a permanent stay permit.
If you are a pensioner, or have stated that you intend to start a business here, your permit will be issued after you have presented documents proving a steady flow of income outside the country; if you are a freelancer it will be much more difficult to get residency. Although the law allows for it in practice, permits of this kind require a large amount of documentation to be prepared in advance and take a lot of time. In all cases, however, it is better to check in advance which documents you will need, perhaps even before you arrive in Bulgaria, as you may be required to have something that can only be issued in your country. Then begins the process of applying for a Bulgarian ID card, which will save you the inconvenience of carrying around your passport and will make you feel more Bulgarian - good luck!
