How to move to Bulgaria for permanent residence from Russia?

Bulgarian citizenship: benefits of obtaining:

There are several advantages of the procedure implemented within the investment program. They are as follows:

• the possibility of promptly obtaining a residence permit (residence permit) within a period of six to nine months;
• the presence of a “fast track” option, provided for by the investment program and facilitating the acquisition of citizenship over a period of 24 months;
• there is no provision for the need to stay in Bulgaria in the process of participation in the investment program, it is absent;
• state support for investments, favorable financing conditions (that is, lending for the purchase of bonds) from monetary institutions operating in Bulgaria;
• knowledge of the state language is not required, no exams are required;
• renunciation of existing citizenship is not necessary;
• favorable tax regimes, the possibility of free trade within countries within the European Union;
• obtaining the right to move freely within the scope of the Schengen legislation;
• the possibility of receiving medical care in the European Union;
• exemption from taxation of income from foreign economic activity.

How to get permanent residence in Bulgaria?

Thanks to friendly relations between Russia and Bulgaria, it is very easy for a Russian to obtain a residence permit (and later citizenship) in this country. If there is at least one of the grounds for granting Bulgarian citizenship, the applicant is unlikely to be denied his application. In order to become a citizen of Bulgaria, you must:

• Live in the territory of the country in question for at least 3 years on the basis of a residence permit;
• Buy or rent a home;
• Have no problems with the law in Bulgaria;
• Have a stable income in the territory of the country of destination for the previous 3 years;
• Be married to a Bulgarian citizen for at least 3 years.

If the applicant for Bulgarian citizenship meets at least one of the listed points, this citizen will certainly join the ranks of Bulgarian citizens. There is no significant language barrier between Russian and Bulgarian citizens, and many Bulgarians speak Russian. Knowledge of the Bulgarian language is an absolute advantage, but not an immutable requirement in the case of obtaining citizenship of this country.

Permanent residence in Bulgaria when purchasing real estate

Separately, it is worth noting that Bulgaria is included in the list of countries that provide residence permits on the basis of the acquisition of personal residential real estate on the territory of the state in question. When purchasing an apartment or house in Bulgaria, a residence permit is issued automatically. In addition, the presence of personal property in living space will facilitate and speed up the process of joining the ranks of Bulgarian citizens in the future.

How to obtain Bulgarian citizenship: ways:

2 ways:

1. Complete investment package.

It involves investing from 511,292 euros in bonds issued by the state (in the form of bills) for a period of five years. At the end of the period, the funds are returned to the investor without interest. Investments are reliably protected by debt securities issued by the state.

1. Financing from a monetary institution.

The option involves lending from banks operating in the country, secured by government bonds. To get answers to your questions and detailed information about participating in the investment program, call us. We'll tell you everything!

Is it possible to obtain Bulgarian citizenship faster:

If the investment amount can be doubled, the investor has the opportunity to undergo an accelerated procedure for obtaining Bulgarian citizenship.

To become a holder of Bulgarian citizenship under the accelerated program, the following conditions must be met:

• the period for obtaining permanent residence in Bulgaria is from twelve months;
• investments must be at least twice the amount specified earlier (511,292 euros);
• 50% of investments must not be withdrawn from circulation for a period of two years.

Nuances:

It is worth understanding that investments are not a guarantee of obtaining citizenship in the country. However, some amendments and changes made to the Bulgarian “Law on Foreigners” in 2013 simplified the procedure: the changes were aimed at concessions provided for citizens of other states in terms of obtaining citizenship. It will take two years to obtain a Bulgarian passport; you do not need to renounce citizenship in your home country. There is no need to take a language proficiency exam.

Conditions for obtaining citizenship under the investment program

In general, the process occurs in 2 stages:

1. Obtaining permanent residence in Bulgaria. Duration – 12 months. Residence on the territory of the state is not mandatory; you need to invest a little more than half a million euros in bonds issued by the state. Investment conditions have already been mentioned.
2. A year later, having received the status of a person living in Bulgaria, the investor will need to invest additional funds (as before - a little more than half a million euros) in state bonds for 3 years. Afterwards, all that remains is to submit the papers to obtain citizenship.

So, in 2 years you can obtain the status of a Bulgarian citizen. The advantage of the process is the following: staying in the country for the specified period (2 years) is not mandatory, but the residential address will need to be indicated. For this reason, it is important to rent or buy housing in the country in advance.

Benefits for family members

Once a person obtains Bulgarian citizenship, his family members can also apply. For minor children, automatic conferment of citizenship is provided. Persons of adult age must undergo the procedure in accordance with the established procedure.

Government bodies will make a decision within six months. This is a record short time compared to other EU countries.

Government bonds: what are they?

In the case of Bulgaria, these are government treasury bills (debt securities) that are freely traded on the domestic market. There are no marks about the owners on them. Their implementation is available in any monetary institution operating in the country.

We can thus say that obtaining Bulgarian citizenship through an investment program is a process of purchasing securities for a long period.

The investor does not pay interest on the bonds, but he can expect to receive coupons.

If you don’t have the funds to buy bonds, but want to obtain citizenship in Bulgaria, you can use the following method: take out a loan from a monetary institution. However, in this case, you will need to pay 10% of the cost of debt securities from your own pocket.

Procedure for obtaining a residence permit

A residence permit in Bulgaria is issued in 1-2 months. A more expedited procedure is possible if there are no questions about your documents. To submit a package of documents, you need compelling reasons for changing your state of residence and strict compliance with all requirements.

Documents required:

• statement;
• international passport;
• photo;
• confirmation of the availability of real estate in Bulgaria (rent, sublease, ownership);
• a certificate from the bank confirming the presence of 2.8 thousand euros in the account;
• insurance against accidents and emergency medical expenses;
• certificate of no problems with the law;
• certificate and certificates of pension (for pensioners);
• work permit, employment contract with a Bulgarian resident (if you, as a foreign citizen, plan to work in Bulgaria);
• constituent, investment papers (for businessmen and investors);
• fee for reviewing documents.

The list of documents for starting residence in Bulgaria can be expanded if necessary. The application is filled out quite quickly and a photo is pasted into it.

Please note that to obtain a residence permit, knowledge of the Bulgarian language is not required, however, for permanent residence in Bulgaria this issue is very important.

For pensioners, it is necessary to confirm not only their status, but also the size of their pension. This is necessary in order to be able to assess whether you can exist in the country on this passive income. For pensioners, you must also confirm that you have at least 2 thousand euros in your account. The account must be in a Bulgarian bank.

All documents required by the Bulgarian embassy or migration service must be provided in full, copies and photographs must be taken in a clear format, some copies of documents must be notarized (for example, an identity card).

Real estate transactions must be completed. Otherwise, there is a risk of being denied a visa or obtaining a residence permit. If you rent housing, then the contract with the landlord must be concluded for at least a year. Naturally, in order to sign it you will have to come to Bulgaria on a tourist visa. Visa clerks examine documents regarding the availability of housing especially carefully. The government does not encourage the arrival of migrants who have nowhere to live and their sources of livelihood are unclear, so all documents are checked with the utmost severity.

When applying for a residence permit, you will also need to pay a consular fee of about 300 euros. The costs of obtaining a residence permit are slightly higher than paying for a tourist visa to enter the country. By spending a minimum of money, you can open the way to a European standard of living.

Registration of a residence permit for pensioners

If you decide to move to the Bulgarian state in old age and live there using your pension accumulated in Russia, then this is quite possible. Moreover, there is a special program for pensioners for this. If your pension is more than 83 euros (minimum in Bulgaria), then you can participate in it.

To do this, rent or buy housing in the country and issue a Bulgarian visa for a year (residence permit), which is then extended. To obtain a residence permit, you must provide a certificate of pension amounts for the last six months and a pensioner’s certificate. These documents will have to be translated into Bulgarian, and the translation itself will have to be certified by a notary.

To transfer a pension to a Bulgarian bank, you need to write an application to the branch of the Russian Pension Fund. After this, you will be able to use it throughout the country without any obstacles (money will be credited to your account). Pensioners need to confirm the presence of at least 2 thousand euros in their account. The funds must also be in a Bulgarian bank, which means you will first have to travel to Bulgaria and open an account there. It is impossible to do this in absentia, unless, of course, you entrust this procedure to someone you know by issuing a power of attorney.

Pensioner status will allow you to live in the country as long as you want, the main thing is not to forget about visa extensions and visits to the migration service.

Bulgaria has low prices for food, medicine, medical services and utility costs; you can feel quite comfortable in this country. Every major city has its own Russian center. The Russian diaspora also actively communicates on specialized forums on the Internet.

Contrary to expectations, Russian pensioners will not be able to receive a European pension in Bulgaria. We are talking only about savings in Russia (after all, all deductions were made in this country), credited to an account in a local bank.

Most Frequently Asked Questions and Answers:

We are interested in obtaining Bulgarian citizenship as quickly as possible.
Is this possible? Yes, it is possible to use the accelerated program to obtain citizenship. In this case, the amount of investment increases (the applicant makes an investment of double the amount). You can invest funds in a business or in government bonds. Among the requirements for participants in the accelerated program are possession of permanent residence for at least a year and the second part of the investment being in circulation for two years.

We have two small children in our family. Does obtaining permanent residence in Bulgaria give you the right to attend preschool institutions and receive education free of charge?

Yes, with this status, children are given the right to attend kindergartens and general education institutions free of charge. It is also possible to receive free education in higher educational institutions.

We are planning to obtain Bulgarian citizenship and move to the country. How are things going with real estate?

The country has fairly affordable real estate prices. The residential real estate market makes it easy to find a suitable option for both renting and buying.

How long does it take to obtain Bulgarian citizenship? Is this a long process?

Typically, a standard procedure can take up to ten months. This period is due to the country’s fairly strict migration legislation and the passage of a thorough comprehensive check by all applicants. Typically, a standard procedure can take up to ten months. This period is due to the rather strict migration legislation of the country and the passage of a thorough comprehensive check by all applicants.

I want to obtain Bulgarian citizenship, but at the moment it is not possible to live in this country. Is it possible to somehow avoid moving at the initial stage?

The condition for granting citizenship by investment is the presence of permanent residence (to issue it, it is enough to invest funds). It is possible to start obtaining citizenship no less than one year after receiving permanent residence. The naturalization procedure takes two years, and it is not necessary to reside in the country during this period.

There is a desire to invest in the purchase of government bonds to obtain Bulgarian Citizenship, but the available amount is not enough. Are there any options?

In such a situation, the use of borrowed funds is allowed: the investor can apply for a loan from the bank (the purpose of the loan is the purchase of securities). The loan is issued if the applicant can pay 10% on their own.

Do you have to come to the country to buy real estate in Bulgaria? Or can this be left to professionals?

Personal presence is not necessary to purchase real estate. To complete the transaction, you will need to confirm the transfer of authority to a trusted person (for example, an agency employee) from a notary.

After receiving a Bulgarian passport, will I have to renounce my existing citizenship?

No, there is no need to renounce your existing citizenship.

Have you come across information on the Internet that in order to obtain Bulgarian citizenship, you must have a good command of the Bulgarian language? Is this really true?

No, applicants for citizenship by investment are not required to know the state language of the country.

The mechanism for granting Bulgarian citizenship based on the acquisition of a complete investment portfolio is not entirely clear. How long can I expect to get my money back?

This method of obtaining a Bulgarian passport involves replenishing a bond portfolio in an amount that is approximately 500 thousand euros. Refunds are made after the five-year period has expired. Funds are returned in the same amount as the investment was made.

We are interested in the issue of taxation after obtaining Bulgarian citizenship. Are taxes high in Bulgaria?

No, the Bulgarian tax system is one of the most favorable among the EU countries (the lowest tax rates apply to Bulgarian citizens). The personal income tax rate is set at 10%. In addition, worldwide income is not taxed.

After obtaining Bulgarian citizenship under the investment program, will I be able to freely visit the Schengen countries? Or will I still need to apply for visas?

Holders of a Bulgarian passport are granted the right to free movement within countries included in the Schengen area, i.e. There is no need for visas.

I am planning to apply for Bulgarian permanent residence by investment. Do the wife and child (he is 10 years old) have the right to be granted this status? Do they need to reside permanently in the country?

Family members of a permanent residence permit holder can receive this status automatically. To do this, you will need to submit a corresponding application. There are no permanent residence requirements for the investor's family members.

Have you heard that after obtaining Bulgarian citizenship, it is possible to enroll in a university for free? Are diplomas from Bulgarian higher education institutions recognized in other European countries?

Yes, diplomas from higher education institutions in Bulgaria are recognized in the countries of the European Union. You will not need to confirm your qualifications if you want to find a job in another EU country.

We are planning to move to the country after receiving Bulgarian citizenship with the whole family. Is this country suitable for permanent residence?

Yes, Bulgaria is an almost ideal option for moving to Europe. The country has a favorable climate, low crime rates, a calm atmosphere and affordable prices for both renting and purchasing residential real estate. An additional advantage is the proximity of the Bulgarian language to Russian, therefore, in learning Bulgarian for everyday communication, problems, as a rule, do not arise. The country provides ample opportunities for recreation: several famous resorts are located on the Black Sea coast. In addition, both holders of permanent residence and citizens of the country are entitled to free medical care.

Can an adult child obtain permanent residence in Bulgaria after granting this status to his parents?

At the permanent residence stage, status is automatically granted only to minor children. Children who have reached the age of majority must submit documents in the prescribed manner. It should be noted that the decision takes about six months: compared to other European countries, this is the fastest option.

In the process of obtaining Bulgarian citizenship, I do not plan to live in the country, but when submitting documents, I need to have a permanent place of residence in the country. What to do in such a situation?

Indeed, when applying for citizenship, the applicant must indicate a permanent place of residence in the country. Therefore, before submitting documents, you must either rent a property or buy your own property.

Cost and terms of obtaining Bulgarian citizenship

Bulgarian citizenship takes 2–2.5 years to obtain. During the registration process you can:

• after 12 months, obtain a residence permit (visa-free stay, residence in Bulgaria is not necessary);
• after 18 months, obtain permanent residence (visa-free stay, 183 days a year you must live in Bulgaria).

We provide the following services:

• Preparation, translation and certification of documents.
• Full legal support and information support (on submission, receipt of documents, interview).
• Language preparation for the interview (it takes place in Bulgarian).

If you have any questions about obtaining Bulgarian citizenship, please contact us via online chat or request a call back.