Bulgaria is a country located in southeastern Europe. The Republic of Bulgaria has a population of 7 364 570. According to official statistics, the main ethnic group in Bulgaria is Bulgarians, then Turks and Romani. The country is a unitary parliamentary republic and the official language is Bulgarian. Bulgaria’s nominal GDP per capita is approximately USD 14,312 and the currency is the lev (BGN).

A temporary residence permit in Bulgaria can be obtained for a period of six months to one year and can be extended for up to five years. After a period of five years, holders are eligible for permanent residence. The Bulgarian Citizenship Act states that non-EU nationals who have held a permanent residence permit for five years can apply for Bulgarian citizenship and a Bulgarian passport. Applications for citizenship and the relevant documentation must be submitted to the Ministry of Justice. The time required for registering a ‘trade representative office’ in Bulgaria, including preparation time for the requisite set of D-visa application documents, is approximately 15 working days. There are three types of residence permit — temporary, permanent and extended.

Immigration services
All applications for immigration documents, residence permits, visas or other documents must be submitted at your nearest Bulgarian embassy or the general consulate of Bulgaria.

Immigration service providers
A residence permit or visa allowing you to stay in Bulgaria may be granted, for example, for working purposes, if you are living with someone (like a family member), for travelling or study or for research purposes.

Here are three email address of companies which offer immigration services in Bulgaria:

E-mail: residency@baltic-legal.com
E-mail: europe@forsetico.com
E-mail: office@Immigration2Bulgaria.com

Lawful immigration
There are many possible routes to acquiring a residence permit. Non-nationals residing in Bulgaria have certain rights and obligations under the Bulgarian Constitution and must accept Bulgarian laws and residence rules. European Union citizens don’t need a visa to stay in Bulgaria and third-country nationals can transit through Bulgaria without requiring a visa under the terms and conditions set by European Union legislation. Non-nationals wishing to obtain a continuous residence permit, permanent residence permit or work permit are subject to another set of rules and requirements.

Immigration law
Bulgarian law on immigration was significantly amended by the Republic of Bulgaria Act, which has some important implications for non-nationals. The Bulgarian Ministry of Interior Affairs is authorised to sign agreements and is entitled to collect and process visa applications. Bulgarian embassies are also authorised to process residence permits or visas. Lawful immigration is important in Bulgaria because of changes in the law. Until 2011, there were only two types of residence permit: long term and permanent. In that year, a third permit type was added: the extended permit, which is the extent of both permits previously mentioned.