Continuous (Long-Term) Residence Permit

Overview

The continuous (also called prolonged or long-term) residence permit is Bulgaria's annually-renewable residence card for non-EU nationals who hold a long-stay type D visa and a qualifying ground - for example work, study, family or business. You apply to the Migration Directorate after entering on the type D visa and must show accommodation, health insurance and sufficient means. Time held on this permit is what counts toward permanent residence, generally after five continuous years. Good to know: this is the everyday residence card behind most other routes, so the exact ground you qualify on drives the documents you need.

Eligibility

Application pathway

1. 01

   Check the route fit

   Confirm your qualifying ground and that you hold, or can obtain, the matching long-stay type D visa.

2. 02

   Build the evidence pack

   Gather your passport, type D visa, accommodation proof, health insurance, means of support and ground-specific documents.

3. 03

   Submit through the official channel

   Apply to the Migration Directorate or a regional Migration office within the set period and pay the state fees.

4. 04

   After approval

   Collect your residence card, renew each year before it expires, and track your continuous time toward permanent residence.

Also explored by

Compare Republic of Bulgaria with

• 🇸🇲 Republic of San Marino
• 🇯🇪 Jersey (British Crown Dependency)
• 🇬🇪 Georgia

Related routes

• Single Permit for Residence and Work

  If you are a non-EU national with a Bulgarian job offer, this is the main route - one document that lets you both live and work in Bulgaria.

• Permanent Residence (Bulgaria)

  If you have lived in Bulgaria continuously for five years, this is your settlement status - secure residence and a stepping stone toward citizenship.

• Residence by Investment

  If you can make a qualifying investment in Bulgaria, this route grants residence and, depending on the amount, a faster path to permanent residence.