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Republic of Bulgaria · residence general · Leads to settlement

Continuous (Long-Term) Residence Permit

By · Last reviewed:

Source check: all 1 official citation reconfirmed 13 September 2026

If you have a long-stay (type D) visa and a qualifying ground to live in Bulgaria, this annually-renewable permit is the residence card you build your settlement on.

No sponsorship requiredLeads to permanent residencyGenerally up to one year at a time and renewable each year while your qualifying ground continues - confirm current validity on the official page.
Processing time
Indicative only - the Migration Directorate works to published timelines; confirm current processing on the official page.
Government fees
Indicative only - state fees apply and are set in euro from 2026; confirm current amounts on the official page.
Typical duration
Generally up to one year at a time and renewable each year while your qualifying ground continues - confirm current validity on the official page.
Sponsorship required
No
Leads to permanent residency
Yes
Reviewed Migration Directorate, Ministry of Interior (Bulgaria) ↗

In short

As of 10 July 2026, the Continuous (Long-Term) Residence Permit for Republic of Bulgaria is an unsponsored Bulgaria immigration route. Sources: official Republic of Bulgaria government pages, reviewed 10 July 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/bulgaria/continuous-residence#answer

What is the Continuous (Long-Term) Residence Permit in Republic of Bulgaria?

Continuous (Long-Term) Residence Permit is an unsponsored Bulgaria route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only - state fees apply and are set in euro from 2026; confirm current amounts on the official page; indicative processing time is Indicative only - the Migration Directorate works to published timelines; confirm current processing on the official page; typical duration is Generally up to one year at a time and renewable each year while your qualifying ground continues - confirm current validity on the official page. This route can lead to permanent residence.

Verified against Migration Directorate, Ministry of Interior (Bulgaria) on 1 June 2026.

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

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Check the route fit

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

  2. Build the evidence pack

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

  3. 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. After approval

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

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Continuous (Long-Term) Residence Permit, use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official Continuous (Long-Term) Residence Permit instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to Bulgaria

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant
    Use official Continuous (Long-Term) Residence Permit route page ↗

    Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Continuous (Long-Term) Residence Permit.

    Migration Directorate, Ministry of Interior (Bulgaria) · verified

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Frequently asked questions

Is this the same as permanent residence?+

No - continuous residence is renewed yearly, and it is the status you hold for around five continuous years before you can apply for permanent residence. Confirm the current rule on the official page.

Do I need a type D visa first?+

Yes - in most cases you enter on a matching long-stay type D visa and then apply for the continuous residence permit from inside Bulgaria. Confirm the current process on the official page.

What do I have to prove to get the continuous residence permit beyond having a job?+

You must show secured accommodation, valid health insurance and sufficient means of support, hold a valid passport, and document the qualifying ground such as a work contract, enrolment or family certificate. Confirm the current requirements on the official page.

Which residence card do I actually hold day to day in Bulgaria?+

The everyday card is the continuous (long-term) residence permit, the annually-renewable card behind most routes once you hold a matching long-stay type D visa and a qualifying ground such as work, study, family or business. The exact ground you qualify on drives the documents you need. Confirm the current process on the official page.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

Find a regulated advisor in Bulgaria

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Migration Directorate, Ministry of Interior (Bulgaria)

Last checked: 1 June 2026

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