Bulgaria is one of the 11 Balkan states located at the southeastern edge of Europe. Chiefly an agricultural country, Bulgaria has an upper middle-income economy where the private sector contributes 70% to the national GDP. Due to its free economic structure, large conglomerates such as Boeing, BMW, Siemens, and other large exporting companies operate from Bulgaria. Hence creating demand for skilled workers, a demand that is inevitably fulfilled by foreigners.
Here we discuss how a Lebanese citizen can obtain immigration to Bulgaria for work and other purposes. Lebanon is one of the many nations that require a visa to travel to Bulgaria. A Schengen visa for travel will permit the holder to stay in the country for a 3- or 6-month period, during which he/she is not allowed to engage in gainful employment or business. To stay beyond 6 months and to be able to work in Bulgaria, a long-stay visa must be obtained.
Long-stay visa (Visa D)
Bulgaria’s long-stay visa is known as Visa D, which allows the bearer to stay and work in the country for 12 months. The visa is renewable and allows multiple entries. The bearer can work, study, retire, or indulge in self-employment on this visa.
General Requirements
- Duly filled visa D application form
- Passport (at least 2 blank pages and 9 months validity from the time of application)
- Previous passports, photocopies of personal information pages
- Recent photographs of the applicant as per the below conditions:
- 3.5cm x 4.5cm
- With light background
- Straight forward-facing posture
- Neutral expression
- 80% photograph must be covered by the face
- Without eyewear
- Travel itinerary
- Travel insurance of up to €30,000; coverage for the entire duration of the stay
- Proof of accommodation (hotel reservations, apartment rental agreement, relative’s residence address, etc.)
- Purpose of travel
- Financial means sufficient to maintain decent subsistence (€50/day minimum)
- Proof that accommodation is pre-paid/affidavit by the person/company responsible to take care of subsistence
- Verified and attested police clearance certificate
The above requirements are general in nature, and compulsory for any type of visa application. In cases where the applicant’s purpose is to study in Bulgaria, other requirements may be added, as listed below.
Student visa requirements
- Ministry of Education Bulgaria’s certificate of acceptance
- Academic record (degrees, certifications, diplomas, etc. in original)
- Travel Insurance
- Health insurance
- Fee payment receipts
- Proof that the applicant has a minimum €4000 in personal or parents’ account
In the cases where an applicant wishes to work in Bulgaria, here the below requirements must be met.
Work visa requirements
- Duly filled work-permit application form
- Health insurance
- Travel Insurance
- Reasons for the request
- Employment contract
- 2 additional pictures, as per the requirements explained above
- Certified copy of the registration document or ID code of the employer
- Record of all employees of the applicant’s employer during the last 12 months
- Work experience documents (experience letters from previous employers, skills, years of experience, etc.)
Immigration and citizenship
The Bulgarian Law on immigration stipulates that any person who legally spends more than 6 months in a 60-month period in Bulgaria is eligible to apply for citizenship through naturalization here. The term ‘legally’ means that the applicant holds a permanent residence permit.
Furthermore, a permanent residence permit can be applied for by a person who has a temporary residence permit (visa D) and renews it each year, for 5 consecutive years. The applicant must stay in Bulgaria for a minimum of 30 months during those 5 years.
Note that a visa D is no the equivalent of a temporary residence permit; however, it works as a basis on which a temporary residence permit can be obtained.
Process – From visa D to naturalization
Step 1: Apply for visa D (for work, study, retirement, etc.)
Step 2: Apply for a temporary residence permit (on basis of visa D)
Step 3: Stay in Bulgaria for 5 years by annually renewing your residence permit (provided the purpose supports such renewal)
Step 4: Spend 30 months in those 5 years within Bulgaria (maintain a decent livelihood, prove to be a useful citizen)
Step 5: After 5 years, apply for citizenship through naturalization
