Adequate medical insurance is a condition of visa approval and you cannot enter Bulgaria without it. When you arrive, you must have insurance to cover emergency medical expenses, repatriation, transporting mortal remains, funeral and hospitalisation, amounting to at least $5000 and valid for the duration of your planned stay. If you have this already, you should submit a copy of the policy with your visa application. If you are contacted by the embassy to tell you your visa will be granted, you should then organise medical cover and submit a copy of the policy or letter from the insurer so that the visa can be issued.

Residence Permits

Having entered Bulgaria on a Long-Stay visa, you must then contact the Ministry of Internal Affairs to apply for a long-term or a permanent residence permit.

Providing you have the means to support yourself, have made social security payments and have accommodation and medical insurance arranged, a permit for up to 1 year may be granted if you:

- Have a work permit to take up full-time employment
- Have a business in Bulgaria with vacancies for at least 10 Bulgarian citizens
- Are starting a full-time course at a Bulgarian educational institution
- Are married to a Bulgarian citizen or to a foreigner who is a permanent resident
- Are the financially secure parents of foreign permanent residents
- Have been admitted for long-term hospital treatment in Bulgaria, with the means to pay for treatment and support yourself
- Are retired, with sufficient means to support yourself
- Have a permit from the Ministry of Labour to be self-employed in Bulgaria

Residence permits for an indefinite length of time may be issued if you:

- Have lived in Bulgaria permanently for 2 years, after marrying a Bulgarian
- Have lived there legally for 5 years
- Are of Bulgarian ethnic origin
- Are the child of a Bulgarian citizen or a foreigner with permanent residence
- Have invested over 250,000 USD in the country (or other contributions to the country, see website for details)