BulgariaStudy and training

Bulgaria researcher visa and residence permit

Residence permit for researchers with a hosting agreement (Art. 24b Foreigners Act)

In short

Researchers who sign a hosting agreement for a research project with a Bulgarian research organisation entered in the national register can obtain a type D visa and then a researcher residence permit, without a separate work permit. The permit follows the agreement, for up to one year at a time with renewal. After the project, researchers have 9 months to look for work.

checked 24 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
Permit for the length of the hosting agreement, up to one year at a time, renewable.
Validity
D visa up to 6 months, or up to one year with 360 days of stay where the visa ordinance provides for it.
Fee
€100D visa under Art. 15(1); EUR 200 for the one-year D visa under Art. 15(2) (MFA fee page checked 2026-10-24). Residence permit fee charged separately by the Ministry of Interior.
Funds required
€620.20 per monthStable and sufficient means of at least the minimum monthly wage, scholarship or pension for the period of stay (minimum wage EUR 620.20 in 2026).
Work
Research under the hosting agreement only; no other employment.
Family
Family members of permit holders can apply for residence under Art. 24(1)(13) through family reunification.
Path to permanent residence
Researcher time counts towards the 5 years needed for EU long-term residence; for Blue Card holders it also counts within the EU-wide period.
Where to apply
Bulgarian mission in your country of residence for the visa; permit in Bulgaria.

Who can use the researcher route

Article 24b of the Foreigners Act covers scientists who have concluded a contract to carry out a research project with a research organisation based in Bulgaria and entered in the register kept under the Act on the Promotion of Scientific Research and Innovation. The hosting agreement is the core document: it sets the project, its duration and the researcher’s funding.

Researchers admitted under this route do not need a work permit for the research activity, but they may not take up other employment in Bulgaria.

Documents for the visa and the permit

For the D visa you present a certified copy of the signed hosting agreement plus the general long-stay visa documents. For the residence permit, the EU Immigration Portal lists a copy of the passport, a criminal record certificate, evidence of stable and sufficient means of at least the minimum monthly wage, scholarship or pension, accommodation, health insurance and, where the host requires it, proof of qualifications.

Required documents

Identity

  • Passport valid for at least 18 months with two blank pages, plus copies of the data page and of earlier visas or residence permits; a recent passport-format colour photo.

Money

  • Proof of stable and sufficient means for the whole stay.

Work

  • Signed hosting agreement for a research project with a research organisation based in Bulgaria and entered in the national register (certified copy).

Insurance

  • Insurance for the whole stay from an insurer licensed in the EU, minimum cover EUR 30,000, including repatriation and emergency hospital treatment.

Other

  • Proof of accommodation in Bulgaria; for a rented home, a notarised declaration by the owner agreeing to your registration at the address.
  • Criminal record certificate from your country of nationality or residence (not needed under 18); all documents translated into Bulgarian and legalised or apostilled.

After arrival

Enter Bulgaria on the D visa, notify your address within five days and apply to the Migration Directorate or the regional migration unit for the researcher permit. The permit is aligned with the hosting agreement, issued for up to one year and renewable while the project continues. Changing the host organisation or the hosting agreement requires a new application.

Mobility and job search

Researchers admitted in another EU member state can carry out part of their research in Bulgaria for up to 180 days in any 360-day period after their host notifies the authorities, or apply for long-term mobility of more than 180 days and up to two years.

When the project ends you may seek and start work for 9 months and use Employment Agency services, provided you register with the agency within 7 working days.

Refusals and appeals

Decisions on researcher permits can be challenged before the local administrative court within 14 days.

How to apply, step by step

  1. Sign the hosting agreement with the registered Bulgarian research organisation.
  2. Apply for the type D visa at the Bulgarian mission in your country of residence.
  3. Enter Bulgaria and register your address within five days.
  4. Apply for the researcher residence permit at the Migration Directorate or the regional migration unit.
  5. Renew the permit before expiry if the hosting agreement continues.

Frequently asked questions

Do researchers need a work permit in Bulgaria?

No. A researcher admitted with a hosting agreement does not need a work permit for that research.

Can I teach or take another job on the side?

The EU Immigration Portal states that researchers are not entitled to employment outside their research.

What if my project lasts several years?

The permit is issued for up to one year at a time and renewed for as long as the hosting agreement continues.

Can I stay after the project to find a job?

Yes, for 9 months, if you register with the Employment Agency within 7 working days.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for Bulgaria

Visits and short stays

  • Tourist visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Business and self-employment

Study and training

  • Student visa Maximum stay: Residence permit for up to one year, renewable; 18 months for the final year of studies.

Work

  • Work visa Maximum stay: Three years, or the duration of the employment contract if shorter.
  • EU Blue Card Maximum stay: Up to 5 years, at least 24 months; for contracts shorter than 24 months, the contract length plus three months.
  • Seasonal work visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days (registration) or 90 days to 9 months within any 12 months (permit).
  • Intra-company transfer visa Maximum stay: 3 years for managers and specialists, 1 year for trainees.
  • Digital nomad visa Maximum stay: One year, extendable once by one more year.

Family

Residence

  • Golden visa and residence by investment Maximum stay: Long-stay residence: up to one year at a time, renewable while the investment is maintained. Permanent residence: indefinite.
  • Retirement visa Maximum stay: Up to one year at a time, renewable.
  • Permanent residence Maximum stay: Indefinite. The EU long-term residence card is valid for 5 years and renewed on application.

Protection

Bulgaria visa guide