Bulgaria retirement visa for pensioners

Article 24(1)(10) of the Foreigners Act covers foreigners who have acquired a right to a pension under the legislation of Bulgaria, their state of origin or another state, and who have sufficient means of subsistence in Bulgaria. There is no minimum age in the provision itself: the decisive point is an acquired pension right documented by the competent authority.

Under Article 24(2) applicants for long-stay residence must have secured housing, compulsory health insurance and sufficient means without recourse to social assistance, of at least the minimum monthly wage, minimum scholarship or minimum pension under Bulgarian law for the period of stay. For pensioners the Foreign Ministry’s D visa list also asks for a document from a bank in Bulgaria confirming that you hold an account into which the pension transfers will be received, and the general D visa list asks for evidence of funds equal to at least six Bulgarian monthly wages or, for pensioners, pensions.

Apply for the D visa at the Bulgarian mission in your country of residence. Besides the pension documents you present a passport valid for 18 months, insurance with EUR 30,000 cover from an EU-licensed insurer, proof of accommodation with the owner’s notarised consent to your registration if you rent, the bank statement and a criminal record certificate. All documents must be translated into Bulgarian and legalised.

Register your address within five days and apply to the Migration Directorate or the regional migration unit for the long-stay residence permit before the visa expires, on the same pension ground. The application is examined within 14 days and can be extended by one month if more documents are needed. The permit is issued for up to one year and renewed while you meet the conditions.

After 5 years of legal and uninterrupted residence you can apply for EU long-term resident status or for permanent residence; for permanent residence, absences during the five years may not exceed 30 months in total.