Can I still move to Bulgaria?
Yes! While you can visit Bulgaria for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa, you will need a long-stay visa (Type D) if you plan to live here permanently and enjoy your “Alternative Living” lifestyle.
The Most Common Residency Routes
For most of our UK friends, there are three main ways to obtain residency:
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Pensioner Route (The easiest): If you are receiving a state or private pension in the UK, you can apply for a “Pensioner D-Visa”. You simply need to prove you have a place to stay (like our property in Levka!) and sufficient funds to support yourself.
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Trade Representative: You can register as a representative of a foreign (UK) company. This is a popular route for those who aren’t retired yet.
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Self-Employed/Remote Work: Perfect for those running a digital business or working remotely.
What do you need?
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A valid UK Passport.
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Proof of accommodation (a rental contract or property deed).
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Bulgarian health insurance (very affordable).
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A clean criminal record check (ACRO).
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A Bulgarian bank account.
Useful Links & Resources
To help you on your journey, we’ve gathered the most important official sources:
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UK Government: Living in Bulgaria Guide – The official UK guide on residency, healthcare, and driving.
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Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Visa D) – Official requirements for the long-stay visa.
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British Embassy Sofia Facebook Page – A very active page with regular updates for UK citizens in Bulgaria.
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Ciela – Bulgarian Law Portal – For those who want to dive deep into the legal statutes (English version available).
This information is for guidance only. We always recommend consulting a Bulgarian immigration lawyer for your specific situation.