The complete guide towards obtaining the Bulgarian residence permit by marriage. How does it work and what are the requirements?
Are you married to a Bulgarian citizen and planning to relocate? Maybe you are considering marrying a Bulgarian citizen and moving to their home country?
It is an easy decision. Not only Bulgaria has plenty to offer when it comes to culture, entertainment, history, and so much more. Bulgaria also has an array of benefits that come with moving to this country and obtaining a Bulgarian residence permit by marriage.
Let’s talk about the benefits that may come from getting a Bulgarian residence permit by marriage.
First, we cannot fail to mention the simple fact that Bulgaria is part of the European Union, meaning that a resident can potentially work, study, or live in any country within the EU. In the same train of thought, we can mention the fact that residents of Bulgaria have access to the higher standards of the European health care and welfare systems.
But there are other advantages that those getting a Bulgarian residence permit by marriage will definitely appreciate. Among those, one that has proven very attractive, is the fact that Bulgaria has the lowest tax rates in Europe, with their 10% flat tax rate on income.
Regardless of you applying for a Bulgarian residence permit by marriage, or maybe obtaining residency by starting a company in Bulgaria, or some other way, there is no doubt you will need to engage the services of a trustworthy and reliable accounting company. Whether to manage your financial responsibilities or those of your business, counting on the excellence, experience, and flexibility of the experts at Accountancy services in Bulgaria will most definitely be the key to your path to success.
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Get married in Bulgaria as a foreigner
Anyone married to a Bulgaria citizen has the right to apply for a Bulgarian residence permit by marriage. However, this process may look different depending on the country of origin of the spouse, how long they have been married, and where they got married.
Foreigners are allowed to get married in Bulgaria without much fuss. And only by marrying a Bulgarian citizen, the spouse can apply for a Bulgarian residence permit by marriage.
Bulgaria residence permit by marriage: how does it work?
It is worth mentioning that if the spouse of a Bulgarian citizen is an EU citizen, they don’t need to go through a lot of formalities in order to obtain a Bulgarian residence permit. The main requirement is that they live in the country for the minimum required time of 183 days in a period of one year.
For non-EU citizens married to a Bulgarian person, the process to obtain a Bulgarian residence permit by marriage is a bit different.
For the spouse of a Bulgarian citizen to apply for a Bulgarian residence permit by marriage, they must have been married for over 3 years, as well as be over 18 years old.
In this case, it is important to notice if the marriage has taken place in Bulgaria or was registered in the country. Or if the marriage took place in a different country and was registered there.
If the marriage takes place or it is registered in Bulgaria, the foreign citizen, the spouse, must enter the country with a visa, have their paperwork translated and registered to prove their marital status, and only then the spouse can apply for a type D visa.
With a type D visa, usually renewable every year, the spouse can live in the country for five years, after which period they can obtain their residency.
In the case the marriage was registered in another country, first of all, the couple must have the marriage certificate recognized by the Bulgarian authorities to then start the process to apply for a Bulgarian residence permit by marriage. To facilitate this, Bulgaria has a variety of agreements with other countries, meaning the process is not hard to get through.
Other requirements
In some cases, the spouses applying for a Bulgarian residence permit by marriage must show proof that they do not have any criminal offenses, that they have sufficient funds or a profession that shows they can support themselves, as well as an official language exam to show their dominion of the Bulgarian language.
Conclusion
Obtaining a Bulgarian residence permit by marriage is a right all spouses of Bulgarian citizens have. The process may vary from case to case based on where the marriage was registered and the country of origin of the foreign spouse.
Counting on the support and specialized services of an accounting company in Bulgaria like Accountancy Bulgaria is a wise move to make sure your time is best allocated, and make sure you comply with all the requirements, including those pertaining to your business and professional career, which come with a variety of financial responsibilities.