Loading…
After five years of continuous, lawful residence in Bulgaria, most non-EU nationals can step up from a continuous (prolonged) permit to long-term EU resident status. This is the 5-year EU long-term residence permit: it gives near-equal treatment with Bulgarian nationals and, under certain conditions, the right to move to other EU states. It sits above the continuous permit and is a key milestone on the way to permanent residence and, eventually, citizenship.
Non-EU nationals who have lived legally and continuously in Bulgaria for five years and want stronger, longer-lasting residence rights.
Our licensed advisors assess your eligibility, build a strategy to strengthen your application, and manage the process end to end, so you submit a complete, competitive application with confidence.
After five years of continuous lawful residence, most non-EU nationals can step up from a continuous permit to long-term EU resident status — a five-year permit giving near-equal treatment with Bulgarian nationals and, under conditions, mobility to other EU states.
Absences are limited: typically no single absence longer than six months, and no more than around ten months of absence across the whole five-year qualifying period.
You must show a stable and regular source of income, health insurance, no threat to public policy or security, and meet any integration measures required.
It gives near-equal treatment with nationals in work, education and social security, plus the ability to move to and reside in other EU Member States.
Yes. Status can be lost for extended absence from the EU or for posing a threat to public policy or security, among other grounds.
The status is long-lasting, but the physical permit is issued for a set period (commonly five years) and must be renewed; your underlying status continues as long as conditions are met.
You generally need five years of legal, continuous residence in Bulgaria before applying for long-term EU resident status.
