Bulgaria
Bulgaria produces 85% of the world's rose oil.
About Country
Continent | Europe |
Capital | Sofia |
Population | 6,948,445 |
World share | 0.1 % |
Land area | 108,560 km² |
Official Languages | - Bulgarian |
Unofficial Languages | - Romani |
Currency | BGN |
Economy rating | 64 |
Economy GDP | 77,782 millions USD |
ВВП на человека | 11,194 USD |
Democracy Index
6.71
Flawed
democracy
*
|
Crime Rate |
1.3 |
Safe zone |
Unemployment |
4.7 % |
Low unemployment |
*
|
Average salary |
795 USD |
|
Average expense |
436 USD |
|
Average rent price |
283 USD |
Immigration
Immigration difficulty |
Hard |
|
Recommended Savings |
4,314 USD |
Double citizenship |
Forbidden |
Official site |
Immigration official website |
Compulsory exams |
- |
|
Passport rating |
17 Amount of countries: 173 |
Immigration options
| Immigration type | Required Time | Fee |
| Employee | from 1 to 5 weeks (paperwork) 10 years (for citizenship) | 118 USD |
| Business | from 1 to 5 weeks (paperwork) 10 years (for citizenship) | 118 USD |
| Marriage | from 1 to 5 weeks (paperwork) 3 years (for citizenship) | 118 USD |
| Family reunification | from 1 to 5 weeks (paperwork) 14+ months (for citizenship) | 118 USD |
| Student | from 1 to 5 weeks (paperwork) 10 years (for citizenship) | 118 USD |
| Refugee | from 1 to 5 weeks (paperwork) 10 years (for citizenship) | 118 USD |
| Investments | from 1 to 5 weeks (paperwork) 5.5 years (for citizenship) | 118 USD |
| Real estate investments | from 1 to 5 weeks (paperwork) 10 years (for citizenship) | 118 USD |
| Pension | from 1 to 5 weeks (paperwork) 10 years (for citizenship) | 118 USD |
| Special cases | from 1 to 5 weeks (paperwork) 10 years (for citizenship) | 118 USD |
Employee
| Immigration fee | Immigration Time |
| 118 USD | from 1 to 5 weeks (paperwork) 10 years (for citizenship) |
List of documents:
- Copy of passport data pages;- Visa application form for a long-term visa (type "D")
- Declaration from the landlord
- 2 photographs 35x45 mm on a white background;
Additional Information:
Hired workers can leave for Bulgaria by invitation from employer. They need to get a category D visa.Business
| Immigration fee | Immigration Time |
| 118 USD | from 1 to 5 weeks (paperwork) 10 years (for citizenship) |
List of documents:
- Copy of passport data pages;- Visa application form for a long-term visa (type "D")
- Declaration from the landlord
- 2 photographs 35x45 mm on a white background;
Additional Information:
Businessmen, entrepreneurs and hired workers can leave for Bulgaria by invitation, opening their business.Marriage
| Immigration fee | Immigration Time |
| 118 USD | from 1 to 5 weeks (paperwork) 3 years (for citizenship) |
List of documents:
- Copy of passport data pages;- Visa application form for a long-term visa (type "D")
- Declaration from the landlord
- Declaration on the provision of accommodation and support for the family
- 2 photographs 35x45 mm on a white background;
Additional Information:
You need to know the local language, be in a real relationship, you or your spouse must have sufficient income by the standards of the state;An applicant for Bulgarian citizenship by marriage can apply for citizenship if he/she has been legally married to a Bulgarian citizen for at least 3 years
Family reunification
| Immigration fee | Immigration Time |
| 118 USD | from 1 to 5 weeks (paperwork) 14+ months (for citizenship) |
List of documents:
- Copy of passport data pages;- Visa application form for a long-term visa (type "D")
- Declaration from the landlord
- Declaration on the provision of accommodation and support for the family
- 2 photographs 35x45 mm on a white background;
Additional Information:
You need to have your minor child lives in the country, who already has citizenship.Student
| Immigration fee | Immigration Time |
| 118 USD | from 1 to 5 weeks (paperwork) 10 years (for citizenship) |
List of documents:
- Copy of passport data pages;- Visa application form for a long-term visa (type "D")
- Declaration from the landlord
- 2 photographs 35x45 mm on a white background;
Additional Information:
For education immigration you need to enroll in a local university, preparatory courses or take part in a student exchange program.Refugee
| Immigration fee | Immigration Time |
| 118 USD | from 1 to 5 weeks (paperwork) 10 years (for citizenship) |
List of documents:
- Copy of passport data pages;- Visa application form for a long-term visa (type "D")
- Declaration from the landlord
- Evidence of the persecution and violation of rights;
- 2 photographs 35x45 mm on a white background;
Additional Information:
Bulgaria will consider granting political asylum if you prove the fact of oppression in your homeland on the basis of religious, political, sexual preferences, race, nationality.Investments
| Immigration fee | Immigration Time |
| 118 USD | from 1 to 5 weeks (paperwork) 5.5 years (for citizenship) |
List of documents:
- Copy of passport data pages;- Visa application form for a long-term visa (type "D")
- Declaration from the landlord
- 2 photographs 35x45 mm on a white background;
Additional Information:
You can invest in the country's budget from 125,000 to 500,000 €. In addition to the state budget, you can invest in the enterprise.Real estate investments
| Immigration fee | Immigration Time |
| 118 USD | from 1 to 5 weeks (paperwork) 10 years (for citizenship) |
List of documents:
- Copy of passport data pages;- Visa application form for a long-term visa (type "D")
- Declaration from the landlord
- 2 photographs 35x45 mm on a white background;
Additional Information:
The Bulgarian authorities allow foreigners to purchase real estate worth at least €300,000.Pension
| Immigration fee | Immigration Time |
| 118 USD | from 1 to 5 weeks (paperwork) 10 years (for citizenship) |
List of documents:
- Copy of passport data pages;- Visa application form for a long-term visa (type "D")
- Declaration from the landlord
- 2 photographs 35x45 mm on a white background;
Additional Information:
Pensioners applying to move to Bulgaria must open an account with the amount of 12 minimum state salaries and rent a house.Special cases
| Immigration fee | Immigration Time |
| 118 USD | from 1 to 5 weeks (paperwork) 10 years (for citizenship) |
List of documents:
- Copy of passport data pages;- Visa application form for a long-term visa (type "D")
- Declaration from the landlord
- 2 photographs 35x45 mm on a white background;
Additional Information:
Considered if you or your family members need treatment, rehabilitation, humanitarian assistance in the country.Immigration processAfter obtaining a category D visa, you must obtain a residence permit.
A residence permit can be obtained based on the following options:
Permission from the authorities of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy to work in Bulgaria. Such a permit must be obtained by the employer, proving that he cannot find a suitable Bulgarian worker;
- Opening a company in Bulgaria and carrying out activities as a result of which at least 10 jobs for Bulgarian citizens are provided and maintained;
- Stay in the country as a foreign specialist in accordance with international treaties to which the Republic of Bulgaria is a party;
- Marriage with a foreigner permanently residing in the country (having permanent residence);
- Appointment as a representative of a foreign company registered with the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI);
- To be financially secure parents of foreigners permanently staying in the country or a Bulgarian citizen;
- Admission to a long-term treatment in a medical institution and the possession of sufficient financial resources for treatment and maintenance;
- Be a correspondent for foreign mass media accredited in the Republic of Bulgaria;
- Be a pensioner and have funds for their maintenance in the country;
- Be a family member of a foreigner who has received a residence permit (permit for a long stay). Family members are spouses and children under 18;
- To be the parents of a foreigner or is in actual extramarital cohabitation with a foreigner who has received a long-term residence permit;
- Obtaining permission from the bodies of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy to carry out free practice activities;
- Permission of the Ministry of Justice to carry out activities with a non-commercial purpose;
- Obtaining the status of special protection;
- Be a family member of a Bulgarian citizen;
- Acquisition of real estate in the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria worth at least 340 500 USD (300 000 euros);
- Investments in economically unfavorable areas of Bulgaria in the amount of at least 142 000 USD (125 000 euros);
- Be Bulgarian origin.
after 5 years with a residence permit you can apply for permanent residence and after another 5 years for citizenship.
Taxes
The income tax rate in Bulgaria is 10%. This is one of the lowest rates in Europe.Taxed:
- Income from labor activity;
- Business income;
- Capital gains;
- Rental income;
- Interest income from banks
- Dividends, etc.
Residents of Bulgaria pay tax on income from dividends at a rate of 10% received both domestically and abroad.
Corporate Income Tax
The corporate income tax rate in Bulgaria is also 10%.
Resident companies are taxed on worldwide profits (i.e. profits earned both in Bulgaria and abroad). Non-resident companies are taxed only on income received from sources in Bulgaria.
Value Added Tax (VAT)
The base rate of value added tax (VAT) in Bulgaria is 20% for most goods and services.
However, there are also lower rates. Thus, the rate of 9% applies to services in the field of hotel and hospitality business, as well as in the field of real estate rental.
The 0% rate applies to international transport services.
If the company's annual turnover exceeds 25,000 euros, the company must register for VAT.
Patent fee
The patent fee in Bulgaria is paid by individual entrepreneurs (IE) with an annual turnover of less than 50.000 BGN (leva). Thus, the patent fee is paid by the individual entrepreneur instead of income tax.
There is no single rate of the patent fee, it depends on the type of activity carried out.
Transport tax (collection)
Taxes in Bulgaria also include transport tax. The amount of the tax payable depends on the age of the car and the engine power of the car: the older the car, the higher the fee.
Property tax
Property tax in Bulgaria depends on the tax value of the property.
The tax value of a property is the value that is set by the local tax office.
Therefore, in order to find out how much tax to pay on your property, you need to contact the territorial tax service.
Taxes in Bulgaria are low, which makes this country attractive both for living and for business.
Education
Basic education in Bulgaria is divided into 12 classes. After receiving a complete basic course of knowledge, graduates get the opportunity to choose a specialization and enter a higher school that has three branches of development in the country according to the Bologna system.Stages of education in Bulgaria
Full education is considered compulsory, the initial stage of which is elementary school. In elementary school, students study in the 4th grade.
Next, there is a pro-gymnasium stage, which also lasts 4 years until the 8th grade. The senior school - on the 12th class, is called gymnasium. It already has profile branches that allow students to decide on their future specialty. There are also specialized schools: sports, technical, etc.
Schools in Bulgaria generally accept all students, regardless of nationality. For citizens of the country, primary and secondary education is free, while immigrants will have to pay for the education of their children before obtaining citizenship. In public schools, a year of education for a child costs 100-300 euros, while in private schools the cost of an academic year can reach up to 2,000 euros.
Higher education in Bulgaria is graded in accordance with the Bologna agreements. So, the higher schools of the state involve obtaining the following degrees:
professional bachelor;
bachelor;
master;
Ph.D
Today there are more than 50 universities in the country. The education system in Bulgaria assumes the presence of the following types of educational institutions: classical universities, colleges and specialized schools-higher education institutions. The ratio of the price tag for Bulgarian education and the quality of education in Bulgaria is optimal.
Bulgaria can be considered the most suitable for obtaining both secondary and higher education in Europe, recognized almost all over the world.
Healthcare
The medical staff is very well trained in Bulgaria, but the health standards are slightly lower than in Western Europe. The Ministry of Health of Bulgaria is responsible for the development and control of medicine in Bulgaria as a whole‚ and also manages the National Health Service and policy in Bulgaria. There are Health Centers in each of the 28 administrative regions of the country. Health insurance premiums are mandatory for the working population.Bulgarians are entitled to free or subsidized state medical care from doctors, subsidized medicines and dental treatment.
Employers are responsible for the admission of employees to the health insurance fund. The fees are shared between the employer and the employee, and they are collected directly from the employees' wages. Also, the unemployed, the poor, pensioners, students, soldiers, officials and other vulnerable categories of the population can count on preferential treatment. The standards of private health care are much higher than those of the state, but this is reflected directly in the tariffs for treatment. Many foreigners come to Bulgaria to use the services of private clinics, the prices of which are considered to be much cheaper than those of its Western European neighbors.
Climate
Climate type |
- Temperate climates
|
Climate Information |
Сlimate in different countries |
The Balkan Mountains create a natural barrier to air masses, affecting the weather throughout the state, and are the northern border of Bulgaria. The Rhodope mountain system is already south. The climate here is closer to subtropical. Another geographical factor affecting the climate is the Black Sea. It softens the weather on the coast, allowing you to swim from May to September.
The coldest months are January and February. The temperature depends on which part of the country you are in.