Permanent Residency for Family Members
Family members of Bulgaria Golden Visa holders can apply for family reunification and gain immediate indefinite permanent residency. This allows families to stay together while living and working in Bulgaria under the Golden Visa program.
Once the investor’s permanent residency card is granted, the investor can file a family reunification application with the local Migration Office. The process is completed within three months. Once approved, a set of Family D visa application documents is prepared, and the family applies for a D visa at the Bulgarian embassy or consulate in their home country. The D visa processing takes 40 business days, similar to the investor’s. After approval, the family members have to visit Bulgaria to apply for permanent residency.
✅ Children under 18 can join the investor immediately.
✅ Children over 18 can apply for Bulgarian citizenship after the investor has obtained citizenship.
Important Note: The applicant must have at least three months of validity on the D visa to apply for a permanent residency card.
Temporary Residency for Parents and Parents-in-Law
Parents of a Bulgaria Golden Visa holder can apply for family reunification using the same process. However, they will initially receive temporary residency. They can convert temporary residency to permanent residency by physically residing in Bulgaria for 30 months within any five-year period.
Parents-in-law can also apply, provided that the spouse of the Bulgaria Golden Visa holder has already been granted permanent residency.
Bulgarian Citizenship for Children of Bulgaria Golden Visa Holders
Children can apply for Bulgarian citizenship as soon as the main applicant obtains Bulgarian citizenship. Since they do not have Bulgarian ethnicity, they apply for citizenship by origin, based on their parent’s Bulgarian citizenship. These applications are processed within nine months and do not require:
✅ Language proficiency
✅ Physical residency in Bulgaria
Bulgarian Citizenship for the Spouse of a Bulgaria Golden Visa Holder
There are two routes for a spouse:
- General naturalization: Requires meeting language and income criteria, and declaring renunciation of home country citizenship (which is not required for children below or over 18).
- Spouse of a Bulgarian citizen: Requires waiting three more years on permanent residency after the investor obtains Bulgarian citizenship. Under this option, the spouse does not need to renounce their home country citizenship.
Important Note: The declaration of renouncing home country citizenship is purely formal and not legally enforced.
Our Legal Assistance
Our Bulgarian law firm specializes in guiding investors through the Golden Visa application process. With our expertise, we ensure a seamless and efficient journey to obtaining Bulgarian residency and eventual citizenship. We also provide comprehensive support for dependents, helping families navigate the legal steps required for family reunification and permanent residency acquisition.
For more information, feel free to reach out to our team for personalized legal consultation and assistance.
