Bulgaria Type D Visa for Pensioners

What the permit is

Bulgarian law lets a foreigner who has earned the right to a pension, under Bulgarian law, the law of the home country or another country, and who has enough means to live in the country, apply for long-term residence. The grounds sit in Article 24(1)(10) of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, and the pension documents are listed in Article 23 of the implementing regulations.

The Type D visa lasts up to six months with a right to stay of up to 180 days. The residence permit that replaces it is issued for up to one year and is renewed annually.

Who qualifies

Entitlement to a pension is the test, and the statute names no minimum age. Evidence must come from the competent authority of the country that pays the pension, so a state pension letter is the cleanest proof. Investment or savings income does not replace it.

Applicants also need housing in Bulgaria, mandatory health cover, a clean police clearance certificate from the country of citizenship or habitual residence, and enough funds to live without recourse to Bulgaria’s social support system.

Financial requirements

The visa stage asks for a bank statement showing the equivalent of at least six monthly Bulgarian pensions. At the minimum old-age pension of €347.51 in force since 1 July 2026, that is about €2,085. The statement must come from a bank in Bulgaria, together with a certificate that the account will receive the pension transfers.

The permit stage asks for stable, regular funds of at least the Bulgarian minimum monthly wage, scholarship or pension for the whole period of stay. Applicant guidance uses the minimum pension, which puts a one-year permit at roughly €4,170. The minimum wage has been €620.20 since 1 January 2026.

Health insurance and accommodation

The visa requires a policy from an insurer licensed in the European Union with cover of at least €30,000, including repatriation, emergency medical care and emergency hospital treatment for the whole stay. At the permit stage, mandatory medical insurance valid in Bulgaria is required unless the applicant is already covered under the Health Insurance Act.

Accommodation can be owned or rented. A tenant must also present a notarised declaration from the owner agreeing that the tenant may be registered at the address.

Costs

The Type D visa fee is €100 and is not refunded if the visa is refused, as the consular fee schedule explains. After arrival, the state fee for a permit of up to one year is €255.65, plus €5.11 to file the application. The residence card costs €20.45 on the standard timeline, €40.90 on the fast one and €102.26 on the express one.

Translations, legalization, police certificates and insurance premiums come on top and depend on the country of issue.

Duration and renewal

The permit runs for up to one year. Renewal is filed in person no later than 14 days before expiry, and the Migration Directorate decides within 14 days, extendable by one month for complex files. Housing, health cover and funds are shown again each year. The police clearance certificate is needed only on the first application.

Family members

A spouse and minor children can apply for family reunification once the sponsor has held authorised residence for at least one year. The family file needs housing, funds of at least the minimum monthly wage or minimum pension, a police clearance certificate and marriage or birth certificates. The state fee for a permit of up to one year is €76.69.

Work and absences

The Labour Migration Act gives holders of pension-based residence no access to the labour market on that basis, so employment or freelance work needs a different residence ground. Continuous residence also drives the path to long-term status: an absence counts toward the five years only if it lasts under six consecutive months, and absences together may not exceed ten months in the period.

Path to long-term residence

After five years of lawful, uninterrupted residence, a pensioner can apply for long-term resident status under Article 24g of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act. The applicant must show funds of at least the minimum wage and minimum pension and valid health cover. Once granted, the status is permanent unless grounds for withdrawal arise. Citizenship by naturalization is a separate application with its own residence period and language test.