Last Updated on June 14, 2021 by Bulgarian Citizenship Team
FOREIGNERS IN THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA ACT
The Foreigners Act outlines the conditions and procedures for obtaining permanent residency by investment, while the Bulgarian Citizenship Act outlines those for citizenship by investment. The latest amendments in the Bulgarian residency by investment are stated in Art. 25 of the Act .
The extracts of the Foreigners Act below include the latest Amendments and Supplements dated 13th of March 2021 related to obtaining Bulgarian permanent residency by investment.
Article 25, Para 1 Permanent residence may be acquired by foreigners:
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Item 6 (amended, SG 11/2005, amended, SG 36/2009, amended, SG 21/2021) who have made an investment in or increased their investment by acquiring:
- a) shares or bonds of Bulgarian companies, traded on a regulated market or multilateral trading system in the Republic of Bulgaria, of market value not less than BGN 2,000,000;
- b) concession agreement rights with a contract value of not less than BGN 1,000,000.
- c) units or shares of a value not less than BGN 1,000,000 in collective investment schemes (ref to Bulgarian UCITS ETF) originating in the Republic of Bulgaria, operating in accordance with the Law on the Activity of Collective Investment Schemes and Other Collective Investment Undertakings Act, and provided that:
(aa) the net asset value of each collective investment scheme is not less than BGN 5,000,000.
(bb) the collective investment scheme has been licensed or authorized by the Financial Supervision Commission.
cc) their investment strategy is focused mainly on investments in shares or bonds of Bulgarian companies traded on the Bulgarian Stock Exchange.
d) units or shares of a value not less than BGN 1,000,000 in alternative investment funds established in the Republic of Bulgaria, managed by persons who manage alternative investment funds, originating in the Republic of Bulgaria, operating in accordance with the Law on the Activity of Collective Investment Schemes and Other Collective Investment Undertakings Act, and provided that:
(aa) the assets of each fund are worth not less than BGN 3,000,000.
(bb) the alternative investment funds and the persons managing the alternative investment funds are licensed or registered by the Financial Supervision Commission.
cc) their investment strategy is focused mainly on investments in Bulgarian assets and they invest only in shares, stocks and bonds of Bulgarian companies, including joint stock companies with special investment purpose;
Item 7 (New, SG 36/2009, repealed, SG 16/2013, new, SG 108/2013, amended, SG 21/2021) d.) who have invested by depositing in the capital of a Bulgarian company an amount of not less than BGN 2,000,000 for a priority investment project implemented by the company, certified under the terms and conditions of the Investment Promotion Act.
Item 8 (New, SG No. 36/2009) who have invested in the capital of a Bulgarian company whose shares have not been traded on a regulated market, an amount not less than BGN 6,000,000;
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Item 16 (New, SG 16/2013, amended, SG 14/2015, supplemented, SG 21/2021) who have invested in the country by depositing in the capital of a Bulgarian company of not less than BGN 500,000, whereas the non-EU citizen is a partner or shareholder with registered shares and owns not less than 50 percent of the capital of the company and as a result of new fixed tangible and intangible assets worth not less than BGN 500,000 have been acquired during the investment and at least 10 jobs have been created for Bulgarian citizens, maintained for the period of residence, certified by the Ministry of Economy;
You may read the entire Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act. Note: The Act includes the Amendments and Supplements dated April 2016 and does not include the latest amendements dated March 2021 that refer to the Bulgarian residency by investment.
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