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Buying property for Bulgarian residency (Type D visa) - does this still work?

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Vlad_DIY
Joined:
09.05.2022
Posts: 1005
Topic Starter
14.04.2025 03:57
Hey everyone, I've been looking into getting a Type D visa in Bulgaria by purchasing real estate. I keep reading conflicting information online about whether the old rules of buying property worth a certain amount still qualify you for residency, especially with recent EU pressures and changes in local laws. Has anyone gone through this process recently or know if it's still a viable pathway for non-EU citizens? I'd love to hear some firsthand experiences before I commit any funds.
14 replies in this topic
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uncle_joe
Joined:
07.06.2024
Posts: 41
07.05.2025 07:58
Interest in this has definitely dropped recently because of the stricter checks.
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Steve_W
Joined:
15.12.2019
Posts: 111
10.05.2025 20:11
I went through this process about two years ago, and yes, it was possible back then. But things change fast.
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advice_pro
Joined:
11.01.2021
Posts: 122
15.05.2025 23:51
In reply to a previous post
To answer your question directly: buying property alone is no longer enough for permanent residency, but it can still help with a Type D under specific conditions like the 'representative of a foreign trade company' route.
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Steve_W
Joined:
14.06.2020
Posts: 1369
25.06.2025 18:06
In reply to a previous post
Wait, are you talking about the old 300k euro threshold? That rule was updated a while ago.
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Hub_K
Joined:
06.09.2020
Posts: 1548
07.07.2025 14:19
In reply to a previous post
Don't trust blogs written in 2018, most of that info is completely outdated now.
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Igor_Tech
Joined:
09.11.2021
Posts: 1523
21.07.2025 16:43
My lawyer in Sofia told me last month that real estate investment is basically a dead end for direct residency now. You need a proper business or retirement setup.
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Master_J
Joined:
22.08.2023
Posts: 1775
15.08.2025 19:35
In reply to a previous post
Thanks for sharing that update, I almost wasted money on a flat in Varna thinking it would grant me a visa.
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Fabi_W
Joined:
20.01.2025
Posts: 177
22.08.2025 07:01
In reply to a previous post
It still works for getting a multientry visa sometimes, but definitely not a guaranteed path to long-term residency anymore.
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Amelie_Z
Joined:
17.01.2021
Posts: 1282
03.11.2025 04:48
Has anyone actually managed to do this in 2023 or 2024? Every forum post I see just has people guessing.
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Hannah_B
Joined:
04.11.2023
Posts: 1119
11.11.2025 16:34
In reply to a previous post
I did it last year through the trade representative office method, owning the property just helped prove accommodation.
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Yani_Z
Joined:
27.08.2022
Posts: 519
30.12.2025 21:15
In reply to a previous post
Honestly, just hire a local immigration lawyer before buying anything. Don't rely on random internet advice.
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Denis_P
Joined:
09.11.2020
Posts: 1209
11.01.2026 11:50
The EU has been pressuring Bulgaria to tighten these golden visa loopholes, so they are making it harder by the month.
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Stacy_B
Joined:
18.01.2025
Posts: 2057
18.02.2026 06:45
In reply to a previous post
If your main goal is just EU access, look at other countries instead. Bulgaria is a headache for this right now.
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Nadia_D
Joined:
31.05.2024
Posts: 2484
03.04.2026 12:41
In reply to a previous post
Appreciate all the insights guys, you probably saved me from making a very expensive mistake.

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