The Bulgarian type "D" visa is sought after by third country nationals (outside of the EU), who are looking to reside in Bulgaria for an extended period of time - whether for labour migration, family, business or investment matters.
Under Article 15 of the Bulgarian Foreign Nationals Act, a long-stay visa (D visa) with a validity period of up to 6 months and a right of residence of up to 180 days may be issued to a foreigner who wishes to obtain a permit for prolonged, long-term or permanent residence in the Republic of Bulgaria on one of the grounds specified in the Act. It entitles the holder to repeated entry into the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria within the period of its validity.
The law stipulates that obtaining a D visa is a condition for subsequently applying for a long-term residence permit. The immigration visa is therefore the first and mandatory step that foreigners seeking long-term residence in Bulgaria should take.
Who can Issue a visa type "D"?
Under Bulgarian law, the application for a D visa is submitted at the diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Bulgaria in the country of origin of the foreigner. In case there is no Bulgarian embassy or consulate in the foreigner's country, the application for the immigration visa can be made at an embassy or consulate of Bulgaria which is authorized for the respective country. It is important to note that there is no provision for applying for it from Bulgaria. The application should only be submitted through the diplomatic and consular representations of Bulgaria abroad.
Visa refusal
Unfortunately, in recent years the refusal rate has been increasing. In general, the refusal is based on Article 10(1)(17) of the Bulgarian Foreign Nationals Act, namely because the applicant does not convincingly prove the purpose and conditions of the requested stay. If you have already applied and your visa has been refused, you still have the possibility of a positive result. In case of rejection, the appeal period is relatively short - 14 days starting from the date of submission of the rejection.
Both the correct choice of the grounds for the application and the precise preparation of the necessary documentation in accordance with the requirements of the regulations are crucial for the successful obtaining of the D visa and the subsequent long-term residence permit.
At Vatev & Partners we have extensive experience in the procedures for issuing visas for short-term and long-term residence, permits for long-term or permanent residence of third-country nationals, and the residence regime in Bulgaria for EU citizens We can advise you on the legal requirements and documents needed to initiate the procedure for the issuance of a Visa "D". We also offer representation before national courts in the case of a rejected visa application.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a legal opinion or legal advice. If you require any assistance or further information in relation to the matters discussed, you may contact us at. + 359 897 977 338 / + 359 876 267 112 or through any of the other contact channels of Vatev & Partners Law Office.