Bulgaria: residency, citizenship, tax and living

Bulgaria allows investors to become permanent residents after making an eligible investment into the stock market, investment funds, priority projects, or unlisted company capital. You can also become a resident by investing in real estate in the country for a temporary residence permit, and then renewing it until you qualify for permanent residence.

No. Bulgaria terminated its citizenship by investment program in April, 2022. Investors can still become citizens of Bulgaria through the country’s residency by investment program by securing residency and waiting five years to meet the requirements for citizenship by naturalisation.

To qualify for Bulgarian citizenship by descent, you must be of Bulgarian origin. This means that you can provide that your parent or grandparent was Bulgarian. Doing so allows you to apply for naturalisation without meeting other criteria, such as minimum residency or income.

Bulgaria levies a 10% tax on all income, including capital gains. Tax residents are liable for taxes on their worldwide income, while non-tax residents are liable only for taxes on income derived within the country. Bulgaria doesn’t have a wealth tax, but it does tax inheritance and gifts, as well as property.