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Changes to residence requirements for members of EU citizens' families (in case the family members are not EU citizens)
Bulgaria imposes some restrictions on the members of an EU citizen's family who are not EU citizens.
Such family members enter and leave Bulgaria with their passports and visa, when visa is required. The Council of Ministers determines the conditions and procedures for visa issuing. No taxes for paper processing and visa issuing are required.
No visa is required if the member of the family has a stay permit issued from an EU member state.
Such people can stay in Bulgaria with their passports for up to three months.
Members of an EU citizen's family who are not EU citizens can stay longer or permanently in Bulgaria, but they need a stay permit.
The period for which such people are allowed to stay in Bulgaria depends on the period of stay of their relative who is an EU citizen.
Temporary absence for up to six months each year, longer absence to serve military service, leave for up to 12 consecutive months resulting from cogent reasons and business trips are considered stay in Bulgaria.
Long-term stay conditions
Members of an EU citizen's family who are not EU citizens have to apply for stay permit in Directorate Migration of Interior Ministry in the first three months after entering Bulgaria. The applier will receive a temporary license. The applier has to attach to the long-terms stay application:
- passport and copy of it
- a document proving relation to the EU citizen
- a bill for paid state tax*
- stay permit of the relative EU citizen may also be required
Long-term stay permit will be issued in a three-month period. If the application documents are not in order, the applier will have 14 days to present accurate documents.
In case of death of the EU citizen, family members who are not EU citizens are allowed to stay in Bulgaria if they have lived in the country for one year before the death of their relative.
People married or living together with an EU citizen can stay in Bulgaria after a divorce or separation with the EU citizen if they:
- work or are self-employed in Bulgaria.
- have health insurance and sufficient financial means to make a living without relying on Bulgaria's social aid system.
and in case of any of the below mentioned reasons:
- marriage or co-habitation lasted at least three years, one of which they lived in Bulgaria
- are victims of violence at home before divorcing or separating with the EU citizen
- have custody over children
- have the right to visit their underage child.
Permanent stay conditions
Family members of a worker or self-employed person who has permanent stay permit, if they all live in Bulgaria, also have the right of permanent stay permit, no matter their citizenship.
Members of an EU citizen's family who are not EU citizens receive a permanent stay permit if they have lived in Bulgaria continuously for five years with the EU citizen.
Permanent stay permit application has to be presented to Directorate Migration of Interior Ministry two months before the long-term stay permit's expiry date.
Permanent stay permit is re-issued every 10 years.
EU citizens and they families have to carry their ID or passports and stay permit or card always.
*The state tax amount has not been determined yet!

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