Any foreigner who has lived in Bulgaria in the status of a residence permit (Residence Permit) for at least five years is eligible to obtain the status of Permanent Residence, subject to certain conditions of residence in the country: over the last five years of residence permit status, the foreigner has not been absent from Bulgaria for more than 30 months in total. Note: if this condition is not met, the foreigner can extend the residence permit status until it is met. And if the condition is not fulfilled, then a foreigner can extend a residence permit for an unlimited number of years. The most common grounds for obtaining permanent residence status:

1. Obtaining permanent residence by a foreigner of Bulgarian origin. According to the legislation, a person who has at least one of his relatives in the ascending line is of Bulgarian nationality has Bulgarian origin.
2. Obtaining permanent residence by a foreigner who renews the status of a residence permit annually for five years and fulfills the condition of residence in the countryf: for the last five years of residence permit, a foreigner must not be absent from Bulgaria for more than 30 months in total.
3. Obtaining permanent residence as a result of investments.

The law provides for several working investment programs, as a result of which a foreigner receives permanent residence status, and under certain conditions, after a certain time, Bulgarian citizenship. Pay attention to the new ground in the law, namely: investments in the amount of more than one million leva in the form of purchase of state or municipal securities. As a result, a foreigner can immediately obtain permanent residence. The program is attractive because having received permanent residence on this basis, in a year, having invested another million leva, you can apply for Bulgarian citizenship. There is another status of residence in Bulgaria. This is a long-term residence permit. The status of DVJ appeared in Bulgarian legislation as a result of the unification of the pan-European legislative norms of the EU member states. The Bulgarian legislative system was not ready for this. Most normative legal acts that give foreigners certain rights operate with the term Permanent residence. This applies to almost all areas of activity from the purchase of a car and employment to the legal purchase of personal weapons. In almost every case, the official has to prove the equivalence of the statuses of permanent residence and residence permit, provided that he has not often heard of the latter. Usually, in such cases, it helps to indicate the presence of a Single Civil Number, which is registered in the personal card of a long-term foreigner.

What are the differences between permanent residence and residence permit statuses in Bulgaria?

Permanent residence status is an internal, Bulgarian status and gives the same rights as citizenship in Bulgaria, but without the right to vote and be elected to the authorities. This status is issued for the duration of your passport, for the first time for a maximum of 5 years, and then forever.  As soon as your passport expires, you need to change your personal permanent residence card. The status of a residence permit is a long-term residence permit. Can be obtained for stays of at least 10 months per year or 60 months in total for 5 years in Bulgaria. The status of a DV is recognized in the EU countries. It gives the same rights as citizenship in Bulgaria, but without the right to vote and be elected to the authorities, as well as simplified opportunities for employment and obtaining a residence permit in the EU countries. Let's figure out what is the difference between a permanent residence permit (permanent residence) and a long-term residence permit (LONG-term residence permit) in Bulgaria. There is practically no difference between permanent residence and DVR in Bulgaria. At least legislatively.

Conditions for obtaining statuses:	Permanent Residence	DVJ
After how many years of residence in Bulgaria as a residence permit	In 5 years	In 5 years
Maximum possible period of absence from Bulgaria within 5 years to obtain status	Not more than 30 months	Not more than 10 months
For what period is it issued?	Indefinite	For 5 years
Amount of the state fee	1000 BGN	110 BGN
Period for obtaining Bulgarian citizenship after acquiring the status	In 5 years	In 5 years
Visa-free travel to the Schengen countries	no	no
Social package and services under the National Health Insurance System of Bulgaria (NZOK)	Yes	Yes
Employment in Bulgaria	Yes	Yes
Employment in the EU	no	no
Applying for loans on equal terms with Bulgarian citizens	Yes	Yes
Free education at a university in Bulgaria	no	no
Possibility of personal purchase and registration of a car on equal rights with Bulgarian citizens	Yes	Yes
Benefits for tuition fees in higher education institutions in Bulgaria	Yes	Yes

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