Bulgarian visa resources
Bulgaria's immigration authority
Two official bodies run Bulgaria's national process: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Type D visas abroad) and the Migration Directorate of the Ministry of Interior (residence in Bulgaria).
Important
Responsibility for Bulgaria's national immigration process is split between two authorities. Bulgarian diplomatic and consular missions, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, issue the Type D long-stay visa abroad. Once you are in Bulgaria, the Migration Directorate of the Ministry of Interior handles residence permits and administrative control over the residence of foreigners.
The Migration Directorate is the body of the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior that regulates migration processes and exercises administrative control over the residence of foreigners in the country. It was established under a November 2003 amendment to the Law on the Ministry of Interior and began operating on 26 February 2004.
What the Migration Directorate does
- Issues, refuses or revokes residence permits for foreigners
- Extends the period of residence of foreigners in Bulgaria
- Coordinates with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on residence matters
- Counteracts irregular migration, including on-the-spot checks at the foreigner's place of residence
- Provides administrative services (including to EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and their family members)
Structure and where to apply
- A central Migration Directorate in Sofia with regional Migration departments/sectors/groups in the 28 regional Ministry of Interior directorates
- Applications are lodged in person at the Migration Directorate in Sofia or the relevant regional Migration office
- Official website: mvr.bg/migration (Migration Directorate)
Next steps
Official sources
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.
Verified against official sources · last reviewed 2026-08-21. Information only — not legal advice.