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    Lex Europa · Licensed Bulgarian Lawyer

    A Golden Visa Alternative to Spain and Portugal

    With Spain and Portugal restricting golden visas, Bulgaria offers lawful EU residence through investment, business presence or employment routes.

    Business routes from

    EUR 400

    Typical timeline

    3–9 months

    Who this is for

    • Investors whose Spanish or Portuguese golden visa plans were closed off
    • Business owners who prefer a company-based residence route
    • Families looking for a lower-cost EU base
    • Applicants comparing EU residence options

    Key facts

    Routes from
    EUR 400 (company) to EUR 512,000 (investment)
    Typical timeline
    3–9 months
    Family members
    Spouse and dependent children on most routes
    Permanent residence / citizenship
    Permanent residence after 5 years; citizenship subject to naturalisation rules

    How it works

    1. 01

      Legal assessment

      We review your nationality, background, family and goals to confirm eligibility.

    2. 02

      Strategy

      You receive a written plan with the recommended route, costs and timeline.

    3. 03

      Legal preparation

      We compare investment, trade representation, company and work routes and prepare the chosen one.

    4. 04

      Representation

      We represent you before the Bulgarian authorities through every filing.

    5. 05

      Residence

      You receive your residence permit and a plan toward permanent residence.

    Why Bulgaria

    10%

    Flat corporate tax

    Schengen

    Full Schengen member

    Euro

    Currency since January 2026

    5 years

    To permanent residence; citizenship subject to naturalisation rules

    Frequently asked questions

    Why consider Bulgaria instead of Spain or Portugal?

    Bulgaria is a full EU and Schengen member, uses the euro since January 2026, has a 10% corporate tax and still offers several lawful residence routes.

    Is there a lower-cost route than investment?

    Yes. Company-based and trade representation routes start from much lower budgets, from EUR 400 for company formation.

    Can I keep my existing company?

    Yes. Many clients keep their non-EU company and add a Bulgarian entity or trade representative office.

    Can my family join me?

    On most routes your spouse and dependent children can apply for residence as family members.

    Which route is right for me?

    That depends on your budget, business and goals. The legal assessment gives you a written recommendation.

    Book a consultation

    Tell us about your situation. A licensed Bulgarian lawyer will reply personally, usually within one business day.

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    Lex Europa is a private law practice. We are not affiliated with or acting on behalf of any Bulgarian or EU government authority. Official state fees are paid directly to the competent authorities. Official information: Ministry of Interior (mvr.bg) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (mfa.bg).