Residence permit for a child in Bulgaria
If a non-EU parent holds a residence permit valid for at least a year, family reunification can be requested for their minor child; the child first gets a type D visa, then a residence permit in Bulgaria. This is not legal advice; if the parent is an EU citizen, different rules apply.
Visas and residence · Last reviewed: 2026-10-07
This is not legal or financial advice
Which children, under what conditions
- According to the EU Immigration Portal's Bulgaria page (1 April 2025), a person with a permit valid for at least one year may request reunification for the spouse and for minor children, their own or the spouse's.
- The IISDA service description lists family members of a Bulgarian citizen and of a foreigner with prolonged or permanent residence as separate grounds; family-tie documents from abroad must be recognised or accepted for enforcement under Bulgarian law.
- If the parent is an EU citizen, the Migration Directorate's section on documents for EU citizens and their family members applies; this article covers non-EU parents.
Steps
Family reunification application
The application goes to the Migration Directorate; the EU portal's wording “in your home country” is unclear, so ask the Directorate in writing how the procedure works. Once approved, the family member obtains a type D visa from a Bulgarian mission.Child rules at the visa stage
A legal representative or expressly authorised person files for minors. Per the Ministry of Foreign Affairs page, children travelling without parents need a birth certificate and a notarised authorisation; under-6s are exempt from the application processing fee.Residence in Bulgaria
Family members staying more than six months obtain a permit from the Migration Directorate after entering. Documents: passport copy, proof of the state fee under Ministry of Interior Tariff No. 4, housing, sufficient means, health insurance, marriage or birth certificate. A criminal-record certificate is asked from those aged 18 and over.
The family member's permit lasts as long as the parent's, but no more than one year (EU portal). An extension is requested no later than 14 days before the period ends. According to the portal, some relatives, such as the unmarried minor children of a permanent resident, may be directly eligible for permanent residence; ask the Directorate about the details.
Foreign documents need preparation
Frequently asked questions
Does my child need a separate work permit?
These pages do not raise work permits for a minor child; the EU portal ties labour-market access to permanent or long-term status. Ask the Directorate for details.
How long does the child's permit last?
Per the EU portal, as long as the parent's, but no more than one year. An extension is requested no later than 14 days before it ends.
Sources
The information on this page is based on the official sources listed below. Legislation changes — open the links and verify the current position.
- Avrupa Komisyonu — AB Göç Portalı: Bulgaristan'da aile üyesi (sayfa tarihi 1 Nisan 2025) — https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/migration-and-asylum/eu-immigration-portal/family-member-bulgaria_en · 2026-10-07
- ИИСДА — Разрешаване на продължително пребиваване на чужденци (МВР) — https://iisda.government.bg/adm_services/services/service_provision/21815 · 2026-10-07
- Министерство на външните работи — Виза за България (Visa for Bulgaria) — https://www.mfa.bg/en/services-travel/consular-services/travel-bulgaria/visa-bulgaria · 2026-10-07
- Дирекция „Миграция“ — МВР: Issue of Residence Permits to Third Country Nationals — https://www.mvr.bg/migration/en/administrative-services/administrative-servces/issue-of-residence-permits-to-third-country-nationals · 2026-10-07
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