Visa

Once you have obtained a signed hosting agreement for the purposes of development of a research project with a research organisation based in the Republic of Bulgaria, you must obtain a visa “type D” at the embassy or consulate in your home countrySearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN•••.

Residence permit

Once you have arrived in Bulgaria with your valid visa (in case you need a visa to enter the country), you must also obtain a residence permit from the Migration DirectorateSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN••• after you enter Bulgaria.

Documents required

To obtain a visa, you must submit the following documents:

• a signed hosting agreement for the purposes of development of a research project with a research organisation based in the Republic of Bulgaria;
• a copy of national ID (valid passport or replacing document with the pages of the personal data, photo);
• a certificate showing no previous convictions, issued by your country of origin or country of usual residence;
• evidence for stable, regular, providable and sufficient maintenance funds without referring to the social assistance system in the amount not lower than the minimal monthly work salary, the minimal stipendium or the minimal pension for the country, for the term of residence on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria;
• accommodation;
• health insurance;
• secondary professional education (or higher), or specific professional qualifications and experience corresponding to the objective requirements of the occupation if required by the employer.

Further requirements

Further information

You are not allowed to change hosting agreements and/ or research organisations. A new application must be submitted.

After finishing the research project, you have the right to seek and start work and to use intermediation employment services for a period of 9 months, if you submit an application for registration to the Employment Agency within 7 business days.

Procedure

If you have been accepted as a researcher in another Member State of the European Union you can conduct part of your research in the Republic of Bulgaria for a period of up to 180 days in each 360-day period on the basis of a contract concluded with a research organisation in the first Member State. In such cases, the research organisation in the first Member State shall notify the competent authorities of the first Member State and of the Republic of Bulgaria of the planned mobility in the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria within the validity term of the permit.

Procedure

You may be issued a permit if you have a valid residence permit issued by another Member Sate and you intend to carry out part of your research in a research organisation in the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, for a period longer than 180 days but not longer than two years.