RESIDING IN BULGARIA   Under Bulgarian law, an individual who is not a Bulgarian citizen is considered a foreigner. Provided they have a valid visa foreigners may stay in Bulgaria no more than 90 days within a period of any six months regardless of how long the visa is valid for. Foreigners wishing to stay in Bulgaria for more than 90 days within any period of 6 months for any of the below-listed reasons need to apply for long-term visas (type "D") at a Bulgarian Embassy. On entering the country on a long-term visa, foreigners are required to contact the Ministry of the Interior authorities, exercising control over foreigners’ stay in the country and obtain a long – term or a permanent residence permit. Two categories of foreigners are eligible to apply for a residence permit: 1.      Up to one year may be granted to foreigners who: • Have been issued with a work permit by the Labour and Social Affairs Ministry Department, entitling them to engage in full-time employment in Bulgaria, or • Have a business in Bulgaria and have hired at least 10 Bulgarian citizens, or • Have been admitted to full-time education in a licensed Bulgarian educational establishment, or • Are foreign experts staying in the country by virtue of an international agreement to which Bulgaria is party, or • Are eligible for a permanent residence permit or are married to a Bulgarian citizen, or to a foreign person who is permanently residing in Bulgaria, or • Are representatives of foreign companies registered with the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, or • Are financially secure parents of foreigners permanently residing in Bulgaria, or • Have been admitted for long-term treatment in a Bulgarian hospital and have sufficient funds to cover their treatment and living costs, or •  Are foreign correspondents accredited to Bulgaria, or •  Are retired and have sufficient funds to support themselves, or • Are foreign investors who meet the requirements of the Bulgarian Foreign Investments Act • Are members of the family of a foreigner and are already residing in the country in keeping with Article 24 of the Foreign Persons Act, or • Have a permit issued by the Labour and Social Affairs Ministry Department to stay in Bulgaria as self-employed.  NB. The above applicants need to have appropriate accommodation and sufficient funds to support themselves, as well as to have paid the obligatory insurance and their social insurance contributions.   2.      For an indefinite period of time (Articles 25, 25a of the Foreigners Act) – may be granted to foreigners, who: •  Are of Bulgarian ethnic origin, or • Have resided permanently in the country for two years, after marrying a Bulgarian citizen, or •  Are the underaged children of a Bulgarian citizen or a of a foreign person who is permanently residing in the country, if they have not contacted marriage, or • Are the parents of a Bulgarian citizen who are providing financial support to him, to which he is entitled by law, or • Have legally resided in the country for the last five years (not including the time of their education at a Bulgarian educational establishment), or • Have made investments in the country of more than USD 250,000 in the form of registered foreign investments according to the Bulgarian Foreign Investments Act, or • Are not of Bulgarian ethnic origin, but have been born on Bulgarian territory and have forfeited their Bulgarian citizenship of their own volition or by force of international agreements, and intend to reside in the country permanently, or • Have contributed substantially to developing the national economy, culture or other branches of Bulgarian social life, even if certain other legal requirements have not been met.  You can find legal information and legal texts relevant to this topic, as well as addresses and telephone numbers of legal companies and lawyers at the following websites: •        Diligentia Jure •        LEX BG •        Digesta •        Ciela NET •        Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry