Third-country nationals who want to study in Bulgaria, may do so under the following conditions:
- They are students enrolled in full-time education at higher education institution;
- They are high school students (secondary education) participating in exchanges programmes;
To reside in Bulgaria for educational purposes, the following are required:
- A long-term visa – Type “D” visa;
- A residence permit;
After being enrolled at an educational institution or program, the student must apply for a type „D“ visa for students, which is issued by a Bulgarian embassy or consulate in their home country. Upon arrival in Bulgaria with a valid visa, a residence permit must be obtained from the Migration Directorate.
Required documents for visa issuance include:
- Proof of enrollment in an educational program or higher education institution;
- Proof of accommodation in Bulgaria;
- Health insurance;
- Availability of sufficient financial resources to ensure the cost of living and return to the country of origin;
- Medical certificate.
The residence permit is valid for the duration of the academic program, up to a maximum of one year, and is renewable.
The residence permit is automatically terminated upon completion of the study programme.
Upon arrival in Bulgaria, the address of residence must be reported to the Migration Directorate within 5 days.
The study course CANNOT be changed. A new application must be submitted in that case.
No work permit is required for part-time employment up to 20 hours per week during the academic year and during official holidays.
Students wishing to remain and work in Bulgaria after completing their studies must apply for a work permit under the same conditions as other third-country nationals.
After graduation, the student has a 9-months period to look for a job and take up employment. They may register with the Employment Agency within 7 working days and benefit from job placement services.
A student can arrive in Bulgaria with a valid residence permit issued by another EU country. The student is required to be part of an EU programme (Erasmus) or another multilateral program involving studies in more than one EU country, or there must be an agreement between two or more higher education institutions, with at least one of them being Bulgarian. In such cases, the right to enter and reside in Bulgaria is granted for up to one year.