The legal framework governing whether third-country national youth volunteers can obtain a residence permit in Bulgaria to participate in youth volunteering activities is set out in the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act (Article 24, paragraph 1, item 21).
To engage in voluntary service, an agreement with the receiving organization based in Bulgaria is required. This agreement must include:
- Description of the activity;
- Duration of the volunteering service;
- The place of implementation;
- Control over the implementation;
- The terms and conditions for covering the subsistence and accommodation costs of the volunteer;
- The preliminary training the volunteer should undergo;
The validity of the residence permit matches the duration of the agreement with the receiving organisation and must NOT exceed one year;
The following are required:
- A long-stay visa (type D visa) – after signing the agreement with the receiving organisation, the volunteer must obtain a visa from the Bulgarian embassy or consulate in their current country of residence;
- A residence permit – to be obtained immediately after the volunteer arrives in Bulgaria and visits the Migration Directorate;
Applications for long-term residence (residence permit) must be submitted in person at the Migration Directorate or the respective regional directorate of the Ministry of Interior. The application must include:
- A copy of a valid passport or equivalent document, along with the original;
- Proof of payment of the applicable state fee;
- Proof available housing;
- A compulsory medical insurance which is valid on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria when the person is not insured under the Law on Health Insurance;
- Proof of sufficient means of subsistence, which must be no less than the minimum monthly salary or pension for the period of residence in the country;
- A certificate of no previous convictions issued by the country of origin;
- An agreement with the host organisation, detailing the location, description, and duration of the volunteering activity;
Upon arrival in Bulgaria, the address of residence must be reported to the Migration Directorate within 5 days.