Foreigners who wish to carry out a non-profit activity in Bulgaria have different possibilities for this. They can be founders of non-profit organizations (NGOs), be elected as members of the bodies of NGOs, be appointed as executive directors or managers of non-profit organizations or be managers of a branch of a foreign NGO. All these possibilities stem from the lack of restrictions in the Non-profit Legal Persons Act regarding the citizenship of persons who may be founders, members of bodies or employees of non-profit organizations.

Note: it is not obligatory for managers or members of bodies of NGOs to be hired with a labor contract; some additional permits might be needed in order for a labor contract to be concluded.

A long-term residence permit may be granted to foreigners who possess a long-stay visa with a validity term of up to six months and entitlement to reside of up to 180 days (a.k.a visa D; see article 15, paragraph 1 of the  Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act) and wish to perform non-profit activities after obtaining a permission from the Ministry of Justice (see article 24, paragraph 1, item 16 of the  Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act).

Note: The application for issuing a long-stay visa (visa D) is submitted only in the Bulgarian diplomatic and consular missions at the permanent place of residence of the applicant or the missions accredited in the state of the applicant’s permanent residence. Persons staying legally in a third country, different from the country of their permanent residence, may, as an exception, apply in this third country after explaining the reasons thereof and if their return to the state of permanent residence is guaranteed. For more information - https://www.mfa.bg/en/services-travel/consular-services/travel-bulgaria/visa-bulgaria

A permission for foreigners to carry out non-profit activities in Bulgaria from the Ministry of Justice is issued in accordance to the rules of Ordinance № 1 from 15.08.2002 (НАРЕДБА № 1 от 15.08.2002 г. за условията и реда за издаване на разрешения за извършване на дейност с нестопанска цел от чужденци в Република България). The application has to be submitted in a Bulgarian diplomatic or consular mission. The applicant needs to provide attached to the application form:

1. a detailed plan for determining the subject and purpose of the activity for the period for which the issuance of a permit is requested;

2. a document establishing the availability of financial resources to achieve the objectives of the activity;

3. a transcript of the court decision, if there is a court registration;

4. criminal record certificate;

5. a medical certificate;

6. other documents required by a law regulating the respective type of non-profit activity, if such are necessary;

7. two photos 3 х 4.

All documents need to be translated in Bulgarian.

Note: A permission for foreigners to carry out non-profit activities in Bulgaria from the Ministry of Justice is needed only in connection to the issuing of residence permit. Foreigners who are already in Bulgaria can freely establish/being a member of a NGO. The permission is related only to the process of issuing residence permit.

To be granted long-term residence permit, a foreigner should present in person an application completed in a standard form (as set out in Annex 3 of the Regulations for Application of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act) to the Migration Directorate or to a Regional Directorate of the Minestery of Interior, attaching thereto (see art. 27 in connection to art. 14 of the Regulations for Application of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act):

• a copy of a valid passport or document issued in lieu (instead) of a passport showing the pages containing the photograph, the identification particulars, a visa under Article 15 (1) of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act (visa D), where such is required, and the latest Bulgarian entry stamp; for verification of the authenticity of the copy, the original of the passport or document issued in lieu of a passport t shall be presented as well;
• a document proving payment of stamp duty under Article 10(3) of Rate Schedule No. 4 of Fees Collected within the System of the Ministry of Interior pursuant to the Stamp Duty Act, except for foreigners applying under subparagraphs 5, 13 and 18 of Article 24(1), Article 24c, Article 24i and Article 33d(4) of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act;
• evidence of available housing accommodation;
• compulsory medical insurance valid for the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, where the person does not have health insurance under the Health Insurance Act;
• evidence of stable, regular, predictable and sufficient means of subsistence of the family members for the period of stay within the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, without recourse to the social assistance system, amounting to not less than the national minimum monthly wage, the national minimum educational allowance or the national minimum pension;
• a conviction status certificate, issued by the State whose citizenship the foreigner holds or by the State of his or her habitual residence: applicable upon initial submission of the application.
• A permission for a foreigner to carry out non-profit activities in Bulgaria from the Ministry of Justice