Does the foreigner need to travel to Bulgaria in person?

No. The entire procedure can be completed remotely through a power of attorney, legalized in the founder's home country (apostille or consular legalization) and translated into Bulgarian.

What is the minimum share capital?

The minimum capital for an EOOD/OOD is EUR 1. For a joint-stock company (AD), the minimum capital is EUR 25,000.

What is the state fee for company registration?

The state fee for electronic filing is EUR 28.13. For paper filing: EUR 56.26.

Is there a difference between EU and non-EU citizens?

For the company registration itself, there is no difference. The difference lies in residency rights: EU citizens can freely reside and work in Bulgaria, while third-country nationals need a visa and a residence permit if they wish to live in the country.

Can a foreigner serve as manager of a Bulgarian company?

Yes. There is no requirement for the manager to be a Bulgarian citizen or to hold a Bulgarian residence permit. A foreigner can serve as manager — the specimen signature is notarized abroad or certified by a Bulgarian consul.

Register Company Bulgaria as Foreigner 2026 | Procedure & Documents

Q: Can a foreigner register a company in Bulgaria?

Yes. Under the Commercial Act, there are no restrictions on foreign natural or legal persons incorporating commercial companies in Bulgaria. No residency permit is required.

Q: What are the challenges when opening a bank account?

Bulgarian banks apply enhanced KYC/AML checks for foreign clients. Some banks require the beneficial owner's personal presence, while others accept a power of attorney. The process can take 1 to 4 weeks.

What you will learn in this article

Whether a foreigner can register a company in Bulgaria and under what conditions
The practical differences between EU and non-EU citizens
Which legal form is best suited for foreign entrepreneurs
Step-by-step procedure in eight steps
What foreign documents are needed and how they must be legalized
The challenges of opening a bank account as a foreigner
Total costs for the entire procedure
What you need to do after registration

Can a foreigner register a company in Bulgaria?

Yes. The Commercial Act imposes no restrictions based on the nationality of a company's founders. Art. 113 et seq. of the Commercial Act, which govern OOD and EOOD companies, contain no requirement for Bulgarian citizenship or residency.

The principle is straightforward: any natural or legal person, regardless of citizenship, may be a founder, partner, and/or manager of a Bulgarian company.

No residence permit is required

To register a company in Bulgaria, you do not need:

A residence permit
A visa (short-term or long-term)
A personal address in Bulgaria (the company needs a registered address, but you as the founder do not)
A Bulgarian personal identification number (EGN) or foreigner's personal number (LNCh), though having an LNCh simplifies some procedures

No personal presence is required

The entire procedure can be completed remotely through a power of attorney. The founder signs the necessary documents in their country of residence, has them legalized (apostille or consular legalization), and sends them to their representative in Bulgaria.

EU vs non-EU citizens

While there is no difference for the company registration itself, several practical differences are worth noting.

Criterion	EU/EEA citizen	Third-country national
Right to incorporate a company	Yes	Yes
Residence permit required for registration	No	No
Right to reside in Bulgaria	Free (up to 3 months without registration)	Visa D + long-term residence permit required
Right to act as manager	Yes, no additional permits	Yes, but if residing in Bulgaria — residence permit needed
Document legalization	Apostille generally not required between EU states	Apostille or full consular legalization
Opening a bank account	Easier, but KYC checks still apply	More difficult, enhanced KYC checks

Citizenship and residency

An important distinction: registering a company does not automatically grant the right to reside in Bulgaria. A third-country national can register a company remotely, but if they wish to live and work in Bulgaria, they must obtain a residence permit under the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act.

At the same time, owning a company in Bulgaria can serve as a basis for obtaining a long-term residence permit under Art. 24, para. 1, item 1 of the ZCHRB (for persons conducting commercial activity), provided additional requirements are met.

Choosing a legal form

EOOD (single-member limited liability company)

The EOOD is the most popular form for foreign entrepreneurs. The reasons include:

Minimum capital of EUR 1. There is virtually no capital barrier to entry.
Limited liability. The owner is liable only up to the amount of their capital contribution.
Single owner. No second partner is required.
Flexible management. The manager can be the owner or a third party.
Fast registration. The procedure takes 3 to 5 business days.

OOD (limited liability company)

If the foreign entrepreneur has a partner (Bulgarian or foreign), an OOD is the natural choice. The conditions are identical to those for an EOOD, but a minimum of two partners is required.

Branch of a foreign company

Under Art. 17a of the Commercial Act, a foreign legal entity may open a branch in Bulgaria. A branch is not a separate legal entity — it is part of the foreign company. This form is suitable for businesses with an established track record that wish to expand to Bulgaria.

Step-by-step procedure

Choose a company name and check availability
Select a company name and verify availability by searching the Commercial Register. The name must be in Bulgarian (it may also include a transliteration in Latin script).
Prepare documents abroad
The founder prepares: a notarized power of attorney, founding act (for EOOD) / articles of association (for OOD), resolution on incorporation, manager's consent and specimen signature, declarations under Art. 141, para. 8 of the Commercial Act and Art. 13, para. 4 of the Commercial Register Act.
Apostille and/or legalization
For Hague Convention countries — apostille. For countries outside the Convention — full consular legalization.
Translation of documents
All documents in a foreign language must be translated into Bulgarian by a sworn translator with notarization of the translator's signature.
Deposit the share capital
The representative in Bulgaria opens an escrow account and deposits a minimum of EUR 1.
File the registration application
Application Form A4 with all supporting documents. State fee: EUR 28.13 for electronic filing.
Registration and UIC
The Registry Agency registers the company and issues a UIC. Processing time: 3–5 business days.
Post-registration steps
Convert escrow account, register for VAT (if applicable), enter beneficial owners in the UBO register.

Foreign documents — what needs an apostille

Document	Apostille required	Translation required
Power of attorney (notarized)	Yes	Yes
Manager's specimen signature (notarized)	Yes	Yes
Extract from register (for legal entity founders)	Yes	Yes
Passport copy	No	Yes (if in a non-Latin script)
Declarations signed abroad	Yes (if notarized)	Yes

Bulgaria is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention (1961). An apostille certifies the authenticity of the signature and the capacity of the person who signed the document. For EU member states, certain documents may be exempt under Regulation (EU) 2016/1191.

Opening a bank account — challenges for foreigners

Opening a bank account is one of the most challenging practical steps for foreign founders.

Why it is difficult

Bulgarian banks apply enhanced KYC/AML measures for foreign clients — higher risk profiles, difficulty verifying foreign documents, and regulatory pressure.

Escrow account vs current account

An escrow account is opened before registration to deposit the share capital. A current account is opened after registration for day-to-day business operations.

Practical tips

Personal visit: most banks require the beneficial owner to appear in person at least once
Prepared documents: bring your original passport, proof of address, proof of the origin of funds, business plan
Choice of bank: consult your lawyer about which banks have experience with foreign founders
Timeline: expect 1 to 4 weeks
Digital alternatives: some fintech companies offer faster onboarding, but not all issue capital deposit certificates

Costs

Cost item	Amount
State fee (electronic filing)	EUR 28.13
State fee (paper filing)	EUR 56.26
Minimum capital (EOOD/OOD)	EUR 1
Apostille (varies by country)	EUR 5 to EUR 50
Sworn translation (per page)	EUR 8 to EUR 15
Notarization of power of attorney	EUR 20 to EUR 100
Legal fees (EOOD registration)	EUR 300 to EUR 800
Bank account opening	EUR 0 to EUR 50
Total (indicative)	EUR 400 to EUR 1,200

After registration

Beneficial owner (UBO)

Under the AML Act, companies must enter their beneficial owners in the Register of Beneficial Owners maintained by the Registry Agency.

Tax registration

The company automatically receives a tax identification number (identical to the UIC). For VAT registration:

Mandatory upon reaching taxable turnover of EUR 25,565 within 12 consecutive months
Voluntary at any time
Mandatory for intra-Community acquisitions exceeding EUR 10,226

Social security

If the foreigner is the company's manager and self-insures in Bulgaria, they are subject to mandatory social security contributions. For EU citizens, the coordination of social security systems (Regulation 883/2004) may apply.

Employment law and AML obligations

If the company hires employees in Bulgaria, it is subject to Bulgarian employment law. If the company's activities fall within the scope of the AML Act, it must comply with the relevant obligations (internal rules, customer due diligence, training).

Frequently asked questions

Can a foreigner register a company without coming to Bulgaria?

Yes. The entire procedure can be completed remotely through a power of attorney. The only practical limitation is that some banks require the beneficial owner's personal presence to open an account.

What is the minimum capital?

For an EOOD or OOD, the minimum capital is EUR 1. For a joint-stock company (AD), the minimum is EUR 25,000 (of which 25 % must be paid in at incorporation).

Do documents need to be translated?

Yes. All documents in a foreign language must be translated into Bulgarian by a sworn translator, and the translation must be notarized.

What is an apostille and when is it needed?

An apostille is a certificate of authenticity for a document, issued under the 1961 Hague Convention. It is required for all notarized documents signed abroad. For countries that are not parties to the Hague Convention, full consular legalization is required instead.

How long does the entire procedure take?

With all documents prepared: 1–2 weeks for document preparation and shipment from abroad, 3–5 business days for registration, and 1–4 weeks for opening a bank account. Total: approximately 3–6 weeks.

Can a foreign legal entity incorporate an EOOD?

Yes. The founder of an EOOD may be not only a natural person but also a legal entity (including a foreign one). An extract from the relevant register of legal entities, with apostille and translation, must be attached.

Are there tax advantages for foreign investors?

Bulgaria offers a corporate income tax rate of 10 % (one of the lowest in the EU), a dividend tax of 5 %, and potential relief under double taxation treaties with over 70 countries.

Can a foreigner be a manager without living in Bulgaria?

Yes. There is no legal requirement for the manager to reside in Bulgaria. In practice, the manager must be available to sign documents and communicate with institutions — which can be organized through a power of attorney or qualified electronic signature.

Conclusion

Bulgaria offers a welcoming environment for foreign entrepreneurs: a low minimum capital, competitive tax rates, and the possibility of fully remote registration. The main challenges are document legalization and opening a bank account, but both are manageable with proper planning.

If you are a foreign citizen or company and wish to register a business in Bulgaria, the team at Innovires Legal can assist at every stage — from document preparation and bank communications to Commercial Register filing and post-registration formalities.

This article is prepared for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For a specific legal question related to your situation, please consult a qualified lawyer. The information is current as of 25 March 2026.

How to Register a Company in Bulgaria as a Foreigner (2026)