(BULGARIA) Turkish retirees are applying in growing numbers for Bulgarian residence permits to unlock visa-free Schengen travel, a surge tied to Bulgaria’s entry into the Schengen Area on January 1, 2025. Since late 2024, hundreds of retirees from Turkey have turned to the Retirement D visa, which leads to a renewable one-year residence permit and, after five straight renewals, eligibility for permanent residency. The draw is simple: a stable base in Bulgaria and easy movement across much of Europe for family visits, medical appointments, and leisure without repeat visa applications.
What the Retirement D visa is and why it matters
The Retirement D visa — formally a Bulgarian long-stay visa for retirees — has become the main route for non-EU pensioners who want a legal, renewable path to live in Bulgaria and enjoy travel across the Schengen zone. Holders of Bulgarian residence permits can move across the 29 Schengen countries without applying for separate short-stay visas.
For Turkish citizens who have long faced strict visa rules for Europe, this shift has changed retirement planning and family routines. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the relatively modest income and savings thresholds have made Bulgaria stand out among EU choices for retirees.
Key eligibility thresholds and requirements
Applicants must show they can support themselves in Bulgaria. The current baseline for the Retirement D visa includes:
- Monthly pension of at least €500
- Savings of about €6,000
- Proof of accommodation in Bulgaria (rental contract or property deed)
- Health insurance that covers care inside Bulgaria
- A valid passport
- A clean criminal record certificate
- Marital status and basic family details, when relevant
The Bulgarian government also expects real residence. To keep the permit active and ensure a strong case for renewal, retirees are expected to spend at least 183 days per year in Bulgaria or within the Schengen area. This discourages “paper residence” used only for easy travel.
Policy shift spurs retiree moves
Bulgaria’s admission to Schengen on January 1, 2025 turned Bulgarian residence permits into practical travel documents for retirees, not just permission to live in one country. Many Turkish families are split across Europe, and older parents want a simple way to see children and grandchildren who live, work, or study in EU states.
Since late 2024, law firms and consultancies in Turkey report steady interest from retirees seeking help with the visa and residence steps. The result is a clear pattern:
- Apply for the Retirement D visa at a Bulgarian embassy or consulate.
- Receive the long-stay visa D and enter Bulgaria (up to six months to begin residence procedures).
- File for a one-year residence permit with the Migration Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
- Renew the one-year permit annually.
- After five consecutive years, apply for permanent residency.
Residency benefits for retirees
With a Bulgarian residence permit, retirees gain several practical advantages:
- Access to Bulgaria’s public healthcare system.
- Lower cost of living and a mild climate that helps pensions stretch further.
- Ability to open bank accounts, register businesses, and purchase property in Bulgaria.
- Visa-free travel across the Schengen area while holding an active Bulgarian residence permit.
Contrast with the investor (Golden Visa) route:
- The Bulgarian investor program requires a minimum investment of €512,000, aimed at wealthier applicants.
- For most Turkish retirees, the Retirement D visa’s pension-and-savings thresholds are the more realistic and repeatable option.
Procedural details and timelines
The process is mainly two-stage and has specific timelines and document rules:
- Submit the long-stay visa D application at a Bulgarian embassy/consulate in Turkey to obtain entry.
- Once in Bulgaria, file for a one-year residence permit with the Migration Directorate. The application must be in Bulgarian and consistent.
- Officials review files within 7 to 30 days.
- If documents are missing, there is a 7-day window to correct the deficiency; failure to do so leads to refusal.
- If approved, the applicant receives a plastic biometric residence card valid for one year.
After five years of continuous residence, the retiree can apply for permanent residency, which reduces renewal burden and strengthens rights inside Bulgaria.
Documents retirees should prepare
Retirees planning their file typically prepare:
- Passport valid for the intended stay
- Proof of accommodation in Bulgaria (rental contract or property deed)
- Proof of self-sufficiency: pension statements showing €500+ per month and bank records indicating about €6,000 in savings
- Health insurance covering care in Bulgaria
- Clean criminal record certificate
- Marital status and family details, if applicable
Important: Officials and legal analysts stress meeting financial requirements and maintaining genuine residence. The 183-day expectation supports renewals and defends the permit against being treated as a convenience for travel only.
Practical tips to avoid delays and refusals
- Prepare applications carefully and in Bulgarian where required.
- Ensure documents are complete and consistent to avoid the strict 7-day correction deadline.
- Use translators or legal counsel if needed.
- Set up local bank accounts and confirm health insurance coverage before arrival when possible.
- Keep detailed records to demonstrate real ties to Bulgaria: bank statements, rental payments, utility bills, and migration office interactions.
Impact on applicants and next steps
For Turkish retirees, the benefits are immediate: planned family visits, easier healthcare referrals across EU countries, and broader travel freedom without repeated short-stay visa applications. Bulgaria is viewed as a practical base—close to Turkey by road and air, affordable, and supported by a growing market of lawyers and consultants familiar with the process.
The Bulgarian system includes checks to ensure the permit is used for genuine residence rather than convenience. Lawyers caution that ignoring the 183-day rule can result in renewal refusal or weaken later applications for permanent residency. Many retirees therefore adopt seasonal patterns—longer stays in spring and fall in Bulgaria, and shorter visits elsewhere during other periods—to both maintain residence and preserve travel flexibility.
No major changes to the Retirement D visa rules have been announced for the rest of 2025, but interest is likely to grow as more retirees share experiences and Bulgaria’s Schengen role becomes more familiar. Officials may add more digital steps in the future, but for now the process remains relatively paper-heavy and often conducted in Bulgarian.
Record-keeping and official resources
Retirees should keep thorough records to support renewals and future permanent residency applications:
- Bank statements showing ongoing pension income and savings
- Proof of rent or property payments, and utility bills
- Updated health insurance policies that explicitly cover care inside Bulgaria
- Official correspondence with local migration authorities
For official information on residence procedures and the Migration Directorate, applicants can review the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ resources on the National Migration Directorate website: https://www.mvr.bg/en/migration. Bulgarian embassies and consulates in Turkey are the first point of contact for the long-stay visa D and the correct document lists for filing.
Bottom line
The path is now well-known among Turkish seniors: obtain the Retirement D visa, arrive in Bulgaria to file the residence application, maintain annual renewals, and aim for permanent residency after five years. The payoff is broad mobility across Europe and a secure home base in an EU member state—simpler reunions, steadier healthcare access, and a quieter life financed by a predictable pension, without repeated short-stay visa hassles.
Frequently Asked Questions
This Article in a Nutshell
Bulgaria’s accession to Schengen on January 1, 2025 transformed Bulgarian residence permits into practical travel documents, sparking increased interest from Turkish retirees in the Retirement D visa. The visa provides a long-stay entry and leads to a renewable one-year residence permit; after five consecutive renewals, applicants may obtain permanent residency. Eligibility centers on financial self-sufficiency — about €500 monthly pension and €6,000 savings — plus accommodation proof, health insurance, a valid passport, and a clean criminal record. Applicants must demonstrate genuine residence by spending at least 183 days per year in Bulgaria or the Schengen area. The process involves visa D application at Bulgarian diplomatic missions, filing with the Migration Directorate, and possible 7–30 day review timelines. Benefits include access to public healthcare, lower living costs, property rights, and visa-free travel across 29 Schengen countries. Legal advisors stress careful documentation, Bulgarian-language applications where required, and consistent record-keeping to avoid refusals and strengthen permanent residency applications.
