The grounds for reuniting the family of a foreigner with a permitted residence in Bulgaria are legally changed. A foreigner, with a residence permit of not less than one year on the territory of Bulgaria, can submit an application for obtaining the right of temporary residence (prolonged-stay) from a member of his/her family, if any of the following grounds exist in relation to his/her family member:
– if there are grounds for granting him/her permanent residence;
– if he/she is a member of the family of a foreigner who has received a permanent or temporary residence (prolonged-stay) permit, as well as of a foreigner who has received international protection – when the documents certifying family ties and the right to maintenance are recognized or admitted for execution under Bulgarian law;
– if he/she is a member of the family of a foreigner with granted asylum, temporary protection or humanitarian status – when the documents certifying the family ties and the right to maintenance are recognized or admitted for execution under the Bulgarian legislation;
– if he/she is a member of the family of a long-term resident foreigner – he/she may obtain a long-term residence permit for a period of one year with the possibility of renewal, without exceeding the permitted period of residence of the holder;
– if he/she is a member of the family of a holder of a permit for a person transferred during an intra-corporate transfer – he/she may obtain a temporary residence (prolonged-stay) permit for the period of residence of the holder.
The foreigner with a residence permit of at least one year on the territory of Bulgaria submits an application for obtaining the right of temporary residence (prolonged-stay) from a member of his/her family, together with the other necessary documents, to the Migration Directorate.
To obtain a temporary residence (prolonged-stay) permit, the family member of the foreigner must have: a regular passport or a replacement document with a validity period of not less than 6 months; provided housing; sufficient means of subsistence, without resorting to the social assistance system, in an amount not less than the minimum monthly salary or the minimum pension for the country, for the period of residence on the territory of Bulgaria; a criminal record certificate; a marriage certificate or a birth certificate; documents on the circumstances for the maintenance of the family member and the need for personal care due to health reasons.
The application and its annexes are considered by the services for administrative control of foreigners in Bulgaria within about a month and a half after their submission.
The positive decision on the application for family reunification is a ground for the foreigner – a family member to be issued a type „D“ visa (for long-term residence) under a simplified procedure. The foreigner submits an application for a visa to the foreign representation of Bulgaria in the country of his/her permanent residence, within 6 months of his/her notification.
The general rules for entry and residence of foreigners in Bulgaria apply to the family members of a foreigner who has received a long-term residence permit in another Member State of the European Union, who has a residence permit in Bulgaria and whose family has not been established in the Member State of the European Union which has issued his/her long-term residence permit.
Members of the family of an EU Blue Card holder can also obtain a temporary residence (prolonged-stay) permit with a validity period corresponding to the residence period of the EU Blue Card holder, insofar as the validity period of the passport or its replacement document allows this. For the issuance of a temporary residence (prolonged-stay) permit to a family member of an EU Blue Card holder, the foreigner holding a type „D“ visa (for long-term residence) submits personally to the Migration Directorate an application together with the other necessary documents.
The procedure for reuniting a foreigner’s family has its own specifics and a good knowledge of the legal framework is required. For this reason, GCE advises you to contact our experts.