Can a Foreigner Open a Company in Bulgaria? | Guide for Expats and Nomads

Yes, foreigners can own 100% of a Bulgarian company, act as directors, and even register the company remotely in 2026. With a compliant address, basic documents, a bank capital deposit, and a clean filing at the Commercial Register, your company can be live within days.

Why Bulgaria Welcomes Foreign Company Owners in 2026

Bulgaria offers investor-friendly rules, EU access, and tax efficiency, making it an attractive base for non-EU founders, digital nomads, and EU entrepreneurs alike. If you want a deeper strategic overview before you start, review the key reasons Bulgaria stands out for company formation.

What Legal Forms Can a Foreigner Use? (EOOD, OOD, AD, EAD)

Most foreign founders start with an EOOD or OOD because the capital is symbolic and governance is simple. If you plan institutional investment, a joint-stock structure (AD/EAD) may fit later. You can transform the company as you grow.

Company Forms Compared for Foreign Founders

Form	Owners	Minimum Capital	Governance	When Founders Pick It
EOOD (single-member Ltd)	1	~1 EUR	Director-managed	Solo founders, consultants, bootstrapped SaaS
OOD (multi-member Ltd)	2+	~1 EUR	General meeting + director	Co-founders sharing equity
EAD (single-member JSC)	1	25,000 EUR	Board or sole director (stricter rules)	Scale-ups preparing for investors
AD (JSC)	2+	25,000 EUR	One- or two-tier boards	Complex cap tables, fundraising plans

If you want the legal mechanics from drafting to filing, walk through our step-by-step company incorporation process in Bulgaria. And for capital specifics, here’s a concise explainer of the minimum share capital rules in Bulgaria.

Ownership Rules: Do You Need a Bulgarian Partner?

You do not need a Bulgarian partner. Foreigners can own 100% and serve as directors. You simply comply with standard requirements: a Bulgarian registered address, bank capital deposit, and a clean filing in the Commercial Register. You can verify formalities via the official Bulgarian Commercial Register.

What Documents Do You Need?

You’ll prepare identification, Articles of Association (or founding act), director appointment, specimen signatures, and — if you register remotely — a notarised power of attorney with apostille when required. If you’re unsure, here’s a concise checklist of the documents required to register a Bulgarian company.

Core Incorporation Documents and Who Signs Them

Document	Purpose	Who Signs	Notes
Articles of Association / Founding Act	Defines ownership, capital, governance	Founder(s)	Updates later via resolutions
Director appointment	Authorises management	Owner(s)	May include management contract
Specimen signatures	Banking and filings	Director(s)	Often notarised
Power of Attorney (if remote)	Lets an agent act on your behalf	Founder(s)	Notarised; apostille may be required

Registered Address Requirement and Options

A Bulgarian company must have a registered address capable of receiving official mail. This can be your leased premises, a virtual office, or (when compliant) an agent’s address. For practical details and proof requirements, see how a registered company address in Bulgaria works.

Registered Address Options Compared

Option	Pros	Cons	Best For
Own office	Control, brand presence	Higher cost, longer setup	Teams, client visits
Virtual office	Low cost, fast	Limited physical use	Remote-first founders
Agent’s address	Turnkey, integrated services	Usage limits possible	“Done-for-you” setup

Bank Account and Capital Deposit

Before filing, you deposit share capital into a temporary bank account and obtain a bank certificate. After registration, the account converts to a live operating account and you can use the funds for business expenses. Expect standard KYC—source of funds, IDs, and structure. For supervisory context, see the Bulgarian National Bank.

Capital Deposit and Bank Onboarding

Step	What Happens	Who Handles It	Typical Timing
Open capital account	Bank creates a temporary account	Founder or authorised agent	Same day–2 days
Deposit capital	Transfer token amount (EOOD/OOD) or required tranche (AD/EAD)	Founder	Same day
Bank certificate	Bank confirms the deposit	Bank	Same day–1 day
Convert account	Account becomes operational after registration	Bank	Immediate after entry

Remote Company Formation for Non-Residents

You can register without travelling. With a notarised Power of Attorney (and apostille if required), your agent can open the capital account, file documents, and collect the registration. Bulgaria supports digital administration; you can explore e-processes via the official e-Government portal (PSC). For a practical outline, see how to open your Bulgarian company fully remotely.

Remote vs In-Person Setup

Mode	Pros	Considerations	Who Chooses It
Remote	No travel, agent handles filings	Apostilles, couriered originals, video KYC	Nomads, founders on tight schedules
In-person	Faster bank onboarding	Travel and on-site appointments	Founders who want to meet banks in person

Taxes, VAT, and EU Trading

Once registered, most companies handle VAT registration when they meet thresholds or operate cross-border. You’ll coordinate with the National Revenue Agency and follow EU rules overseen by the European Commission. Your accountant will also register the company as an employer if you plan payroll. We manage all of that for you after incorporation.

Residency, Visas, and Permit Pathways Linked to Company Ownership

Owning a Bulgarian company strengthens your business case for residence and work permissions, but it’s not automatic. The right path depends on your nationality and role (director, specialist, investor). Below are common scenarios that founders discuss with immigration counsel.

Typical Stay/Work Pathways Considered by Non-EU Founders

Path	Who It Fits	How the Company Helps	Notes
Company director route	Owners acting as executives	Employment by your own company	Requires proper contracts and payroll
Highly qualified roles	Specialists meeting criteria	Company sponsors the role	Faster in some cases; evidence required
Trade Representative Office context	Market exploration without trading	Supports long-term planning	Non-trading structure; specific rules apply

Branches and Trade Representative Offices

If you already have a foreign company, you can register a Bulgarian Branch or a Trade Representative Office (TRO). A Branch can trade and invoice; a TRO cannot trade but can support presence and staffing context. Both require registration and compliance.

Entity vs Branch vs Trade Representative Office

Structure	Can Trade?	Share Capital	Pros	Best Use Case
EOOD/OOD	Yes	~1 EUR	Full control, EU credibility	Launching new operations
AD/EAD	Yes	25,000 EUR	Investor-ready governance	Scale-ups, fundraising
Branch	Yes	None locally	Leverage foreign entity	Short-to-mid-term market entry
Trade Representative Office	No	None	Presence without trading	Research, staffing context, pre-launch

How Long Does Registration Take?

With clean documents and a prepared bank, expect a very short timeline. The Commercial Register is efficient; you can check official statuses and guidance on the Registry Agency portal.

Typical Timeline from Kick-off to Registration

Phase	What You Do	What We Do	Duration
Intake & planning	Share IDs, choose form	Draft documents, book bank	1–2 days
Capital deposit	Transfer capital	Obtain bank certificate	Same day–1 day
Filing & review	—	File at Commercial Register	1–3 days

Want the practical playbook? See how to register your company in Bulgaria in 6 steps and the legal flow in our incorporation guide.

What Will It Cost?

Budgets vary by bank, translations, and whether you travel. The table below outlines common items for a lean EOOD/OOD launch. For comprehensive budgeting (including ongoing compliance), check how much it costs to set up your company in Bulgaria.

Indicative Formation Budget (EOOD/OOD)

Item	Estimated Cost (EUR)	Notes
Legal drafting & filing	450	Articles, resolutions, filings
Translations & apostilles	150	Depends on country of origin
Registered address (annual)	120	Virtual office option
Bank account setup	0–50	Varies by bank
Official fees	60	State fee and incidentals
Share capital (EOOD/OOD)	1	Usable after registration

Common Pitfalls for Non-Resident Founders

Frequent Issues and How to Avoid Them

Pitfall	Why It Hurts	Prevention
Mixing personal and company spending	Creates tax and accounting headaches	Use the company account only; keep receipts
Missing registered-address mail	Leads to penalties or missed deadlines	Choose reliable mail handling
Choosing AD/EAD too early	Higher capital, governance overhead	Start EOOD/OOD; convert later if needed
Weak document prep for remote filing	Delays at bank or Register	Proper notarisation, apostille, translations

Real-World Scenarios

Solo Consultant (Non-EU)

You launch an EOOD with ~1 EUR share capital, remote bank onboarding, and a virtual office. You invoice EU clients within days and register for VAT when thresholds or activities require it with the National Revenue Agency.

SaaS with Two Co-Founders

You open an OOD with token capital, issue shares 50/50, and agree vesting in the Articles. When an investor requests, you raise capital to 5,000 EUR and later convert to AD to introduce a board and share classes.

Foreign Group Testing Bulgaria

You register a Branch to trade quickly using the parent’s resources. After traction, you form an OOD for local hiring and move contracts to the new entity.

Your Next Step

If you want a done-for-you setup, we provide fast, secure and tax-optimized company registration in Bulgaria and take care of filings, banking coordination, and compliance. For ongoing support, explore our accounting services in Bulgaria, and for a big-picture perspective, read why Bulgaria is a great choice for company formation.

How to Proceed — Free Consultation

Prefer to talk it through? Book your free 30-minute consultation. We’ll confirm the right company type, outline the bank route (remote or in-person), plan the timeline, and answer tax and residency questions.

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