Can I Open a Company in Bulgaria Without Traveling?

Yes—you can register a Bulgarian company 100% remotely in 2025 by using a notarised Power of Attorney, a compliant Bulgarian registered address, a bank capital deposit, and electronic filings at the Commercial Register.

Remote Company Formation in Bulgaria: How It Works

Remote formation is a legal, mainstream route in Bulgaria. You appoint a professional agent via a Power of Attorney, prepare your identification and constitutional documents, deposit the share capital, and your agent files everything electronically. You can later visit to open additional bank products, sign leases, or meet clients, but you don’t need to travel to get legally incorporated.

If you’re just starting your research, here’s a plain-English overview of how foreigners can open a company in Bulgaria.

Who Can Own and Manage a Remote Bulgarian Company?

Foreigners—both EU and non-EU—can own 100% of the company and serve as directors. There is no requirement for a Bulgarian partner. The key is to maintain a reliable registered address and be reachable for official mail and tax notifications.

Best Company Types for Remote Founders (EOOD, OOD, EAD, AD)

Most remote founders pick EOOD or OOD for low capital and simple governance. Joint-stock forms (EAD/AD) are suitable when you plan boards, share classes, or fundraising. You can convert later if needed.

Company Types for Remote Formation—At a Glance

Form	Owners	Typical Capital	Governance	Why Remote Founders Choose It
EOOD (single-member Ltd)	1	~1 EUR	Director-managed	Fast, lean, ideal for solo nomads and consultants
OOD (multi-member Ltd)	2+	~1 EUR total	General meeting + director	Co-founders splitting equity while staying remote-friendly
EAD (single-member JSC)	1	25,000 EUR	Board or sole director	Scale-ups preparing for investors or complex cap tables
AD (JSC)	2+	25,000 EUR	One- or two-tier boards	Fundraising, audited reporting, larger teams

>

What Address Do You Need if You Don’t Travel?

Your company must list a Bulgarian registered address. This can be a leased office, a compliant virtual office, or your agent’s legal address. The address appears in the Commercial Register and is used by banks and the tax authority for correspondence.

Registered Address Options for Remote Founders

Option	Pros	Cons	Best For
Virtual office	Fast, low cost, mail forwarding	No meeting space by default	Digital-first operations
Agent’s address	Turnkey setup, integrated compliance	Usage rules vary	Hands-off founders
Own lease	Brand presence, space for team	Higher fixed costs	Local hiring and client visits

We explain the practicalities—proofs, consents, and bank expectations—in our guide to the documents required to register a Bulgarian company.

Documents and the Power of Attorney (PoA) for Remote Setup

To act on your behalf, your agent needs a Power of Attorney. If you sign it outside Bulgaria, you’ll typically notarise it and, depending on your country, add an apostille. Originals are couriered; certified translations may be required.

Remote Formation Documents—What to Prepare

Document	Purpose	Who Provides	Notes
Passport / ID	Identifies owners and directors	Founder(s), Director(s)	Spelling must match all papers
Articles / Founding Act	Defines capital, ownership, governance	Founder(s)	We draft to fit your plans
Director appointment + specimen	Authorises management	Owner(s), Director	Specimen often notarised
Registered address proofs	Shows contactability in Bulgaria	Provider / Landlord	Service contract or lease + consents
Power of Attorney	Enables agent to bank and file	Founder(s)	Notarised; apostille where required
Bank capital deposit certificate	Confirms capital paid	Bank	Account converts post-registration

For a focused explainer, read our note on the Power of Attorney for Bulgarian company formation.

Bank Account, Capital Deposit, and KYC

Before filing, your agent opens a temporary capital account and deposits the share capital. The bank issues a certificate. After registration, the capital account converts to an operating account so you can transact. Bulgarian banks follow standard AML rules; expect checks on identity, ownership, and business activity. Supervisory information is available at the Bulgarian National Bank.

Remote vs In-Person: What’s Different?

Remote vs In-Person Formation—Side-by-Side

Aspect	Remote	In-Person
Travel	No travel needed	Founder present for bank and notary
PoA & apostille	Required for agent actions	Often not required
Bank onboarding	Video/remote KYC where available	On-site appointment
Speed	Fast with clean paperwork	Fast; bank may be same or faster
Cost	Translations/couriers added	Travel and accommodation added

Timeline: How Long Does Remote Formation Take?

Digital government tools and a centralised register keep timelines short. You can review procedures and filings at the official Bulgarian e-Government portal and the Commercial Register & Registry Agency.

Typical Remote Timeline from Kick-Off to Registration

Phase	What You Do	What We Do	Typical Duration
Planning	Choose form, confirm address	Draft Articles and appointments	1–2 days
PoA & apostille	Notarise, apostille, courier	Pre-book bank and filing slots	Country-dependent
Capital step	Fund capital	Open temp account, get certificate	Same day–1 day
Filing	—	Submit complete pack electronically	1–3 days
Post-registration	Start invoicing, plan VAT	Convert bank account; employer/VAT where needed	1–5 days

For a checklist view, here’s how to register your company in Bulgaria in 6 steps.

Taxes, VAT, and Cross-Border Trading

Once the company is live, you’ll decide when to register for VAT (activity/threshold dependent), set up payroll if you’ll hire, and follow EU VAT/e-commerce rules when selling cross-border. Bulgarian tax administration is handled by the National Revenue Agency. EU VAT frameworks and single-market rules are published by the European Commission.

Residency, Visas, and Self-Employment Links to Your Company

Owning a company helps demonstrate business activity but does not automatically grant residency. Many non-EU founders work with immigration counsel to pick the right route—director employment, highly-qualified roles, or investment-based paths. Your company can employ you, pay you locally, and sponsor roles where the criteria are met.

Stay & Work Pathways Often Considered by Remote Founders

Path	Who It Fits	How Your Company Helps	Notes
Director employment	Owners serving as executives	Employment contract and payroll	Requires proper filings and taxes
Specialist roles	Engineers, product, finance	Company sponsors the role	Evidence of skills and salary
Investment-oriented routes	Capital-backed founders	Jobs and investment plans	Longer planning horizon

Branches and Trade Representative Offices

If you already have a foreign company, you can register a Bulgarian Branch or a Trade Representative Office (TRO) instead of forming a new entity. A Branch can trade and invoice; a TRO cannot trade but supports presence, staffing context, and market testing.

New Entity vs Branch vs Trade Representative Office

Structure	Can Trade?	Share Capital	Pros	Best For
EOOD/OOD	Yes	~1 EUR	EU credibility, full control	Fresh start in Bulgaria
EAD/AD	Yes	25,000 EUR	Board governance, investors	Scale-ups and fundraising
Branch	Yes	None locally	Leverage parent company	Short-to-mid market entry
TRO	No	None	Non-trading presence	Research and pre-launch work

Realistic Costs for Remote Formation

Your budget depends on translations, apostilles, address choice, and any courier of originals. Below is a lean, founder-friendly range. For a broader breakdown of setup items, see how much it costs to set up a Bulgarian company.

Indicative Remote Formation Costs (EUR)

Item	Estimated Cost	Notes
Legal drafting & filing	450	Articles, resolutions, filing
Registered address (annual)	120	Virtual/agent address
Notarisation & apostilles	120	Country-dependent
Certified translations	150	Foreign corporate documents
Courier of originals	40	Tracked shipping
Official registry fees	60	State fees and incidentals
Share capital (EOOD/OOD)	1	Usable after registration

Common Pitfalls for Remote Founders—and How to Avoid Them

Remote Formation Pitfalls and Simple Fixes

Pitfall	Why It Hurts	Fix
Name or spelling mismatches	Registry queries, bank delays	Copy names exactly as in passports
Missing apostille on PoA	Agent cannot act abroad	Apostille the PoA where required
Weak address evidence	Questions about contactability	Use a solid virtual-office or lease contract
Capital amount inconsistency	Articles vs bank certificate mismatch	Align Articles and bank letter before filing
DIY filings without context	Rejections and lost time	Use a specialist to sequence and file

Where to Learn More and Plan Your Remote Setup

Want the big-picture “why Bulgaria” in one place? Review the reasons Bulgaria is a strong base for company formation. Prefer the legal flow? Start with our incorporation steps and filings. And when you’re ready to move, we can complete your documents and filings while you stay abroad—our team provides fast, secure and tax-optimized company registration in Bulgaria plus monthly compliance through dedicated accounting services.

How to Start—Free Consultation

Let’s map your remote formation together—PoA wording, address choice, bank route, and a clean timeline. Book your free 30-minute consultation and we’ll prepare a custom plan for your situation.

---

Frequently Asked Questions