General laws for foreigners in Bulgaria.

Bulgaria is a parliamentary country, everything is decided by the parliament.  The parliament consists of parties and the deputies of these parties. The role of the president, the formation of parties, the re-election of new parties. The parliament has 240 deputies, who are elected for a term of 4 years.

The parliament has the right to regulate holidays and days off, laws, to approve/amend pensions, minimum wages, laws on the territory of the country, to elect ministers, to appoint the day of presidential elections, and so on.

The president is elected for 5 years and has the opportunity to be re-elected. The president is the face of the country. He has the right to review laws and send them back for amendments (in agreement with the parliament), to grant Bulgarian citizenship, to appoint and dismiss officials, and to oversee the work of the parliament. In 2017, Rumen Radev was elected president; he is the 5th president of the country.

In March 2017, a decision was made to change the cost of extending the temporary residence permit (temporary residence in Bulgaria). While in 2016 the cost of extension for each foreigner was 500 leva, in 2017 it is between 100 and 150 leva.

At the beginning of 2017, an Employment law was adopted for citizens who are not from the European Union (Russian-speaking foreigners). Starting from the beginning of the year, there is an opportunity to come to Bulgaria to work, having prepared all the documents for obtaining a work visa in advance. The visa is issued for 3 months, with the possibility of extending it up to a year.

The minimum wage in Bulgaria for 2017 is 420 leva (215 euros). Every year it is raised slightly.

In 2017, those eligible to retire are women who have reached sixty years and ten months, and men who have reached sixty-three years and ten months. At the beginning of 2017, the minimum pension was 161 leva. A law has been adopted whereby from 1 July 2017 the minimum pension will become 180 leva, and from 1 October the minimum pension will reach 200 leva.

In 2017, the monthly social child allowance for a child under 18 is 37 leva, for two children 85 leva, for three children 130 leva. After the birth of a child, 300 leva is paid, previously it was 150 leva.

Nowadays, it is not so difficult to obtain Bulgarian citizenship. There are several ways. If you have lived in the country on a temporary residence permit and subsequently received permanent residence status, and have lived for another 5 years, you can submit an application for citizenship. The exam on the Bulgarian language and history is conducted as a formality, in the form of a test, which is not difficult and you can pass it after a general review. If you have got married, you have the right to obtain citizenship. If you have Bulgarian roots, you can obtain citizenship on that basis.

From 11 June, citizens of Ukraine can travel on biometric passports. Citizens of Russia and the CIS countries can enter Bulgaria on a Schengen visa, a tourist visa, a multi-entry visa, or a work visa.