What is the best type or residence permit for me to apply ?

@Janearnasalam

There are several Visa D options...

(a) Business-related. Unfortunately, I doubt the Bulgarian company will help you, unless you employ a bunch of Bulgarians.

(b) Self-employed is possible in Bulgaria, but I believe there's a language proficiency requirement. Maybe after 25 years you have this? I think a business plan type doc too to explain what you'll be doing.

(c) There is a new digital nomad visa. Depending on what you do as self-employed, perhaps your work might fall under this rules.

(d) For older folks, the easiest option is usually based on a pension (public, private, disability).

(e) There is also a TRO option if you have a business abroad. Unfortunately, it has to be a company, rather than being registered as self-employed. However, if you make a good living, you could transition to putting all your income through a new UK company instead of being registered as self-employed. You would need 2 years of track record before getting the TRO, but this might be interesting if you're young and still 20 years away from any kind of pension.

The TRO probably safer done with an immigration attorney, but the others are pretty doable on your own (all info online).

Separately, 25 years is a long time... do you have lots of evidence of living/working here for many/most of those years?

First of all, thank you very much for the information you provided — it is greatly appreciated.

By way of background, I have a development company in Bulgaria through which I purchased land and properties over a number of years, originally when my eight children were younger. While I am not yet at retirement age (which I understand is currently 67 in the UK), I am beginning to consider my longer-term plans.

My UK-based company is relatively new, having been established less than two years ago. This was set up primarily in response to ongoing tax considerations, whereas previously I had been employed by others. However, it is something I will now review more carefully in light of my future plans.

I am currently hoping to relocate in July to a property I built some years ago. Although I initially intended to sell it, this did not materialise due to the instability of the housing market and the impact of COVID-19. As a result, I have decided to move into the property myself.

Given the increasing instability in the UK, along with rising tax pressures, I feel — like many others — that this may be the right time to make a move before circumstances potentially become more restrictive.

Thank you once again for your guidance.

@Janearnasalam

Hello,

Please note that I have created this new thread from your post on the Bulgaria forum since you have questions of your own.

Regards

Bhavna

If you're able to run your self-employed business remotely and you earned over 31,000 EUR in the past year, the digital nomad visa could be an option for you. There's no language requirement, but you need to show proof of remotely earning a gross income over the last year of at least 50 times the Bulgarian monthly minimum wage. Plus the usual somewhere to live, enough money in the bank to live on for a year, and health insurance. The catch with this one is that it can only be used for two years.

If may be possible to then apply for TRO as your UK company will be over 2 years old, provided it meets the requirement that the company turns over 50,000 EUR a year.

I'd hoped to apply for the digital nomad visa this year to get to stay in Bulgaria before pension age (next year, I am counting the days!), but unfortunately my main client's business is currently in financial difficulties so my remote earnings have dropped right down.

I hope it works out for you!