Help with process for Registering as an EU citizen

19POSTS

7 years ago

OK,

So I have struggled to find a straight forward explanation of the process and timeframes for registering and receiving a lichna karta here.

Currently I understand the process to be:

Go to the immigration office with:

Application form filled in both Cyrillic and Latin.
Title deeds/rental contract+landlord declaration(notarised
EHIC/Insurance
Proof of funds (6000lev+??)/Job contract
Passport

Upon submitting those documents you wait for 3 days(?) before returning and collecting a residence certificate at which time you can apply for a Residence card. I am unsure on the wait between applying to collect the CERTIFICATE and collecting and applying for the CARD, some say you can go back the next day but others say 3 days.

Then there is an express option for the card which, some say is 24 hours and others 3 days as well.

Also I am unsure what is need when collecting the certificate and applying for the card (photos, notarised passport copies, etc.)

If anyone could provide a simple explanation of the basic process that would be fantastic and may help others in future. All the information I could find was either confusing or people saying they could help for hundreds of euros(!).

Thanks everyone!

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lauraball Member

19POSTS

7 years ago

Hi Ramses,

I am indeed an Australian expat. However my husband is an EU citizen...

Do you have anything that can help with the question?

:-)

Ramses K. Serial expat

358POSTS

7 years ago

Ah okee now I understand

And no I can't help you, my own country has his own guidelines on this subject.

hamousher Active member

25POSTS

7 years ago

Hi laurabell, I am unable to answer your question as I am a family member of a Bulgarian citizen. However, first you do not get a lichna carta. The lichna carta is what Bulgarian citizens have as their ID card. What foreigners get wether EU citizens or family members is a residence permit. The term of which can vary from 1 to 5 years. the ideal information site for you is the official Bulgarian Government site here:https://mvr.bg/gabrovo/административни-услуги/административни-услуги-за-граждани/група-миграция---одмвр-габрово/разрешения-за-пребиваване/long-term-and-permanent-residence-in-bulgaria-for-eu-citizens-and-their-fam. look at the pdf for :- Non EU citizen family member of an EU citizen. Hope this helps. My wife says that she believes the time frames for issue of permits depends on the location of your permit office.
regards

hamousher Active member

25POSTS

7 years ago

After looking at the PDF. you will need a marriage certificate translated into Bulgarian and your Husbands residence permit along with your other documents you mention

kojidae Serial expat

588POSTS

7 years ago

Uhhh, you can get a lichna card. EU can opt to get only a residence permit or residence permit and lichna card. Non-EU must get a card.

hamousher Active member

25POSTS

7 years ago

kojidae, maybe you could follow the link in my post and then tell me if you can get a Lichna Carta and residence card, because if you have a Lichna Carta you do not need a residence card. I have a 5 year residence card with an лн number. I have been told by authorities that this is not a Lichna Carta and still have to show my passport. For myself to get a Lichna Carta I would have to apply for Bulgarian citizenship, which I can't do yet. My wife has her ID card and it states on the top that it is a Lichna Carta, the residence permit paper version or plastic card version does not.
regards

kojidae Serial expat

588POSTS

7 years ago

Лична карта literally means a card for personal identification.

Every single place that has asked for a lichna card- the hospital, doctor, registering a new address - has accepted my lichna card on its own. (The only place I needed the passport was to get my license because they check the passport against other european countries).

On the ministry's website it calls the card foreigners receive a лична карта --- it is the term that they officially use.

"НА ЧУЖДИ ГРАЖДАНИ, получили разрешение за постоянно пребиваване в Република България се издава разрешение за пребиваване на постоянно пребиваващ в страната чужденец.

Необходими документи:
• Документ за платена държавна такса

• Ксерокопие на персонализираната страница от националния паспорт

• Удостоверение от общината за вписване в картотечния регистър на населението (при първа лична карта)

• Удостоверение от общината за обявен постоянен адрес (при първи документ за самоличност)

• Национален документ (паспорт) за задгранично пътуване, както и българския документ за самоличност, ако имат такъв"

Via MVR.bg

faxo New member

9POSTS

7 years ago

#10

I gather one is a residence card (for foreigners) and another is a Bulgarian national ID. Both are officially referred to as "Lichna Carta" but the writings on the cards themselves differ. Whereas Bulgarian national ID card is showing the words "lichna carta" in Cyrillic, residence cards (as far as I know) do not feature these words.

hamousher Active member

25POSTS

7 years ago

#11

faxo, you are absolutely correct the residence card does not have Lichna Carta on it and as far as I know the only Lichna Carta is the Bulgarian Citizens ID card. The residence card is not an ID as such and is merely a permit for foreigners to live in the country.

guyjones Active member

34POSTS

7 years ago

#12

The residence card (EU) allows you to live and also work in Bulgaria I believe.

Need help with immigration or administrative procedures in Bulgaria?

Get in touch with an immigration lawyer

JimJ ViP

1735POSTS

7 years ago

#13

The problem is caused by a simple lack of knowledge of Bulgarian

Лична карта doesn't mean "Identity Card" it means "personal card". The personal card (ID Card) you get as a Bulgarian citizen is completely different to the one you receive as a foreign resident (Residence Permit), not least because you aren't able to travel abroad using a Residence Permit as an identity card.

And yes, I have heard of people who claim to have travelled outside Bulgaria with a Residence Permit as their sole ID: they're either fibbing or the authorities of the country they travelled through didn't know what they were looking at - but don't try taking an international flight out of Bulgaria without your passport/ID issued by the state of which you are a citizen!