How to register a company in Bulgaria as a foreigner – 2026 guide
Bulgaria is one of the easiest places in the EU to open a limited company: €1 minimum capital, a low state fee and registration in a few working days. Here is the whole process for foreign founders – what you need, where you sign, what it costs and what comes after.
In short. Anyone can own a Bulgarian company, whatever their nationality and wherever they live. Most foreigners choose an EOOD (single-owner limited company) or an OOD (limited company with partners). The minimum capital is €1, the state fee is €28.12 when filed online with an electronic signature (€56.24 at the counter), and the Registry Agency usually registers the company within 3 working days. The company pays 10% corporate income tax, and dividends to individuals are taxed at 5%.
EOOD, OOD or sole trader?
| Form | Owners | Liability | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| EOOD – single-member limited liability company | One person or company | Limited to the company's assets | The usual choice for one owner – freelancers, IT, consulting, trade, online shops |
| OOD – limited liability company | Two or more partners | Limited to the company's assets | Partners who share the business |
| ET – sole trader | One individual | Unlimited – with all personal assets | Requires a permanent address in Bulgaria; profit taxed at 15%; rarely the best choice |
The EOOD and OOD are the Bulgarian equivalent of a private limited company (Ltd, GmbH, SARL). The name always ends with "EOOD" or "OOD", and the company can later sell shares, take in partners or change from EOOD to OOD.
What you need to prepare
- A company name – it must differ from the names already registered. You choose a Bulgarian (Cyrillic) name and its Latin spelling. You can check it in the Commercial Register and reserve it if you wish.
- A registered address in Bulgaria – the seat and management address of the company. It must be a real Bulgarian address where the company can receive letters from the authorities. It cannot be an address abroad.
- The business activity – a short description of what the company will do.
- The capital – at least €1. It is paid into a bank account before the registration and stays in the company.
- The manager(s) – one or more people who will represent the company. The manager does not have to be Bulgarian or live in Bulgaria.
- The beneficial owner(s) – every company must declare the people who ultimately own or control it, as required by the Bulgarian anti-money laundering law.
- Your passport or ID card – for the notary, the bank and the documents.
Registration step by step
- Choose and check the name. Prepare one or two alternatives in case your first choice is taken.
- Prepare the documents. The founding act (for an EOOD) or articles of association (for an OOD), the manager's consent and specimen signature, the declarations required by law and the application to the Commercial Register. The documents are in Bulgarian – a bilingual version helps you see what you sign.
- Visit a notary. Only the manager's consent and specimen signature are notarised – the founding act itself is not. If you do not speak Bulgarian, the notary will require a sworn translator.
- Open the capital account. The bank opens an account, you pay in the capital and receive a certificate. Banks apply strict know-your-customer checks to foreign owners – expect to show your passport and explain your business and the source of the money.
- File with the Registry Agency. Online with a qualified electronic signature (QES) or at the counter of the Registry Agency, and pay the state fee.
- Registration. The Registry Agency usually registers the company within 3 working days. The company receives its UIC (Unified Identification Code), which is also its tax number.
If you are outside Bulgaria
You do not have to travel to Bulgaria. There are three common ways:
- Sign before a notary in your country. The signature is notarised locally and the document gets an apostille (or legalisation, if your country is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention). Then it is translated into Bulgarian by a sworn translator.
- Sign at a Bulgarian embassy or consulate that offers notarial services.
- Give a power of attorney to a person in Bulgaria, notarised and apostilled in the same way. The original documents are then sent by courier – scans are not accepted.
Allow extra time and money for apostilles, translations and courier. The bank account may require a personal visit – ask the bank in advance.
How much it costs in 2026
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| State fee to the Commercial Register – online with QES | €28.12 |
| State fee to the Commercial Register – at the counter | €56.24 |
| Notarisation of the manager's consent and specimen signature (per manager) | about €3.07 |
| Bank fee for the capital account | €0 – €25, depending on the bank |
| Apostille, sworn translation, courier – only if you sign abroad | varies by country |
| Minimum capital – not a cost, it stays in the company | €1 |
State fees according to the Tariff of state fees collected by the Registry Agency. Notary and bank fees are approximate. Bulgaria uses the euro since 1 January 2026.
After the registration – the first month
- Accounting from day one. Bulgarian companies must keep accounts and file returns from the date of registration – even when there is no activity yet.
- VAT registration, if needed. It is mandatory when the turnover exceeds €51,130 in a calendar year, and earlier if the company buys services from abroad – for example Google or Facebook ads – or sells services to businesses in other EU countries. In that case you apply at least 7 days before the first such transaction.
- Employees. Every employment contract must be registered with the National Revenue Agency before the employee starts work.
- Operating bank account. The capital account can usually be turned into the company's current account.
- Every year: the annual corporate tax return by 30 June and the financial statements in the Commercial Register by 30 September. A company with no activity files a declaration instead.
Read more in our guide to running a Bulgarian EOOD as a foreigner and in the overview of taxes in Bulgaria.
Questions
Do I need to live in Bulgaria to own a Bulgarian company?
No. Foreign individuals and companies can own an EOOD or OOD without living in Bulgaria. The company needs a registered address in Bulgaria, and someone must be able to receive its letters there.
Does owning a Bulgarian company give me the right to live in Bulgaria?
Not by itself. EU citizens can live and work in Bulgaria anyway. Citizens of non-EU countries need a separate visa or residence permit – owning a company alone does not give one.
Do I need a Bulgarian personal number (LNCh)?
No, it is not required for registering a company. If you have a personal number for foreigners, it is used in the documents; otherwise your passport details and date of birth are entered.
How long does it take?
The Registry Agency usually registers the company within 3 working days after the application is filed. With signatures abroad, apostilles and translations, the whole process often takes two to four weeks.
Can the manager live abroad?
Yes. Keep in mind that the personal taxes and social security of the manager depend on where they live and work, and that a company managed from another country may also be taxed there. Ask us before you decide.
Can I register the company at my home address abroad?
No. The seat and management address of a Bulgarian company must be in Bulgaria. Many owners use the address of a property they own or rent in Bulgaria.
Sources: Commerce Act, Commercial Register and Register of Non-Profit Legal Entities Act, Measures Against Money Laundering Act, Tariff of state fees of the Registry Agency (portal.registryagency.bg). General information as of the date of the last check – not legal advice.
Planning a company in Bulgaria?
We keep the accounts from the first day – VAT, payroll, annual accounts and taxes, explained in English.