Full-time higher-education route with type D entry and separate residence permission; study does not automatically create unrestricted work rights.
Route overview
School admission + long-stay D visa
Typical timeline / duration: Ordinary higher-education permission up to one year; Article 24в(1) specifies 18 months for the final study year. Graduate job-search residence is a separate conditional application.
Important notes
Be admitted to a full-time higher-education programme at an eligible Bulgarian institution.
Obtain a Bulgarian type D student visa from the embassy or consulate in the home country, then apply for the residence permit through the Migration Directorate after arrival.
Provide admission, accommodation, health-insurance, sufficient-funds, medical-certificate, passport, and any language-exam evidence required for the programme.
Notify the competent authorities of the residence address within five days after arrival and complete the required residence formalities.
The Interior Ministry's hosted consolidation is dated 20 November 2025. Its Article 24в(1) final-year 18-month provision is missing from the Commission's older one-year summary; confirm the applicable current grant with Migration.
The government employment service requires registration for eligible student work. Published guidance permits 20 hours weekly during the academic year and covers official university holidays; confirm the exact permitted schedule with the employer.
Under Article 24в(13), a graduate may seek up to nine months' residence: apply at least 30 days before existing permission expires and register as a job seeker within seven working days after completion. This is not automatic permission to work without the applicable employment basis.
Preparation checklist
Obtain full-time admission and the institution/ministry evidence required for your course.
Confirm the China consulate's D-visa checklist and the separate residence filing.
Arrange accommodation, insurance, funds and authenticated academic/background evidence.
Ask Migration whether the final-year duration provision applies to your grant.
Have any student employer complete the required employment registration and confirm hours.
Before graduation, plan both the residence application deadline and job-seeker registration.