Company registration in Bulgaria for foreigners
You can own and manage a Bulgarian company from abroad. Here is what is different when the owner or manager is a foreigner, what you sign where, and what it costs.
Can a foreigner register a company in Bulgaria?
Yes. The Bulgarian Commerce Act does not restrict company owners or managers by nationality. Foreign individuals and foreign companies can found an EOOD (single-owner limited company) or an OOD (limited company with two or more partners) and can be its managers.
Registering a company does not give a right to live or work in Bulgaria. Residence and work permits are separate procedures with their own rules.
EOOD or OOD?
- EOOD: one owner (a person or a company). Liability is limited to the company's assets. The most common choice for foreign founders.
- OOD: two or more partners, with a partnership agreement that sets how decisions are made and what happens if a partner leaves.
The minimum capital for both is EUR 1, paid into a Bulgarian bank before filing.
Documents from abroad
Documents signed outside Bulgaria are certified by a local notary and carry an apostille if the country is party to the Hague Apostille Convention, or are legalised otherwise. They are then translated into Bulgarian. A Bulgarian consulate can also certify signatures.
If the owner is a foreign company, we also need proof that it exists and who represents it, such as a recent extract from its company register, with an apostille and translation.
We send you every text in advance, so you can sign and certify everything in one visit.
Step by step
- Enquiry and quote. Tell us who the owners and manager are and where they are. You get a final price.
- Documents. We prepare the articles of association, declarations and power of attorney and send them for review.
- Signing. You sign at a notary where you are and get the apostille. You send us the originals by courier.
- Capital. The capital is paid into a Bulgarian bank account; we help you check the bank's requirements.
- Filing. We file online with the Commercial Register and pay the state fee.
- Done. You receive the company number (UIC/ЕИК) and the current company record.
Registered address and bank account
Every Bulgarian company registers a seat and address of management in Bulgaria. It is public and is where official mail is sent. If you do not have one, we can arrange a registered address.
Banks apply their own customer checks, which are stricter for foreign owners, and often require an in-person visit. We tell you what to expect before you travel.
What is remote and what needs a visit
We do not promise “fully online” where the law requires a notary or the bank requires a visit. Here is where each step happens.
Remotely
A- Consultation, the company name check and preparing the documents happen by phone, email or WhatsApp. We send you the finished documents to review before you sign anything.
- The application to the Commercial Register can be filed online with a qualified electronic signature, including by an authorised representative. Online filing costs half the state fee of paper filing.Source: Commercial Register and Register of Non-Profit Legal Entities Act, Tariff of state fees collected by the Registry Agency, Registry Agency e-services portal
At a notary
B- The manager's signature on the consent and specimen signature is, as a rule, certified by a notary. You can use a notary of your choice where you are.Source: Commercial Register and Register of Non-Profit Legal Entities Act
- If we file for you, you sign a power of attorney. The form it needs depends on who files and how, so we send you the text ready to sign and tell you whether it needs notarisation.Source: Commercial Register and Register of Non-Profit Legal Entities Act
At a bank
C- The share capital is paid into a Bulgarian bank account before filing, and the bank issues a document confirming the payment. The minimum capital of an EOOD or OOD is EUR 1.Source: Commerce Act (Търговски закон)
- Most banks require the owner or manager to attend in person to open the account, and foreign owners face extra checks. Requirements are set by the bank, not by us.
If you are abroad
D- Documents signed outside Bulgaria are certified by a local notary and carry an apostille (Hague Convention countries) or are legalised, then translated into Bulgarian. A Bulgarian consulate can also certify signatures.Source: Hague Apostille Convention (HCCH)
State fees
| State fee | Online (e-signature) | On paper |
|---|---|---|
| First registration of an EOOD or OOD | €28.12 | €56.24 |
| Reserving a company name (optional) | €10.23 | €20.45 |
Source: Tariff of state fees collected by the Registry Agency. Checked on 4 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
01Do I need to come to Bulgaria?
Not for the registration itself if you sign the documents abroad with a notary and apostille. Opening the bank account for the capital often requires a visit, depending on the bank.
02Can the manager live outside Bulgaria?
Yes. There is no residence requirement for the manager of an EOOD or OOD.
03What about taxes?
Tax treatment depends on where you live and how you take money out of the company. Talk to an accountant before you register; we can point you to the right questions.
04How long does it take?
Most of the time goes into notarisation, apostille and courier abroad, and into the bank step. After filing, the Registry Agency decides within the time set by law.