Can foreigners buy property in Bulgaria?
Yes for apartments. EU citizens can also own land in Bulgaria; buyers from outside the EU, including the UK and the US, cannot own land in their own name, so a house with its own plot is usually bought through a Bulgarian company.
Yes, you can buy in your own name. / Yes, with conditions.: Apartments, houses and land: in your own name.
Reciprocity
- No reciprocity test for buildings. The land rule depends only on whether you are an EU/EEA citizen.
What foreigners cannot buy
- Land, for buyers from outside the EU and EEA (including a house's own plot)
Buying through a company
- A Bulgarian company (EOOD or OOD) owned by a foreigner can own land. It is a common, legal route, but it brings yearly accounting and reporting obligations.
Confirm with a local lawyer
- Rules for agricultural land differ from building land; check which one the plot is.
- Reports of the land rule for non-EU buyers changing are unconfirmed; check the current rule before you buy.
This is a summary of the ownership rules, not legal advice. Rules change and depend on the property; confirm your case with a local lawyer before you buy.
Read the full Bulgaria buying guide · Buying costs in Bulgaria · Homes for sale in Bulgaria
Questions about buying in Bulgaria
Can foreigners buy property in Bulgaria?
Yes. Anyone can buy an apartment in their own name. EU citizens can also own land; others usually buy a house with land through a Bulgarian company.
Can UK citizens buy property in Bulgaria after Brexit?
Yes, apartments in their own name. For a house with its own plot, UK buyers, like other non-EU buyers, usually use a Bulgarian company to own the land.
Does buying property in Bulgaria give residency?
Not on its own. Ownership can support a long-stay residence application, but there is no buy-to-reside scheme.