Establishing a trade representative office of a foreign company in Bulgaria is one of the comparatively accessible and quick ways for foreign nationals to obtain a residence permit.

The trade representative office does not have the status of a legal entity and may not carry out economic activity. Through it, promotional events, exhibitions, training sessions and advertising campaigns presenting products or services may be organised. The representative office is entitled to conclude contracts on behalf of the foreign company solely for the needs of the representative office itself, such as for renting an office or producing advertising materials. It may also hire employees under employment contracts to carry out its activities.

In Bulgaria, the registration of a trade representative office of a foreign company is carried out through the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (БТПП), and not through the Commercial Register at the Registry Agency.

Documents Required for the Registration of a Trade Representative Office

For the successful registration of a trade representative office of a foreign company, the following documents must be provided:

  1. A certificate of current status or another document — it must show that the foreign person has the right to carry out commercial activity in its own country. The document must be issued no earlier than 6 months before it is filed with the БТПП. If the certificate does not include information on the legal representatives of the foreign company, an additional document identifying them is added.
  2. A certificate from the tax authorities — a document proving the absence of tax or social-insurance liabilities of the foreign person in its own country.
  3. A decision of the foreign company to establish a representative office in Bulgaria — an act certifying the company’s decision to establish a representative office within the territory of the country.
  4. A notarised signature of the manager of the representative office — a specimen of the signature of the person who will manage the trade representative office in Bulgaria.
  5. A notarised power of attorney — issued by the representatives of the foreign company to the person who will head the representative office in Bulgaria.
  6. A document confirming the economic activity of the foreign company — such as a reference from its servicing bank, an annual financial statement or a tax return for the last two years.
  7. A rationale for establishing the trade representative office — a presentation of plans for the current and forthcoming year, explaining the activities of the representative office and the objectives it will pursue.
  8. A copy of a lease agreement for premises or another document of ownership — as evidence of the availability of an office or another suitable place for the representative office that meets the working conditions.
  9. A declaration of the accuracy of the data — in which the foreign company confirms the veracity of the information provided.
  10. A payment document for the fee for registering the trade representative office — a deposit slip or payment order proving that the fee has been paid.
Requirements for the Official Documents

All documents required for the registration must be issued by the competent authorities in the relevant foreign country. If that country is a party to the Hague Convention, the documents must bear an apostille. If the country has a legal assistance agreement with the Republic of Bulgaria, the documents must bear the original signature and seal of the relevant authorities, but no apostille is required. They must be accompanied by a legalised translation into Bulgarian. For documents from other countries, additional procedures may apply, and all documents drawn up in a foreign language must be translated and legalised.

Time Limit for Registration and Issuance of a Certificate

The Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry processes the registration within three working days of the filing of the documents. After the successful entry of the trade representative office, a certificate of registration is issued.

Registration in the BULSTAT Register

The trade representative office is also subject to registration in the BULSTAT register.

Conditions for Obtaining a Residence Permit

The procedure for obtaining a residence permit for a foreign natural person may be initiated simultaneously with the registration of the trade representative office. It is important to note that no more than three representatives of the foreign person, entered as trade representatives in Bulgaria, may obtain a long-term residence permit.

Should you require further information, consultation or assistance with the registration of a trade representative office or with the issuance of residence permits for foreign nationals, please contact us on tel.: 0887550706 or by e-mail: [email protected]