Buying a ready-made company saves you 4–5 weeks compared to registering a new company and going through the VAT registration procedure separately. It also eliminates the need for notarial certifications abroad, translations, and legalisation — all of which are required when registering a new company from scratch.
The package includes the ready-made company (LLC), VAT registration, Bulgarian bank account with e-banking, transfer of the company to the new shareholder, full translation of all documents into English, tax address prepaid for one year, apostilles on the Certificate of Incorporation and Articles of Association, company stamp, and accounting services for up to 10 documents per month prepaid for one year.
You will need a valid passport or national ID card, a Tax Identification Number (TIN/PIN), proof of address (utility bill or bank statement), an active email address and phone number, and payment confirmation. The notarised sale-purchase agreement and specimen signature of the new director are prepared by our team.
Since 2020, EU anti-money laundering regulations have made it significantly harder for foreign individuals and companies to open bank accounts in Bulgaria. Our ready-made companies come with a bank account already in place, saving you the time, documentation, and fees typically required for new account applications.
This package is ideal if your company has regular but not intensive legal needs — for example, reviewing supplier or client contracts, getting advice on employment matters, ensuring GDPR compliance, or obtaining quick legal opinions on transactions. If your needs are more complex or frequent, a higher-tier package may be more appropriate.
A VCC is Bulgaria's newest corporate structure, introduced in August 2023. It offers exceptional flexibility in capital management and governance, making it ideal for investment funds, startups, and dynamic businesses. Unlike a standard LLC, it has no fixed capital registration requirement and allows flexible share classes with values as low as €0.01.
A VCC can issue multiple classes of shares with customisable features, including preferred shares with special privileges such as multiple voting rights, guaranteed dividends, liquidation priority, and redemption rights. Shares can also be non-voting or acquire voting rights conditionally, as defined in the company agreement.
The EU Blue Card is designed for highly qualified professionals holding a university degree (minimum 3.5 years of study) and earning at least €23,500 gross annually. It grants 5-year employment permission and broader EU mobility rights. The Single Work Permit is more accessible — with no minimum salary requirement and no degree qualification — but employment permission is valid for up to 3 years only.
For the EU Blue Card, the employer submits the employment permission application while the applicant is still abroad. The applicant then applies for a Type D (long-stay) Visa at the Bulgarian consulate before entering the country. For most other permit types, the procedure continues in Bulgaria after entry on a valid long-stay visa.
The standard document package includes a valid passport, proof of accommodation, health insurance, a clean criminal record certificate, and — depending on the permit type — an employment contract, university diploma, or proof of pension income. All documents issued abroad must be legalised (apostilled) and accompanied by a certified Bulgarian translation.
For the EU Blue Card package, government fees, notary fees, and official translations are included in the €550 service fee. For all other permit types, translation and legalisation costs are listed separately (up to €150), as they vary depending on the number and type of documents. We coordinate the entire process on your behalf.
Under the 2026 regulatory framework, employer changes are subject to stricter requirements. New filings with the Bulgarian authorities are mandatory and should be submitted before resigning from your current position. We strongly recommend contacting us as early as possible to manage the transition and maintain your legal status.
Residence registration is an administrative process confirming your right to physically live in Bulgaria — it is handled by the Migration Directorate and does not directly affect your taxes. Tax residency is a separate legal status that determines where you pay income tax on your worldwide earnings — it is governed by the Bulgarian Personal Income Tax Act and administered by the NRA. The two often go hand in hand for EU citizens relocating to Bulgaria, but they are separate processes with separate authorities and separate legal consequences.
Not automatically. Physical residence registration with the Migration Directorate does not, by itself, establish Bulgarian tax residency. Tax residency is determined by factual criteria — principally whether you spend more than 183 days per year in Bulgaria or whether your centre of vital interests is in Bulgaria. You must separately register with the NRA to be formally recognized as a Bulgarian tax resident and to obtain a Certificate of Tax Residency.
Useful evidence includes entry and exit stamps in your passport, flight and travel booking records, utility bills and bank statements showing activity in Bulgaria, rental contracts, and employer records. Bulgarian border control records can also be requested. The NRA may request supporting documentation when processing your tax residency registration, particularly if your situation involves ties to multiple countries.
Technically yes, if both countries' domestic laws claim you as a tax resident under their own rules. This is called dual tax residency and can result in double taxation. To resolve this, Bulgaria has signed double taxation treaties with most EU member states and many other countries. These treaties contain tie-breaker rules that determine which country has primary taxing rights. Obtaining a Bulgarian Certificate of Tax Residency is the key document used to invoke these treaty protections.
You will typically need to formally deregister as a tax resident in your previous country. Requirements vary — some EU countries accept a straightforward deregistration notification, while others (notably Germany, the Netherlands, and France) scrutinize departures carefully and may challenge your Bulgarian tax residency if significant personal or economic ties remain. We strongly recommend obtaining professional advice before relocating if you have substantial income, assets, or business interests in your previous country of residence.
Bulgaria applies a flat 10% rate on all personal income — salaries, freelance income, rental income, and capital gains. Dividend income distributed from a Bulgarian company to an individual is taxed at 5%. There is no progressive tax scale and no higher rate for large earners. Combined with Bulgaria's relatively low cost of living and social insurance contributions that are capped at a monthly ceiling, the effective tax burden for most EU relocators is significantly lower than in most Western European countries.
Yes. The NRA issues Certificates of Tax Residency for previous calendar years, provided you were registered as a Bulgarian tax resident during that year and can demonstrate that the residency criteria were met. This is relevant if you need to reclaim withholding tax deducted abroad on income earned while you were already a Bulgarian tax resident.
Yes, if you have taxable income. Bulgarian tax residents must declare their worldwide income in an annual personal income tax return filed with the NRA by 30 April of the following year. Income earned and already taxed abroad may be exempt or credited under applicable double taxation treaties. Our accounting team provides full support with Bulgarian personal tax return preparation and filing.
For a well-prepared EU citizen with complete documentation, the full process — Certificate of Registration, TIN for foreigners, municipality address registration, and NRA tax residency registration — can be completed within 3 to 4 weeks. Obtaining the Certificate of Tax Residency takes an additional 1 to 2 weeks after NRA registration. Total elapsed time from arrival to having all documents in hand: typically 4 to 6 weeks.
Yes. We can manage the majority of the process using a notarized power of attorney, allowing you to authorize our team to submit applications, collect documents, and liaise with the Migration Directorate, municipality, and NRA on your behalf. Certain steps — such as biometric data collection — require your personal presence, but these are minimal and can be scheduled efficiently.
NBS is the brand under which Accounting Services Bulgaria Ltd. delivers its accounting and financial services. Accounting Services Bulgaria Ltd. has been operating on the Bulgarian market since 1999 — giving NBS clients access to over 25 years of professional accounting expertise and a proven track record with more than 100 active client companies, including internationally represented businesses.
NBS offers three tiers of accounting service: a Startup Package for newly established companies with transparent document-based pricing, a Standard Package for established businesses, and a Corporate Package for larger organisations and international subsidiaries. Contact us to find out which package suits your business best.
NBS delivers payroll and HR administration services in partnership with Accounting Services Bulgaria Ltd. — a specialist firm with over 25 years of experience in payroll processing, staff administration, and salary calculation in Bulgaria. Together, we currently manage payroll for more than 100 Bulgarian companies, including numerous internationally represented businesses.
Our service covers the full payroll cycle — including salary calculation, gross-to-net processing, social security and health insurance contributions, income tax withholding, employment contract administration, NRA and NSSI filings, HR record management, leave tracking, and customised payroll reporting.
Yes — and this is one of our core strengths. A significant portion of the 100+ companies we serve are internationally represented businesses. We are experienced in meeting both Bulgarian statutory requirements and the internal reporting standards expected by international headquarters, and we communicate fluently in both Bulgarian and English.
Accounting Services Bulgaria Ltd. maintains continuous monitoring of changes to Bulgarian labour law, the Social Security Code, and tax regulations. With over 25 years of active practice, the team has navigated every major legislative reform in Bulgarian payroll history — and your company benefits directly from that accumulated expertise.
Contact the NBS team with basic information about your company — number of employees, employment types, and any specific reporting requirements. We will assess your needs, provide a tailored proposal, and coordinate the onboarding process with Accounting Services Bulgaria Ltd. to ensure a smooth and timely transition.
The Union One Stop Shop (OSS) is an official EU electronic portal that simplifies VAT compliance for businesses selling goods and services to consumers across EU member states. Launched on 1 July 2021, it replaced the previous Mini One Stop Shop (MOSS) system and significantly expanded its scope — from digital services only to all intra-EU distance sales of goods and B2C services. Through OSS, eligible Bulgarian businesses can manage up to 95% of their EU VAT obligations through a single portal, eliminating the need to register for VAT separately in every EU country where their customers are located.
It depends on your business profile. OSS registration is mandatory if your annual intra-EU B2C sales exceed €10,000, or if you provide digital services (such as software, streaming, or apps) to EU consumers — in which case the obligation applies from the very first sale with no threshold. If your sales are below €10,000, registration is voluntary but often advisable. Marketplaces and electronic platforms facilitating sales by non-EU sellers are also required to register, as they are deemed the supplier for VAT purposes.
The €10,000 threshold is calculated across all intra-EU B2C sales channels combined — including your own website, marketplaces, and any other platforms — during the current and previous calendar year. Once this threshold is exceeded, VAT becomes due in each buyer's EU member state, and OSS is the simplest way to comply.
OSS registration offers significant administrative advantages. Instead of registering for VAT in every EU country where you have customers, you register once in Bulgaria, file a single quarterly return with the Bulgarian National Revenue Agency (NRA) covering all EU member states, and make one consolidated VAT payment. All communication is handled in Bulgarian with the Bulgarian NRA — dramatically reducing administrative burden and cost.
To register for OSS in Bulgaria, your company must hold a valid Bulgarian VAT number, have annual intra-EU B2C sales exceeding €10,000 (or be a digital services provider selling to EU consumers), and submit the application electronically via the NRA portal (nra.bg) using a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES). A Bulgarian company may only register for OSS in one EU member state at a time.
The process involves five steps: verifying your eligibility and Bulgarian VAT registration, obtaining a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) if you don't already have one, submitting your OSS registration application through the NRA portal, receiving your unique OSS identification number upon approval, and then applying the correct VAT rate of each buyer's country from the registration date onwards. NBS can manage this entire process on your behalf.
OSS VAT returns are filed quarterly, aligned with the calendar quarter. A separate OSS return must be submitted to the Bulgarian NRA each quarter — even if no supplies were made during that period. Importantly, the OSS return is filed in addition to your standard Bulgarian VAT return and does not replace it. Each transaction must reflect the VAT rate of the buyer's country, not the Bulgarian rate.
Not in all cases. If you are a dropshipper with stock located outside the EU at the time of the order, OSS does not apply to those transactions. OSS is specifically designed for intra-EU distance sales and B2C services. If you are unsure whether your business model falls within the OSS framework, NBS can assess your situation and advise accordingly.
A platform is considered the deemed supplier — and therefore liable for VAT — when it facilitates intra-EU distance sales or domestic supplies made by a non-EU seller. However, if the platform facilitates sales by an EU-based seller, the seller remains liable for VAT, not the platform. An electronic interface is considered to have facilitated a sale when it enables a buyer and seller to connect resulting in a completed transaction.
If your company exceeds the €10,000 threshold and does not register for OSS, it is legally required to register for VAT individually in every EU member state where it has customers. This means dealing with multiple tax authorities, different languages, varying filing deadlines, and separate VAT payments in each country — a significantly more complex and costly alternative to OSS.
NBS provides a complete OSS compliance service for Bulgarian companies. This includes handling your full OSS registration with the Bulgarian NRA, preparing and filing all quarterly OSS returns on your behalf, ensuring the correct EU VAT rates are applied for every destination country, and continuously monitoring regulatory changes to keep your business fully compliant. Contact NBS to get started.
A UBO (Ultimate Beneficial Owner) is the natural person who ultimately owns or controls a legal entity. In most jurisdictions, this means an individual holding 25% or more of a company's shares or voting rights, or anyone exercising effective control over its management — regardless of how many intermediary companies or structures sit in between.
Yes. UBO registration is now a legal requirement in the EU, the United States, the United Kingdom, and many other jurisdictions worldwide. Businesses are required to maintain accurate, up-to-date UBO records in national registers. Failure to comply can result in significant fines, reputational damage, increased regulatory scrutiny, and in serious cases, loss of operating licences.
Yes, and this is one of the most complex aspects of UBO compliance. Requirements vary significantly from country to country in terms of thresholds, deadlines, documentation, and registration procedures. NBS specializes in cross-border UBO compliance and can manage the process across multiple jurisdictions simultaneously, providing you with a clear compliance roadmap for each relevant country.
Any significant change in ownership or control — including mergers, acquisitions, or changes in voting rights — typically triggers an obligation to update your UBO records. NBS monitors your corporate structure on an ongoing basis and responds to exactly these kinds of trigger events to ensure your registrations remain accurate and compliant at all times.
NBS conducts both annual reviews and event-driven reviews. Annual reviews validate your registered UBO data against your current corporate structure, while event-driven reviews are triggered by changes such as ownership transfers, restructurings, or new market entries — ensuring continuous compliance throughout the year.
Yes — both personal and corporate bank accounts are available to non-residents and foreign nationals. However, the process is thorough and requires detailed KYC (Know Your Customer) documentation, certified paperwork, and compliance declarations. NBS guides foreign clients through every step to ensure a smooth and successful application.
Not necessarily. Through NBS's partner banks, we offer one of the few authorised remote account opening services available in Bulgaria. Using a notarised power of attorney legalised at a Bulgarian embassy in your country, you can receive a fully operational corporate account, company card, and online banking access — all without setting foot in Bulgaria. A personal account and card can also be added under the same arrangement.
Bulgarian accounts are fully functional for a wide range of purposes, including business operations, payroll processing, real estate transactions, EU transfers, and everyday personal banking. All accounts come with full internet and mobile banking access, as well as international debit and credit cards.
Bulgaria offers a uniquely competitive combination of financial stability and tax efficiency. Bulgarian banks maintain capital buffers that significantly exceed EU minimum requirements, ensuring strong depositor protection. The country has a flat 10% corporate and personal income tax rate — the lowest in the EU. As a full SEPA member, Bulgaria enables fast, low-cost euro transfers across the EU, while the Bulgarian Lev is pegged to the Euro at a fixed exchange rate, eliminating currency risk for euro-denominated transactions.
A Ready-Made Company is a pre-registered Bulgarian company that NBS can provide as part of an accelerated setup package. Because the company already exists in the register, it significantly speeds up the bank approval process — making it the fastest route to a fully operational corporate account in Bulgaria.
With over 22 years of experience, NBS has built strong, established relationships with leading Bulgarian banks and has an in-depth understanding of what each institution requires from foreign applicants. This insider knowledge significantly reduces the risk of rejection, speeds up the process, and ensures your documentation is prepared correctly from the outset — saving you time, money, and frustration.
Not always — but for many business matters in Bulgaria, the answer is yes. Issues such as tax disputes, M&A transactions, business restructuring, and regulatory investigations have both legal and financial dimensions that must be addressed together. Our team regularly deploys lawyers and accountants jointly on the same case, ensuring fully coordinated advice.
We handle the full range of commercial contracts used in Bulgarian business practice — including sale and purchase agreements, service contracts, distribution agreements, employment contracts, lease agreements, shareholder agreements, joint venture agreements, and NDAs. We also review and advise on contracts governed by foreign law where they involve Bulgarian parties or assets.
Yes. Out-of-court settlement is often the preferred option — it is faster, less costly, and preserves business relationships. Our team conducts negotiations directly with the opposing party or their representatives, and can facilitate mediation proceedings under Bulgarian law. Litigation is pursued where settlement is not achievable or not in your interest.
Absolutely. A significant portion of our client base consists of foreign investors, EU companies with Bulgarian subsidiaries, and non-EU businesses entering the Bulgarian market. Our team works in English and other languages and is experienced in advising clients who are unfamiliar with the Bulgarian legal and tax system.
Legal consulting means providing advice — analyzing your situation, explaining your rights and obligations, and recommending a course of action. Legal representation means acting on your behalf before courts, authorities, or counterparties. We offer both, and clients often begin with a consultation before deciding whether formal representation is required.
Yes. Our accounting team covers both ongoing compliance — bookkeeping, VAT returns, annual financial statements, payroll processing — and dispute work such as challenging NRA assessments, preparing documentation for tax audits, and advising on transfer pricing. We can serve as your outsourced accounting function or provide targeted support for specific issues.
We offer several fee arrangements depending on the nature and duration of the engagement: fixed fees for defined tasks (such as contract drafting or company registration), hourly rates for consulting and advisory work, and retainer arrangements for clients requiring ongoing support. We provide a transparent fee estimate before any engagement begins.
A company with history is an already established and fully operational legal entity with years of verified financial records, active bank accounts, VAT registration, and a clean tax standing. Unlike a newly incorporated company — which starts with zero track record — a company with history gives you immediate credibility, documented turnover, and proven financials from day one. This opens doors to financing, tenders, EU funding, and international partnerships that would otherwise take years to access.
Every company in the NBS portfolio comes fully equipped and ready to operate. This includes complete accounting history with verified balance sheets, an active and operational bank account, full VAT registration in Bulgaria, a clean tax certificate with no outstanding liabilities, and 3 to 5 years of documented turnover and profit records. The company name, registered activity, and share capital can all be changed at the point of sale to suit your needs.
There are several common use cases. Businesses applying for stock credits in China require verified company history and financial records — Chinese lenders typically will not consider newly incorporated entities. Companies seeking EU grant funding must often demonstrate a minimum of 2 to 3 years of operation. International tenders and procurement processes frequently require proven turnover thresholds. Entrepreneurs launching new ventures can also benefit from the instant credibility of an established entity, rather than waiting years to build a financial track record from scratch.
The process is straightforward and fully guided by NBS. You begin by reviewing the available portfolio and selecting companies that match your needs. NBS then provides a detailed profile including full financial records, turnover history, and company documentation. After completing your due diligence — reviewing balance sheets, bank statements, and tax certificates — you agree on the final terms, including any changes to the company name, activity, or capital. The legal transfer of ownership is then completed, and the company is immediately ready to operate.
Yes. All companies in the NBS portfolio are fully compliant entities with clean tax certificates, no outstanding liabilities, and complete and verifiable financial records. The acquisition process follows standard Bulgarian legal procedures for the transfer of company ownership, and NBS guides clients through every step to ensure full legal compliance.
NBS specializes in business solutions for companies looking to expand, restructure, or establish a stronger market presence in Bulgaria and the EU. With deep expertise in Bulgarian corporate law, banking, and compliance, NBS ensures that every acquisition is smooth, transparent, and tailored to your specific business objectives — whether you are targeting Chinese stock credit applications, EU project funding, or building a credible international business portfolio.
RENOMIA directly operates in 13 countries across Central and Eastern Europe through its own branches and subsidiaries. Through its membership in the Worldwide Broker Network and its partnership with Gallagher, RENOMIA is also able to provide quality services in many additional locations worldwide — making it a truly international partner for businesses with global footprints.
An Apostille is an official certification that verifies the authenticity of a public document for use in countries that are members of the Hague Convention. It is the standard form of document legalisation between Hague Convention member states, eliminating the need for further embassy certification.
New Business Solutions specialises in helping foreign investors establish a business presence in Bulgaria. The company manages the entire formation process — from documentation and registration to permits, legal formalities, accounting, and bookkeeping — available as standalone services or as part of all-inclusive packages.
Yes. The Bulgarian banking sector is well-capitalised, supervised by the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) and aligned with European Central Bank regulations. Major European banking groups — including UniCredit, Société Générale, and OTP — operate in Bulgaria, bringing internationally recognised standards of service.
Yes. Since joining the EU in 2007, Bulgaria has systematically transposed European legislation into its national legal framework. Company law, contract law, GDPR, employment regulations, intellectual property rights, financial services regulation, and competition law all operate in full alignment with EU standards.
Contracts are enforceable under frameworks consistent with European standards. Intellectual property registered in Bulgaria benefits from EU-wide protection. Data handling follows GDPR. Employment and corporate governance follow EU-derived principles — reducing legal risk and compliance complexity significantly.
Yes. For businesses coming from outside the EU, registering a company in Bulgaria effectively means establishing a presence within the full EU legal framework — gaining access to the Single Market, regulatory passporting in certain sectors, and the legal credibility of operating in a fully regulated European jurisdiction.
All four formation packages include company formation (covering lawyer's fees, one company stamp, a Certificate of Good Standing in Bulgarian, and state fees), Apostilles on the Certificate of Incorporation and Articles of Association with English translation, a registered tax address, and assistance with opening a Bulgarian bank account with online banking.
The registered address provides an official address for tax purposes that may be visited by the National Revenue Agency and other public authorities. It includes receiving correspondence from clients, suppliers, and government institutions on behalf of the company, and use of the team's email for communications with tax authorities. The service is priced at EUR 360 per year.
This is the most comprehensive package, designed for businesses launching operations in Bulgaria that need everything in place from day one — company formation, VAT registration, a registered address, banking, and ongoing monthly accountancy. It is particularly suited for businesses trading within the EU.
Each month the package includes up to two hours of attorney time for consultations, document review or drafting, and correspondence with counterparties; one email consultation with a response within 48 hours for priority matters; and one oral consultation of up to 30 minutes, available online or by phone.