A Bulgarian holding company can be set up in the form of a Private limited EOOD company, a Private limited OOD company or a Public limited EAD company. Each type of company has its own particularities regarding the minimum founding capital, the number of founding members and other specific legal provisions.

Bulgarian holding companies are required to invest at least 25% of their capital stock in a subsidiary. The holding company will thus own at least 25% of the subsidiary’s shares and will represent at least 50% of the management board of the subsidiary.

The benefits of the holding companies derive mainly from the special regime for dividend payments. The dividends received by a holding company in Bulgaria can be tax exempt, provided that the company making the payment (the subsidiary belonging to the holding) is a resident company in one of the EU or EEA member states. This exemption from the tax on dividends also applies for dividend income received by a Bulgarian company from another legal entity incorporated in the country.  

Benefits of setting EOOD holding company

The most convenient holding type from founding capital point of view is the EOOD holding or OOD holding. The required founding capital is as low as for the standard Private limited EOOD or OOD company of only 1 €.

On the other hand, if you would like your Bulgarian holding company to be in the form of a Joint Stock company – EAD or AD, the minimum founding capital is 25,000 €.

Our fee for the incorporation of EOOD holding company in Bulgaria is only 500 € including all legal & state fees and registered office address. Using our company formation services, we do not charge maintenance or annual fees for the registered office address. You also receive free scanned business mail service.

Advantages using our services to establish holding company in Bulgaria

• No fee for a registered office address! We will provide a top location registered office address for your Bulgarian holding company free of charge for as long as you need!
• No maintenance, annual or hidden fees!
• Guaranteed lowest price! If you are offered a lower price, we would be happy to beat it!
• Competitive pricing forAccounting Services in Bulgaria!
• Free scanned business mail service!

Please take a look at our prices to see the most competitive prices for incorporating a Bulgarian holding company.

Steps to register a Bulgarian holding company

1. Drawing up the set of incorporation documents (Power of Attorney, Memorandum of Association & Declarations).
2. Each director or manager will have to sign a Specimen and attest at the nearest Bulgarian embassy or consulate, or a local notary public.
3. Opening of a company bank account for the deposition of the founding capital.
4. Translation and legalization of the Specimens (if not signed in front of a Bulgarian notary or at Bulgarian embassy or consulate).
5. Filling all documents at the Bulgarian Company Register.
6. Your Bulgarian holding company is registered within 2 working days. The deposition bank account is closed; applications for a business bank account and Bulgarian VAT number can be submitted.

Our law firm may assist you to liquidate your Bulgarian holding company or apply for insolvency in Bulgaria. 

Our lawyers may assist you to open a Bulgarian branch office of your foreign company. Bulgaria is favourable to foreign investment and the establishment of branches is a popular choice. In particular, branches can take advantage of Bulgaria’s lowest tax system in the EU, low business costs and a small timescale for incorporation. When establishing a  branch office in Bulgaria the parent company should abide by the Investments Promotion Act (IPA), which regulates the legalities of branches.

Advantages using our services to establish a branch office in Bulgaria

• No fee for a registered office address! We will provide a top location registered office address for your Bulgarian branch office free of charge for as long as you need!
• No maintenance, annual or hidden fees!
• Guaranteed lowest price! If you are offered a lower price, we would be happy to beat it!
• Dedicated Accounting Services in Bulgaria!

To register a branch in Bulgaria

•  You have to provide a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation of the parent company.
•  A copy of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the parent company.
•  A copy of the parent company’s Certificate of Good Standing.
•  A registered office address.
•  Representative of the Bulgarian branch.

You may proceed with your Bulgarian branch office paying with your debit or credit card via Epay.bg

*All required documentation must be officially apostilled in the country of origin before delivering to us.

Characteristics and requirements to the registration of branch offices in Bulgaria

•  No capital requirements.
•  No separate entity, but a registration of a foreign entity.
•  A branch office needs to have at least one local representative.
•  Only physical persons can be a representative of the branch office.

How to open a bank account of a Branch in Bulgaria?

Since 1^st of August 2019 banks in Bulgaria refuse to open company bank accounts unless the director of the company is a resident of Bulgaria. In other words, you have to apply for Bulgarian residency for EU citizens prior to applying for the opening of a company bank account. On the other hand, applying for Bulgarian residence card is a precondition to qualify for Bulgaria tax residency.

When is registering a branch office in Bulgaria interesting?

Usually registering a branch office is done by companies who don’t want to fall under Bulgarian law for corporate issues and companies who will have only limited activities in Bulgaria.

Examples:

A Dutch company, which works solemnly from the Netherlands, opens a modest office in Bulgaria. The office won’t be more than a simple sales office and will employ a few sales-agents whom will sell the products of the Dutch company on the Bulgarian and EU market. All orders will be handled from the Netherlands and every part of the production is in the Netherlands. By registering a branch office in Bulgaria the Dutch company will have a ‘permanent establishment’ in Bulgaria. All profits made by the permanent establishment will be subject to only 10% Bulgarian corporation tax.

Please take a look at our prices to see the most competitive prices for establishing Bulgarian companies.

For more information regarding our Bulgarian branch office registration services please do not hesitate to contact us.

Bulgarian Business Visa through the registration of a branch office:

If you are a non-EU national and you would like to obtain a short-stay Bulgarian business visa, you are NOT required to employ local citizens. You may order our Business Immigration Package which includes:

1. Registration of a Bulgarian branch.
2. Invitation short-stay visa.

For more details about invitation letters and applying for a Business visa through the opening of a Bulgarian branch office, you may request a call back.

Short-stay Bulgarian Business visa – Type C Bulgarian Business visa

A non-EU national may obtain a Bulgarian Business visa on the ground of registering a limited company, branch or trade representative office in Bulgaria. Eligibility requires the preparation of a Business invitation letter which will be prepared for you as a client of our firm.

The short-stay Bulgarian Business visa is a multi-entries visa allowing a stay of 90 days in Bulgaria. Receiving a business invitation letter a visa application should be submitted at the nearest Bulgarian embassy or consulate. The visa processing time is up to 10 working days and a visa application fee of 60€ is payable.

For more details about our packages which include Bulgarian business invitation letter, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Long-term Bulgarian Business visa – Type D Bulgarian Business visa

There are 3 primary instances for which a long-term Bulgarian Business visa is issued:
1. Registration of a Trade Representative Office in Bulgaria; NOT required to employ local citizens.

2. Registration of a Bulgarian company employing at least 10 local citizens for no fewer than 6 months.

3. Registration of a Bulgarian branch employing at least 10 local citizens for now fewer than 6 months.

Our experience shows that the most convenient and affordable way for a foreign national to obtain a Type D Bulgarian Business visa, and eventually a Bulgarian residence permit is by way of registering a trade representative office in Bulgaria. The trade representative office is regulated by the Investment Promotion Act (IPA) of Bulgaria.

The long-term Bulgarian Business visa is granted either for 6 or 12 months, and it is mandatory for all non-EU nationals who would like to apply for a Bulgarian residence permit. The visa processing time is 30 working days and a visa application fee of 100€ is payable.

To learn about registering a Bulgarian trade representative office and obtaining a Bulgarian Business visa & residence permit please do not hesitate to contact us.

***Under Decision 565/2014/EC of the European Parliament and the European Council of May 15, 2014 which said that Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania may consider their national visas as equivalent for transit through or intended stays on their territory not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period. All types of visas and residence permits are affected irrespectively of the nationality of the holders, provided they are issued by the four countries, which are fully implementing the Schengen acquis. Holders of a Bulgarian visa can travel legally to Romania, Croatia and Cyprus for 90 days in any 180 days period without visa.

If you are not a foreign investor or entrepreneur, you may still obtain a Bulgarian D visa and residence permit. A popular option is the Bulgarian Pensioner D visa. The Pensioner D visa allows foreign pensioners to reside in Bulgaria long-term with the option to convert their temporary residency to permanent. The only requirement is that the applicant’s pension abroad is equal or exceeds the Bulgarian minimum monthly pension or minimum monthly salary. The pension must be transferred to a Bulgarian bank account. You are NOT required to invest any funds in Bulgaria or purchase a property.