General rules
Transfer of a real estate is made through a written contract in a special notarial deed form. The contract has to be signed before a Bulgarian notary officer acting in the region of the respective regional court where the property is located.
Exceptions are made in respect of contract for acquisition or disposition of municipal or private state properties. In such case only a written form of the transfer contract is required.
Acquisition of Bulgarian real estates by foreign persons
Acquisition of Buildings
There is no restriction for a foreign investor (an individual or a legal entity) to acquire a building (for example, an apartment, a house, etc).
Acquisition of Land
There are restrictions on the acquisition of land by foreigners. The Bulgarian legislation distinguishes two groups of foreigners – depending on their residency, namely (i) foreign individuals residing outside the EU and foreign legal entities incorporated outside the EU (ii) and EU citizens and legal entities.
Foreigners have the right to acquire ownership rights over land under the terms and conditions of an international agreement signed between Bulgaria and the respective country. Presently, however, there are no such international agreements signed between Bulgaria and non-EU countries. Practically, non-EU foreign individuals and foreign legal entities do not have the right to acquire ownership over land in Bulgaria.
EU citizens and EU legal entities have the right to acquire ownership over land under the terms and conditions of Bulgaria’s EU accession.
In order to overcome the restriction on the land acquisition, foreigners need to register a Bulgarian legal entity and carry out the acquisitions through the Bulgarian company.
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Delchev & Partners is a prime, full service, commercial law firm with offices in Sofia and Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Our experienced team of lawyers and consultants provide quality legal and tax services in various practice areas to multinational corporations and companies, closely held foreign and local businesses, local entrepreneurs, exempt organizations and individuals, based or operating in any major Bulgarian city – Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Stara Zagora etc.
