Bulgaria Golden Visa for LGBT Expats

Same-Sex Marriages and Bulgarian Residency

Bulgaria, as a member of the European Union, is bound by EU legislation regarding freedom of movement and the rights of EU citizens and their families. However, the legal landscape becomes more complex when it comes to same-sex marriages, particularly in cases involving non-EU citizens.

Bulgaria and Same-Sex Marriage Recognition

While Bulgarian national law still defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, the country is obliged to follow EU regulations on the rights of EU citizens to free movement and residence. This includes respecting the marital and family status legally recognized in another EU member state.

A landmark case affirming this came in the form of a ruling by Bulgaria’s Supreme Administrative Court (VAS), which upheld the residency rights of a same-sex spouse of an EU citizen.

The Case of Kristina Palma and Mariama Diallo

Kristina Palma, an Australian citizen, married Mariama Diallo, a French citizen, in France in 2016. Later that year, Kristina was granted residence in Bulgaria as the spouse of an EU citizen under Directive 2004/38/EC, which guarantees the right of EU citizens and their family members to move and reside freely within the Union.

However, Bulgarian Migration authorities later revoked her residency, citing the Bulgarian definition of marriage. The case was taken to the Sofia Administrative Court, which ruled in Palma’s favor—a decision upheld by the Supreme Administrative Court in 2025. The court clarified that while Bulgarian law does not permit same-sex marriages domestically, it must recognize them for the purposes of residency when legally registered in another EU country.

The ruling aligns with EU Court of Justice precedent (Coman case, Romania, 2018) and represents a significant legal affirmation of EU law within Bulgaria’s judicial system.

Limitations for Non-EU Same-Sex Couples

Despite this progress, there remain important limitations for same-sex couples where neither partner is an EU citizen.

Bulgaria Golden Visa and Same-Sex Spouses

Under the Bulgaria Golden Visa Program, which offers permanent residency to foreign investors, the law allows for family reunification and residency for spouses—but only as defined under Bulgarian law. Since same-sex marriage is not recognized between two non-EU citizens, this means:

If you are a non-EU investor in Bulgaria through the Golden Visa scheme, and your spouse is of the same sex and also a non-EU citizen, they will not be eligible for residency as your spouse under current Bulgarian law. This gap creates a significant legal barrier for non-EU same-sex couples seeking residency through investment pathways.

Same-Sex Marriage Between Bulgarian and Non-EU Citizens

Currently, Bulgarian citizens cannot legally marry a person of the same sex in Bulgaria. However, if the marriage is legally performed abroad the marriage is recognized for immigration purposes.

Same-Sex Marriage Between EU (Non-Bulgarian) and Non-EU Citizens

If a same-sex couple includes an EU citizen (not Bulgarian) and a non-EU partner, and their marriage is legally registered in another EU country, then: The non-EU spouse may be granted residency in Bulgaria under the EU Freedom of Movement Directive. This right is supported by both EU law and the Bulgarian Supreme Administrative Court’s decision.

Bulgaria does not currently recognize LGBTQ partnerships or marriages for immigration purposes when both partners are non-EU citizens, regardless of their personal circumstances.