Can a foreigner buy property in Bulgaria?

Foreigners may buy, but with permission, zones or type limits

Bulgaria's Constitution bars foreigners from owning land, except as the EU rules or a treaty allow. Foreigners may own buildings and flats freely, EU citizens may buy land, and a foreigner from outside the EU commonly buys land through a Bulgarian company.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

Rules change. This page describes the structure of the rule, not prices, taxes or quotas. Confirm the current position with the official source listed below, and with a lawyer in the country, before you pay anything. This is general information, not legal advice.

Land

Under Article 22 of the Constitution, foreigners may own land only on the terms that come from Bulgaria's EU accession or from an international treaty. Citizens of the EU and the EEA can therefore buy land. Other foreigners usually cannot buy land in their own name.

Houses and flats

Foreigners may own buildings and flats, including those that stand on land the foreigner cannot own. The building and the land under it can then have different owners.

Buying through a company

A company registered in Bulgaria is a Bulgarian legal entity, even when foreigners own it. A non-EU foreigner often buys land through such a company. Farmland, forest and land near the border have extra rules, so check each type of land separately.

Limits and closed zones

Farmland, forest and border-zone land have separate rules, which also apply to companies.

What to watch for

Whether a company route is suitable depends on the type of land, so take advice from a Bulgarian lawyer and check the property in the Registry Agency.
A notarial deed is required for the transfer, and the buyer should check the property for debts and charges before paying.

Understand the legal system first

Bulgaria belongs to the Civil law family. Property is registered and transferred differently in different traditions, so it helps to know how the system works.

Read the Bulgaria legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
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Official sources

TheLawToKnow Tools’s guide to foreign property ownership is an educational overview of general rules. It is not legal advice, and it does not replace the official source or a lawyer in the country. Report a mistake.