Desislava Simeonova
Russian Regional Specialist
Desislava’s main focus in NBLO is Citizenship & Immigration. Because of her intercultural awareness and experience, she is a valuable addition to NBLO’s general practices with clients from Russia and CIS. Desislava has participated in a number of events in the area of citizenship by investment, wealth management and tax structuring, and has represented NBLO in Russia, Ukraine and India. She is fluent in Bulgarian and Russian and also speaks English.
Qualifications: Saint Petersburg State University
Languages Spoken: Bulgarian, Russian and English
Office Location: Sofia
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Citizenship and Immigration
Bulgarian Citizenship and Immigration Strategic advice on Bulgarian and EU residence, citizenship and mobility We advise individuals and families planning for their future, their mobility and their legacy. Immigration and citizenship matters are often complex, sensitive and deeply personal. Our role is to guide clients through every stage of the process with clarity, discretion and […]
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Residence by Investment
Residence by Investment in Bulgaria Overview Bulgaria offers a structured route to Permanent Residence by Investment (RBI) for non-EU nationals seeking a stable, long-term base in the European Union. The programme is designed for investors who wish to make a qualifying investment in regulated instruments, most commonly Mutual Funds, ETFs and AIFs, rather than a […]
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Expat Assistance
Relocating to Bulgaria involves a complex set of legal, regulatory, tax, and practical considerations that extend well beyond immigration formalities. Expats and internationally mobile professionals often face overlapping issues relating to residence status, employment, taxation, healthcare, education, and property matters, both before and after arrival. We provide comprehensive legal assistance to expatriates, foreign professionals, and […]
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How to Open a Bank Account in Bulgaria as a Foreign Business
In this article, we provide an overview of the criterion that overseas incorporated businesses must generally fulfil in order to open a bank account in Bulgaria. We have restricted our analysis to organisations that are structured as companies or corporations in their home jurisdiction. Although Bulgarian law tends to recognise the legal forms of other […]
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MiCA in Bulgaria: From VASP Registration to CASP Licensing
MiCA Authorisation for Bulgarian Virtual Asset Service Providers The Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) establishes a harmonised EU authorisation framework for crypto-asset service providers. For virtual asset service providers (VASPs) operating in Bulgaria, this represents a material regulatory transition: from a registration-based regime to full CASP licensing and ongoing supervisory oversight. New Balkans Law Office […]
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Bulgaria Residence by Investment: Mutual Funds, ETFs and Alternative Investment Funds
Bulgaria has positioned itself as a compelling destination for residence by investment (RBI) within the European Union. With full Schengen membership achieved on January 1, 2025, and eurozone accession on January 1, 2026, the country now offers investors a structured pathway to permanent EU residency combined with unrestricted visa-free mobility across 29 Schengen countries. Unlike […]
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Benefits of Bulgarian Tax Residency
Bulgaria’s tax regime has emerged as one of Europe’s most competitive frameworks, offering significant advantages for both individuals and corporations seeking tax-efficient structuring within the European Union. This analysis examines the key benefits of establishing Bulgarian tax residency, focusing on the legislative provisions that create these advantages. Corporate Tax Residency Benefits Flat Corporate Income Tax […]
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Real Estate Residence by Investment in Bulgaria
Overview Bulgaria offers a structured and accessible route for obtaining residence permits via direct investment in real estate. This pathway, grounded in the Aliens in the Republic of Bulgaria Act and related national regulations, is particularly attractive to non-EU nationals seeking legal residence in an EU country with practical advantages for business, family stability, and […]
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Amendment Clarifies Holding Period for Investment Permanent Residence in Bulgaria
A recent amendment to the Aliens in the Republic of Bulgaria Act brings greater legal certainty to investors benefiting from the country’s permanent residence by investment route. Under the revised text, foreign nationals who have been granted permanent residence in Bulgaria on the basis of an eligible investment may now alter or withdraw that investment […]
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Pre-approval Process and Source of Funds for Citizenship by Investment
The pre-approval or pre-clearance process carried out by the Bulgarian Investment Agency (“BIA”) was newly introduced by legislation in March 2021 and is currently subject to refinement by means of secondary legislation and internal rules by the BIA. Its purpose is to give assurance about the legitimacy of investors, including their compliance with anti money laundering (“AML”) law and […]
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Legalization of documents for use in Bulgaria
In order for official documents issued abroad to be used in Bulgaria, they may need to go through a legalization process. The type of legalization depends on whether: A bilateral Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement (“MLAA”) is in place between Bulgaria and the document issuing state; OR the issuing state is a member of The Hague […]
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Bulgaria allows citizenship by origin up to 3rd generation
Legal basis of Bulgarian citizenship by origin applications Bulgarian Citizenship by Origin is based on provisions in the Bulgarian Citizenship Act. In early 2021, the Bulgarian Parliament partially amended the legislation governing Bulgarian citizenship by origin. Pursuant to Article 15 of the Bulgarian Citizenship Act, a person who is not a Bulgarian citizen may acquire Bulgarian […]
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The Economist Radio – Bulgarian Citizenship by Investment
NBLO has just released an ad on Economist Radio, in which we refer to the famous quip attributed to Boris Johnson – when it came to Brexit, the UK could both have its cake and eat it. Citizenship by Investment in Bulgaria is very much like that. Bulgaria, uniquely in the European Union, allows investors […]
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EU Citizenship by Investment and Residence by Investment in Bulgaria
You may also wish to visit our dedicated microsite where you can find out more about the EU citizenship by investment process and associated steps, and see answers to FAQs at: citizenshipinsight.com. Please also explore further CBI/RBI articles on this website. Overview Bulgaria is one of several EU member states which offers a citizenship by […]
