How many British people moved to Bulgaria in 2025?
Bulgaria issued 885 first residence permits to British citizens in 2025, the main official indicator of how many moved there (Eurostat, data updated on 22 October 2026). That is 43 more than in 2024 (842), a change of +5.1%. By reason: education 588 (66.4%), family 180 (20.3%), other reasons 66 (7.5%), work 51 (5.8%). 304 of them (34.4%) were valid for 12 months or more.
Bulgaria · British citizens · 2025: 885 first residence permits
Bulgaria issued 2.0% of all first permits given to British citizens in the EU in 2025 (44,446). Every EU country.
Source: Eurostat, First permits by reason, length of validity and citizenship (migr_resfirst), data updated on 22 October 2026, downloaded on 28 October 2026 (definitions). First residence permits, persons. Re-use: Eurostat copyright notice (free re-use with acknowledgement, CC BY 4.0).
What this number is, and what it is not
- It is the number of British citizens who received a residence permit in Bulgaria for the first time in 2025: a permit valid for at least 3 months, for family, education, work or other reasons. A permit also counts as "first" when the person had none for the same reason in the 6 months before.
- It is not a count of moves: some people who receive a permit never move, or leave soon after.
- It leaves out British people who also hold an EU passport (the statistics cover non-EU citizens only), stays shorter than 3 months and renewed permits.
- It is not the number of British people living in Bulgaria, which is much larger.
Why British people moved to Bulgaria in 2025: permits by reason
| Reason | 2025 | Share | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family | 180 | 20.3% | 158 | +13.9% |
| Education | 588 | 66.4% | 571 | +3.0% |
| Work | 51 | 5.8% | 66 | −22.7% |
| Other | 66 | 7.5% | 47 | +40.4% |
| All reasons | 885 | 100% | 842 | +5.1% |
Source: Eurostat, First permits by reason, length of validity and citizenship (migr_resfirst), data updated on 22 October 2026, downloaded on 28 October 2026 (definitions). First residence permits, persons. Re-use: Eurostat copyright notice (free re-use with acknowledgement, CC BY 4.0).
Family: joining or accompanying a family member. Education: study and other education. Work: paid employment (Eurostat's "employment reasons", also called remunerated activities), for example EU Blue Cards, other skilled work and seasonal work. Other: international protection and humanitarian status, permits for residence only, and other or unspecified reasons.
British people moving to Bulgaria, year by year (2021–2025)
| Year | All reasons | Family | Education | Work | Other | Valid 12+ months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 76 | 31 | 11 | 21 | 13 | 34 |
| 2022 | 465 | 83 | 290 | 34 | 58 | 144 |
| 2023 | 731 | 126 | 492 | 58 | 55 | 275 |
| 2024 | 842 | 158 | 571 | 66 | 47 | 278 |
| 2025 | 885 | 180 | 588 | 51 | 66 | 304 |
Source: Eurostat, First permits by reason, length of validity and citizenship (migr_resfirst), data updated on 22 October 2026, downloaded on 28 October 2026 (definitions). First residence permits, persons. Eurostat revises past years when countries correct their data. Re-use: Eurostat copyright notice (free re-use with acknowledgement, CC BY 4.0).
British citizens were EU citizens until the end of 2020 and did not need residence permits, so the series starts in 2021; 2021, the first year after Brexit, may not be comparable with later years.
Questions people ask
How many Brits moved to Bulgaria in 2025?
885 British citizens received a first residence permit in Bulgaria in 2025 (Eurostat). That is 43 more than in 2024 (842), a change of +5.1%.
How many Brits moved to Bulgaria in 2024?
842 British citizens received a first residence permit in Bulgaria in 2024.
Why do Brits move to Bulgaria?
The most common reason in 2025 was education (588 permits). By reason: education 588 (66.4%), family 180 (20.3%), other reasons 66 (7.5%), work 51 (5.8%).
How many Brits moved to Europe in 2025?
The 27 EU countries issued 44,446 first residence permits to British citizens in 2025; Bulgaria issued 2.0% of them. All countries.
Is this the number of British people living in Bulgaria?
No. It counts only new permits issued in 2025. People who have lived there for years, renewed their permits or have an EU passport are not included.
Visas and statistics for Bulgaria on this site
Where else British people moved in 2025
Who else moved to Bulgaria in 2025
How many British people moved to Europe in 2025 · Who moved where: all nationalities · Visa income calculator