VISA ATLASWork visas & talent mobility
From→ToFind a corridor
EN
☰

Russia → Bulgaria

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
Russia
To
Bulgaria
Inflow 2023—OECD
Data as at 2025
CR<BGRUSSIA<BULGARIA<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
RU9<BG5<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<2

Migrant population

People born in Russia who live in Bulgaria: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA).

Migrant population by year

23k45k19901995200020052010201520202024
23k45k19902000201020202024
Data table
19906,899
19958,936
200010,972
200514,064
201016,970
201521,381
202032,789
202445,089
Estimate, 2024
45,089
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
15.1%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
2
Counted by
country of birth
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

Bulgaria's consulates in Russia

Short-stay Schengen (C) visa applications at Bulgaria's consulates located in Russia.

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
202415,58611,8156224.0%
2009233,457232,9625030.2%

Applications by year

117k233k20092024
117k233k20092024
Data table
2009233,457
202415,586
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Bulgaria

First residence permits issued by Bulgaria to citizens of Russia (Eurostat).

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Family1,244
  2. Other reasons692
  3. Work630
  4. Education67
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
20252,63320100
20243,21233224264
20234,74537980325
20223,926561129335
20211,87080253312
20201,548115107316
20191,9936892315
20182,00414190309
20172,13723174283
20161,50954488301
20152,7828214288
20143,3072146269
20132,9303103255
20122,57244100
20111,8190810
20107770790
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities448
  2. EU Blue Card180
  3. Researchers2
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
25,777
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
866
Changed status into work, 2025
63
Seasonal work authorisations, 2024
39
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Embassy and consulates

Missions of Bulgaria in Russia, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyMoscowmfa.bg
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Where else people from Russia move (OECD, 2023).

Other destinations for people from Russia, 2023
  1. Israel33,116
  2. Türkiye28,314
  3. Germany26,720
  4. Spain21,617
  5. South Korea17,550
  6. United States12,910
  7. Netherlands5,160
  8. France5,035
  9. Portugal4,893
  10. Italy4,633
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more