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Chinese Companies Are Increasingly Looking to Bulgaria: TRO Emerges as a New Gateway to the European Market
As we enter 2026, Bulgaria is sending increasingly clear signals of openness to Chinese investment and business cooperation.
On September 8, 2026, Alexander Poulev, Bulgaria’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Investments and Industry, attended the 26th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) in Xiamen. During the event, he stated that Bulgaria remains open to Chinese investment and hopes to further translate the strategic partnership between the two countries into concrete investment, new industrial projects, and broader business cooperation.
Approximately 100 Bulgarian and Chinese companies participated in the related business forum that day. Poulev noted that there remains significant potential for further economic cooperation between the two countries, and that Bulgaria hopes to move bilateral relations beyond political dialogue toward tangible investment, new production projects, and industrial partnerships.
And the dialogue did not stop at the business forum.
On September 10, Poulev met with Ding Xuexiang, Vice Premier of the State Council of China, in Beijing. The two sides further discussed deepening economic cooperation between Bulgaria and China and attracting new Chinese investment. The Bulgarian side also specifically expressed its willingness to attract new investment projects, including electric vehicle manufacturing.
“We have a strong political will to open a new chapter in our bilateral relations with China. We are at a time of new opportunities and pragmatic development in relations between the two countries,” Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Poulev said. He emphasized that since Bulgaria and China established a strategic partnership during Bulgarian President Rumen Radev’s visit to China in 2019, bilateral relations have continued to develop on a sustainable basis.
In fact, similar signals had already been emerging as early as August this year.
On August 3, Poulev met with Dai Qingli, the Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria. The two sides discussed expanding bilateral trade and investment cooperation, promoting joint projects, and further increasing Chinese investment in Bulgaria. The Bulgarian government stated directly in its announcement that Chinese companies have recently shown growing interest in investing in Bulgaria.
From August to September—from meetings with the Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria, to participation in CIFIT, and then to a meeting with China’s Vice Premier—the Bulgarian government has been sending a clear message regarding Chinese investment, industrial cooperation, and the entry of foreign businesses into the Bulgarian market: Bulgaria is seeking to attract more international capital while further integrating itself into European and global supply chains.
This also reflects a broader shift that is already taking place.
For Chinese companies, when Europe is mentioned, traditional economic powerhouses such as Germany, France, and the Netherlands may have historically been the first markets that come to mind. However, as European supply chains undergo restructuring and companies increasingly focus on costs, market access, industrial capacity, and access to the wider EU market, countries in Southeastern Europe are also attracting greater attention.
Bulgaria is particularly well positioned in this context. On the one hand, it is an EU member state, providing companies with a base from which to access the wider European market. On the other hand, the Bulgarian government is actively promoting foreign investment, industrial cooperation, and the development of new industrial projects.
In August this year, Poulev stated during a meeting with representatives responsible for government business and economic affairs that attracting investment and helping Bulgarian companies integrate into regional and global supply chains are important priorities for the government. At the same time, the government is advancing measures related to investment promotion, administrative reform, and industrial development.
Against this backdrop, a very practical question arises for business owners who already have an established company overseas.
Do You Have to Set Up a New Local Company to Enter Bulgaria?
Not necessarily.
For overseas companies whose primary objectives are market development, business networking, finding local partners, and establishing a European commercial presence, Bulgaria offers another relatively distinctive option:
TRO — Trade Representative Office.
A TRO is different from an ordinary Bulgarian company.
According to the official information published by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), a foreign company’s trade representative office is a non-independent legal entity and cannot itself conduct economic activities. Its main purpose is to represent the foreign company in business communications, market promotion, and other activities consistent with the nature of a trade representative office. Registration of a trade representative office is handled by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
This is precisely why a TRO is more suitable for companies that already have a genuine business presence overseas and want to establish a European commercial foothold in Bulgaria, rather than simply setting up a shell company.
However, it is important to note that Bulgaria’s TRO route is no longer simply a matter of “registering a representative office.” Following amendments to Bulgaria’s Law on Foreigners published on June 27, 2025, the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry further clarified the requirements for registering a foreign company’s TRO and obtaining residence on this basis.
● One important requirement is that the foreign parent company must demonstrate business operations during the previous two full financial years, with annual turnover of at least BGN 100,000 in each of those two years, in principle. Relevant tax compliance documents, evidence of the foreign company’s legal status, an annual activity plan for the TRO, proof of an office address, and other supporting documents are also required.
● Regarding the number of representatives, the current rules published by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry clearly indicate that up to two trade representatives may obtain the relevant residence permits. This means that if your objective is to relocate to Bulgaria for work and life, the TRO route is structured around the designated representatives rather than allowing an unlimited number of accompanying individuals.
From Business Expansion to Living in Bulgaria（Corporate Presence + European Residence）
For business owners with a genuine overseas business background who are also looking to establish a presence in Europe, the value of the Bulgarian TRO route is therefore not simply “registering a representative office.”
It can potentially connect overseas business expansion, European market entry, and personal residence planning.
Eligible applicants may apply for a Bulgarian residence permit through the trade representative route and ultimately obtain a Bulgarian residence card. For those seeking to establish a long-term base for both business and personal life in Europe, this represents a potential transition from simply “registering an overseas company” to combining business expansion with European residence planning.
Therefore, if your goal is to obtain Bulgarian residence while also using Bulgaria as a base for entering the European market and developing your business and lifestyle in Europe, the first question should not simply be “Can I apply for this program?” but rather “Is my company genuinely suitable for this route?”
For eligible business owners, a TRO may represent more than just a pathway to a residence card. It can be one step in a broader strategy—from taking a business overseas to establishing a presence in Europe and planning for life there.
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