More and more Bulgarians marry girls from the Philippines
Years ago, before the credit expansion in Bulgaria and the significant redirection of financial resources toward the population, many Bulgarians sought their family happiness in the West. Up until 5–10 years ago, Bulgarians, most often Bulgarian women, would marry men from Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, and other countries. But those times seem to have passed, perhaps irreversibly. Today, such marriages are rare. Currently, the mixed marriages that Bulgarians enter into are most often with beautiful women from exotic destinations – most commonly from the Philippines.
However, the problems that Bulgarian men need to solve in order for their partners from the Philippines to legally live in Bulgaria are numerous. In the sections below, we will explain what steps must be taken so that the Filipina can come to Bulgaria and stay to live together with her Bulgarian partner. For additional information, you can also read the article Marriage with a foreign woman and obtaining a visa for Bulgaria on Posolstvo.eu.
Why Filipinas in particular?
But why do so many Bulgarians marry Filipinas? The reasons are multilayered. Let’s look at what drives so many Bulgarian citizens to seek their happiness in the Philippines. And, once they find it, to begin a battle with the bureaucratic machine so that their partners can come and stay in Bulgaria.
Traditional family values
Filipino culture places great importance on family, respect for one’s partner, and care for children and the elderly. Many Bulgarians seek partners who share such traditional values, which are often less common in Western societies, where individualism tends to be more prominent.
Appearance and charm
Most Filipinas have an exotic and attractive appearance by Bulgarian standards. They also tend to exhibit moderate behaviour, without excessive demonstrativeness.
Care, loyalty, and devotion
Many Filipinas are perceived as attentive, caring wives and homemaker-mothers. These qualities are highly valued by Bulgarians who are seeking a long-term and stable relationship.
Good command of English
English is one of the official languages of the Philippines, which makes communication easier and more direct. Many Filipino girls speak English at a “native speaker” level, which greatly facilitates communication with their Bulgarian partners.
Economic and social context
In the Philippines, in many cases, marriage to a foreigner is perceived by Filipino women as an opportunity for:
- A higher standard of living;
- Security for their family;
- Access to education and healthcare abroad.
Filipino women are often adaptable to foreign cultures and quickly get used to the European way of life. Many of them have worked abroad (e.g., in the medical or service sectors), which facilitates their integration in Bulgaria.
So far, these have been the positive aspects of a relationship with a Filipino girl. Because most often, the next step is moving to Bulgaria and the need to arrange all the necessary documents. And that’s when the problems begin…
Bulgarian visa and residence permit for a Filipino woman upon marriage to a Bulgarian man
Once a Bulgarian citizen has decided to unite his life with a Filipino woman, he faces the following challenges:
Where to get married
This is the first question that needs to be resolved. There are basically two options – either to get married in the Philippines or in Bulgaria. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages.
Getting married in the Philippines
The first option is to get married in the Philippines. The advantage here is that the girl does not need to obtain any Bulgarian (Schengen) visa in advance. Bulgarian citizens do not require a visa to visit the Philippines, which makes things seem easy at first glance. However, the challenges include the need for the Bulgarian citizen to prepare a number of documents from Bulgaria, properly translated and legalised, and most importantly — to enter into marriage under a jurisdiction whose legal system he is unfamiliar with. Furthermore, Philippine marriage law is unique and somewhat unprecedented, when it comes to marriages concluded in the country.
An impossible divorce
For example, divorce in the Philippines is nearly impossible unless grounds for annulment can be proven. Bulgarian courts can legally dissolve the marriage, but the Philippines will not automatically recognise the divorce – unless it is initiated by the foreign spouse.
Property relations
Additional concerns may arise regarding property relations between the spouses when the marriage is concluded in the Philippines. These issues are solvable, but require consultation and assistance from an experienced lawyer with solid knowledge of such international legal matters.
On top of everything else, if the marriage is concluded in the Philippines, it must then be registered in Bulgaria. This involves additional translations, legalisation, and a range of other administrative procedures.
Getting married in Bulgaria
Most often, Bulgarian men choose to get married in Bulgaria, as this is generally the better option. However, even in this case, there are a number of issues that need to be resolved.
Bulgarian (Schengen) short-stay visa
First of all, in order for the marriage to be concluded in Bulgaria, the Filipino woman must have a Bulgarian (Schengen) visa. In some cases, such a visa is already available because the woman works in or is visiting other European countries. However, in most cases, a Bulgarian (Schengen) visa is not available. To obtain one, the woman must either visit the Embassy of Bulgaria in Hanoi (Vietnam) or use the services of a local intermediary. This issue is solvable, but certain risks exist. The main risk is that the visa might be denied, which would, in practice, make any further steps, especially obtaining a type D visa – virtually impossible.
Preparing the documents from the Philippines for marriage in Bulgaria
Before the Filipino woman travels to Bulgaria with her short-term visa C, she must prepare the necessary documents required for marriage in Bulgaria. These include:
- Document proving her marital status (single, divorced or widowed);
- A document confirming that her marriage, concluded in Bulgaria, will be recognised under Philippine law.
Obtaining a visa D for Bulgaria
Once the civil marriage has been concluded (and registered in Bulgaria if it was held in the Philippines), the next step is obtaining a visa D for the Filipino spouse of the Bulgarian citizen. As part of the application process, an interview with the applicant (the Filipino woman) is mandatory. Unfortunately, there is no authorised Bulgarian embassy or consulate in the Philippines. Therefore, the type D visa application must be submitted at the Bulgarian Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam. This unnecessary travel often poses significant difficulties for Filipino women. Fortunately, in certain cases, exceptions to this requirement may be granted.
Applying for a visa D from a third country
If the marriage was concluded in the Philippines, the most logical thing to do is to apply for visa D under the general rules, namely in Vietnam. This is not very convenient, but since a Bulgarian visa D cannot be issued in the Philippines, it is often the best option.
However, if the marriage was concluded in Bulgaria and the Filipina girl is already in the country, then flying to Vietnam for a visa D is extremely burdensome. Not to mention that after applying for the visa, the Filipina has to wait for a certain amount of time before the visa is (eventually) approved. And this often means additional costs for hotel and stay in Vietnam.
If the Filipino citizen is already in Bulgaria, there is a possibility for her to obtain a permit to apply for a visa D from a third country. This request must be prepared very professionally to increase the chances of approval. If the Bulgarian authorities issue the permit, the visa D application can be submitted, for example, in Greece or Romania. Bulgaria’s Schengen membership allows the Filipino citizen to travel visa-free, submit her visa D documents, and then return to Bulgaria to wait for the visa to be approved.
Appeal against refusal of D visa
Unfortunately, refusals of a visa D to Filipino spouses of Bulgarian citizens are extremely common. The Bulgarian authorities consider the Philippines a high immigration risk country and refusals are the rule rather than the exception. In the event of a refusal, we always advise appealing the refusal in court. The deadline for the appeal is only 14 days, which is often insufficient. Therefore the appeal must be prepared in an urgency.
Obtaining a long-term residence permit in Bulgaria
Once the visa D is obtained, the Filipino citizen must apply for a residence permit from within Bulgaria. This permit cannot be granted unless a visa D has been previously obtained. There are no exceptions to this rule. Obtaining this permit is the final step in legalising the stay of the Filipino spouse of a Bulgarian citizen in Bulgaria and the EU. Bulgaria’s membership in Schengen allows the foreign spouse to travel visa-free throughout the entire Schengen area. Additionally, as a spouse of a Bulgarian citizen, the Filipino wife gains access to the labour market, meaning she can work in Bulgaria without needing an additional work permit.
For assistance
If you have any questions regarding the requirements for marrying a Filipino woman and obtaining a visa D, you can contact us for assistance. You can also reach out directly to Posolstvo.eu, who will be able to assist you in the most professional manner.