Non-EU Founders

EU Company Formation for Non-EU Founders: Complete Guide 2026

You don't need EU citizenship or residency to register a Bulgarian company. US, UK, Canadian, Australian, UAE, and other non-EU nationals can form a Bulgarian EOOD fully remotely — with an apostilled Power of Attorney and zero visits to Bulgaria.

0
Visits to Bulgaria required
10%
Corporate tax — EU's lowest
€299
Flat registration fee
7–10
Business days to incorporate

What "non-EU founder" means in practice

This guide is specifically for founders who are citizens of non-EU countries — US, UK (post-Brexit), Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UAE, Singapore, India, South Africa, and most other countries outside the European Union.

It is different from the question of EU residency (which this guide covers). A French citizen living in Thailand is an EU citizen without EU residency — that's a different situation from a US citizen living in New York who wants a Bulgarian company.

For non-EU citizens, the key question is: can the Power of Attorney be notarised and apostilled in my country, and does Bulgaria accept apostilles from my country? The answer for all Hague Convention signatory countries is yes.

Why Bulgaria is the best EU entry point for non-EU founders

Most EU countries are accessible in theory to non-EU founders, but present practical friction: Germany and France require a local presence or notarised documents with complex requirements; the Netherlands requires a local notary appointment; Estonia's e-Residency is a card that must be collected in-country.

Bulgaria is genuinely different: the entire process is handled through an apostilled Power of Attorney. You sign the POA at a notary in your city, get the apostille, and send it to us. That's the only physical document. Everything else is electronic.

The apostille process by country

The apostille authenticates your notary's signature for use abroad. Here's how it works for the most common founder nationalities:

United States

Notarise at any licensed notary public. Apostille from the Secretary of State of the state where notarisation happened. Cost: $5–$20 + notary fee (~$10–$25). Time: same-day walk-in in most states; 5–15 days by mail.

United Kingdom

Notarise with a UK solicitor or notary public. Apostille from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Cost: ~£30 FCDO fee + notary (~£50–£150). Time: same-day to 5 days.

Canada

Notarise with a provincial notary or commissioner of oaths. Apostille from the provincial government (varies by province — Ontario: Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery). Cost: ~CAD 25–50. Time: same-day to 3 weeks depending on province.

Australia

Notarise with an Australian notary public. Apostille from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) or state-level authority. Cost: ~AUD 80–130. Time: 1–3 weeks by mail.

UAE

UAE is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. Documents must be authenticated through the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC), then sent to the Bulgarian Embassy in Abu Dhabi for legalisation. Slightly more complex but fully workable. Time: 2–4 weeks.

India, Singapore, other Hague members

India joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 2005. Apostilles are issued by the Ministry of External Affairs. Singapore is also a signatory. For most Hague Convention members, the process is: notarise locally → apostille from designated competent authority. We advise on the specifics for your country on request.

We prepare the Power of Attorney text in the correct form for Bulgarian Commercial Register submission and send it to you for signing. You don't need to draft anything — just sign at the notary and organise the apostille.

What you get with a Bulgarian EOOD as a non-EU founder

  • A fully valid EU-registered company — incorporated under Bulgarian law, registered with the Bulgarian Commercial Register, with a Bulgarian company registration number (EIK).
  • EU VAT number access — apply for Bulgarian VAT registration and EU VAT OSS for cross-border sales.
  • EU market access — issue invoices to EU clients as an EU entity, contract with EU suppliers, access EU platforms (Stripe, Adyen, Amazon FBA, Google Ads).
  • 10% corporate tax — Bulgaria's flat corporate tax rate applies regardless of the owner's nationality.
  • Eurozone banking — EUR accounts through EMIs (Revolut Business, Wise) from day one; traditional banking via UniCredit Bulbank or OTP after KYC clearance.
  • 100% foreign ownership — Bulgarian law permits full foreign ownership of an EOOD with no local partner requirement.

What you do NOT get (important caveats)

Read this before proceeding

  • No EU residency or right to live in the EU — owning a Bulgarian company does not give you the right to live or work in Bulgaria or any other EU country. If you want to relocate, Bulgaria has a separate Digital Nomad Visa and Temporary Residence permit.
  • No protection from your home country's CFC rules — US citizens are taxed on worldwide income regardless of where their company is registered. UK, German, French, and Australian residents may face CFC rules attributing Bulgarian company profits to them personally. You must get tax advice in your country of residence.
  • Not a substitute for tax planning — a Bulgarian company is a legitimate legal structure; it does not by itself solve your personal tax obligations in your home country.

Tax note for US founders specifically

The United States taxes its citizens on worldwide income regardless of where they live or where their company is registered. If you are a US citizen or green card holder, a Bulgarian EOOD will still be subject to US tax reporting requirements (Form 5471 for US shareholders in foreign corporations). The 10% Bulgarian corporate tax is a real benefit, but you should work with a US CPA who understands foreign corporation reporting to ensure compliance. We can refer you to CPAs who work regularly with US founders using Bulgarian structures.

The registration process step by step

  1. Contact Bizport EU — share your nationality, planned business activity, and any co-founders. We confirm the apostille requirements for your country and prepare the Power of Attorney template.
  2. KYC submission — send us passport copy, proof of address, and source of funds documentation. We file the anti-money-laundering check.
  3. Sign and apostille the POA — take our template to a local notary for witnessing/notarisation, then obtain the apostille from your country's designated authority. Send us the original by courier (or by scan for preliminary work — originals required for filing).
  4. We handle the rest — Commercial Register filing, registered office setup, UBO register filing. Company incorporation: 7–10 business days.
  5. Receive company documents — Certificate of Incorporation, Articles of Association, UBO confirmation, registered address certificate. All delivered digitally.
  6. Banking setup — we introduce you to EMI providers for immediate account access. Traditional Bulgarian bank account setup if needed.

What Bizport EU handles for non-EU founders

Power of Attorney preparation — country-specific template covering all registration acts, sent to you for signing before the notary.
KYC and AML compliance — we guide you through our document checklist and manage the compliance review on our end.
Commercial Register filing — EOOD formation, Articles of Association, initial capital contribution (minimum BGN 2, ~€1).
Registered office Sofia — legal seat address required for the company, included in the registration package.
UBO register — Ultimate Beneficial Owner filing with the Bulgarian Commercial Register, required within 7 days of incorporation.
Banking introductions — Revolut Business, Wise Business, and Payoneer for immediate EUR accounts; traditional bank introductions on request.
Ongoing accounting and compliance — monthly bookkeeping, quarterly VAT (if registered), annual corporate tax return. All remote.

Frequently asked questions

Can a non-EU citizen register a company in the EU?

Yes. Bulgaria allows non-EU citizens to fully own and manage a Bulgarian EOOD without residency or citizenship. The process is done remotely through an apostilled Power of Attorney.

What is an apostille and how do I get one?

An apostille is an international authentication certificate under the Hague Convention. You notarise a document locally, then have the apostille attached by your country's designated authority (e.g., Secretary of State in the US, FCDO in the UK, DFAT in Australia). Processing time varies from same-day to 2 weeks.

Do I need to visit Bulgaria at any point?

No. The entire registration is remote. You sign the Power of Attorney in your home country, organise the apostille, and courier the original to us. No visit to Bulgaria is required at any stage.

Will my home country tax me on Bulgarian company profits?

Potentially yes, depending on your country of tax residence. The US taxes citizens on worldwide income. The UK, Germany, France, and Australia have CFC rules. You must consult a local tax adviser before proceeding — we cannot advise on your home-country tax position.

Register your EU company from anywhere in the world

Bulgarian EOOD, €299 flat fee, fully remote, 7–10 business days. We'll send you the apostille-ready Power of Attorney template and guide you through the process step by step.

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Also read: EU company as non-resident · Best EU country comparison · How registration works