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I float around a few of the other Country sections on this site and my impression is that the Bulgaria one is one of the most active, despite the number of foreign immigrants here being rather lower than in many other EU countries. Am I right in my feeling - or am I just being parochial? - @JimJ

It's only recently that Bulgaria has been active, let's say in the last year. Belgium and Hungary are quite active. Countries do have their peaks. But recently, countries have been tightening up visa rules. Like The UK, Germany, etc... so folk are less interested in asking for advise to move.

I float around a few of the other Country sections on this site and my impression is that the Bulgaria one is one of the most active, despite the number of foreign immigrants here being rather lower than in many other EU countries. Am I right in my feeling - or am I just being parochial? - @JimJ
It's only recently that Bulgaria has been active, let's say in the last year. Belgium and Hungary are quite active. Countries do have their peaks. But recently, countries have been tightening up visa rules. Like The UK, Germany, etc... so folk are less interested in asking for advise to move. - @SimCityAT

And Bulgaria's still handing out "residents" cards like they're smarties; I guess that will also be tightened up when Ursula finally notices that Europe's been at war for the last two years.... 😎

@JimJ

Bulgaria is desperate for investment, and I forgot Portugal, which has a lot of interest, mainly from Americans.

And Bulgaria's still handing out "residents" cards like they're smarties...
- @JimJ

I wish! That's not my experience at all. 477 days to go till I can apply for my D visa.

The "Smarties" are likely to be available only for those with plenty of Euros to invest to buy residency. 

And Bulgaria's still handing out "residents" cards like they're smarties...
- @JimJ
I wish! That's not my experience at all. 477 days to go till I can apply for my D visa.

The "Smarties" are likely to be available only for those with plenty of Euros to invest to buy residency.
- @janemulberry

Jim means that you can still get visas quite easily. If you want to go to the UK it's quite different.

The required income for a UK visa varies by visa type, but for a Skilled Worker visa, the general requirement is the higher of £38,700 per year or the specific "going rate" for the job. There are exceptions, such as for certain health and care roles or if you have a relevant STEM PhD, which can lower the requirement to £25,000. For family visas, the minimum income requirement is £29,000 per year for first-time applicants.

There is no retirement visa anymore.

I think there's still something of a jump between "it's possible to get Bulgarian residency relatively easily compared to the UK" to "they hand them out like Smarties"!  😆

I think there's still something of a jump between "it's possible to get Bulgarian residency relatively easily compared to the UK" to "they hand them out like Smarties"! 😆 - @janemulberry

Indeed so - to be honest, things have been a bit quiet in the BG section lately, so I thought I'd see if being contentious would bring a few replies from some of the "lurkers" that I'm sure are out there....😎