Bulgaria introduced its Digital Nomad Visa in June 2025, giving non-EU remote workers and entrepreneurs a legal, straightforward pathway to live in Bulgaria while working for companies outside the country. With Bulgaria now in the Schengen Area and adopting the euro in January 2026, the timing has never been better. Here is everything you need to know — eligibility, income requirements, documents, the full application process, and why Bulgaria beats Estonia, Portugal and Croatia on value.
What is the Bulgaria Digital Nomad Visa?
The Bulgaria Digital Nomad Visa is an official residence permit for non-EU/EEA professionals who earn their income from sources outside Bulgaria. It is not a traditional work visa — you are not employed by a Bulgarian company and you do not serve Bulgarian clients. You simply live in Bulgaria while continuing to work remotely for your existing employer, clients or business abroad.
The permit is valid for one year and can be renewed for one additional year, giving you up to two years of legal residency.
Unlike the Bulgarian freelance visa (which requires a local business plan and targets the Bulgarian market), the Digital Nomad Visa is specifically designed for people whose entire income comes from outside Bulgaria.
Who is eligible?
Bulgaria’s Digital Nomad Visa covers three categories of applicants:
Type A — Remote employees You are employed by a company registered outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland. Your employment contract must confirm remote working arrangements. You cannot serve Bulgarian clients under this category.
Type B — Business owners and partners You own, are a partner in, or are a legal representative of a company registered outside the EU. You must hold more than 25% equity in the company. This category is ideal for founders and co-owners of non-EU businesses.
Type C — Freelancers and independent contractors You provide digital services independently — design, development, writing, consulting, marketing or similar. You must have at least 12 months of prior professional experience in your field, and you cannot work with or for Bulgarian clients.
In all three cases, the core requirement is the same: your income must come from outside Bulgaria and outside the EU/EEA.
What is the income requirement?
To qualify, you must prove an annual income from the previous calendar year of at least 50 times the Bulgarian gross minimum monthly wage.
As of 1 January 2026, the statutory minimum monthly wage in Bulgaria is BGN 1,213 (approximately €620), with a corresponding hourly rate of BGN 7.31. The calculation for 2026 applications is:
BGN 1,213 × 50 = BGN 60,650 per year (approximately €31,000)
This remains a relatively accessible threshold compared to other EU countries. A remote professional earning €2,500+ per month comfortably meets this requirement.
Income proof typically includes bank statements, employment contracts, invoices, or tax returns from your home country demonstrating the previous year’s earnings.
What documents do I need?
The full document list for the Bulgaria Digital Nomad Visa residence permit application:
Identity and immigration:
- Valid passport (minimum 18 month validity recommended)
- Bulgaria Type D long-stay visa (obtained at a Bulgarian consulate before entering Bulgaria)
Proof of work and income:
- Employment contract or freelance agreements confirming remote work for a non-EU entity
- Bank statements or tax returns from the previous calendar year showing income of at least BGN 60,650
- For Type B (business owners): company registration documents showing >25% equity
Proof of life in Bulgaria:
- Rental contract or proof of accommodation in Bulgaria
- Health insurance valid in Bulgaria for the full duration of the stay
Background check:
- Criminal record certificate from your country of citizenship or current country of residence (apostilled if required)
Financial solvency:
- Proof of means of subsistence of at least the Bulgarian minimum monthly wage (approximately €620/month) — typically covered by your income documentation
All documents issued abroad must be officially translated into Bulgarian.
Step-by-step: How to apply
The process has three stages and takes approximately three to four months in total.
Stage 1 — Apply for a Type D visa at a Bulgarian consulate (1–2 months)
Before entering Bulgaria, you apply for a Type D long-stay visa at the Bulgarian embassy or consulate in your home country or country of legal residence. This is a standard national visa application — you submit your documents, attend an interview if required, and wait for approval.
Processing time varies by country but typically takes 4 to 8 weeks. Apply well in advance, as this is the longest stage of the process.
Stage 2 — Enter Bulgaria and apply for the residence permit (2–4 weeks)
Once you enter Bulgaria on your Type D visa, you submit your Digital Nomad Visa residence permit application to one of two authorities:
- The Directorate “Migration” under the Ministry of Interior (for applications in Sofia)
- The Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior in your city of residence
Important: you must submit this application no later than 14 days before your Type D visa or allowed period of stay expires. Do not leave this until the last moment.
Processing takes approximately 2 to 4 weeks.
Stage 3 — ID card issuance (3–30 days)
Once your residence permit is approved, you receive your official Bulgarian ID card. Processing time ranges from 3 to 30 days depending on workload at the issuing office.
Total timeline: approximately 3 to 4 months from consulate application to ID card in hand.
How does Bulgaria’s Digital Nomad Visa compare to other EU options?
| Country | Income threshold | Tax rate | Monthly costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulgaria | €31,000/year | 10% | €1,260–1,800 |
| Estonia | €42,048/year | 20% | €1,400–1,800 |
| Portugal | €9,120/year | 20% | €1,500–2,200 |
| Croatia | €30,468/year | 18% | €1,000–1,500 |
| Georgia | None | 20% | €600–900 |
All five countries above have Schengen access except Georgia. Bulgaria and Croatia offer 1-year permits (renewable); Portugal offers 2 years.
Bulgaria’s combination of a moderate income threshold, flat 10% income tax, Schengen freedom, and low cost of living places it ahead of Estonia and Croatia on pure value. Portugal has a lower income threshold but a significantly higher cost of living and tax rate.
Why Bulgaria and why now?
Schengen Area membership (since March 2025)
Bulgaria joined the Schengen Area on March 1, 2025. As a Digital Nomad Visa holder, you can travel freely across 29 Schengen countries — France, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Spain, and more — without a separate visa. This single change transformed Bulgaria from a good option to an excellent one for mobility-focused professionals.
Euro adoption (January 2026)
Bulgaria is scheduled to adopt the euro on January 1, 2026 at the fixed rate of 1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN. For nomads earning and spending in euros, this eliminates currency exchange friction entirely and signals deepening economic stability within the EU.
10% flat income tax
Bulgaria applies a flat 10% personal income tax on all income — the lowest rate in the European Union. There is no wealth tax. Dividend income is taxed at 5%. For a professional earning €60,000/year previously paying 40–49% tax in Germany or the Netherlands, the difference is substantial.
Cost of living: still 40–50% lower than Western Europe
- Sofia one-bedroom apartment (city centre): €650–850/month
- Plovdiv one-bedroom apartment: €400–600/month
- Bansko (mountain ski town, popular with nomads): €400–650/month
- Monthly groceries: €280–500
- Co-working space (Sofia): €130–260/month
- Fast internet: near-universal, average 200+ Mbps
The nomad infrastructure is already there
Sofia has a growing tech and startup ecosystem with multiple co-working spaces, international cafés, and a young English-speaking professional community.
Plovdiv — European Capital of Culture 2019 — combines Old Town charm with a relaxed cost base and growing expat community.
Bansko is Europe’s fastest-growing digital nomad hub. Cheap, scenic, with high-speed fibre and a thriving international community that stays year-round, not just for ski season.
Varna and Burgas offer Black Sea coast living with beach access, lower prices than Sofia and direct flight connections to major European cities.
Can I bring my family?
Yes. Family members of Digital Nomad Visa holders can apply for their own residence permits in Bulgaria. Spouses and dependent children can accompany you and establish legal residency independently under family reunification provisions. Each family member goes through their own permit application but the process runs in parallel.
Can I work with Bulgarian clients?
For most applicants — no. The Digital Nomad Visa is specifically designed for professionals who earn income outside Bulgaria. Serving Bulgarian clients can jeopardise your permit status.
The nuance: for Type A (remote employees), your employer may technically have some EU/EEA presence as long as your employment contract and primary client relationship are non-Bulgarian. This is a grey area worth clarifying with a local legal advisor before you apply.
Can I apply while already in Bulgaria?
You cannot apply for the Digital Nomad Visa as a tourist from within Bulgaria. The Type D visa must be obtained at a Bulgarian consulate in your home country or current country of legal residence before you enter Bulgaria for residency purposes.
Does the Digital Nomad Visa lead to permanent residency?
Not directly, but it creates a pathway. After completing your Digital Nomad Visa period (up to two years), you can explore other residency routes — company formation, employment, or investment — that lead to long-term residency and, after five years, Bulgarian citizenship. Bulgaria does not have a strict continuous residency clock that resets between permit types, but you should plan your pathway carefully with a legal advisor.
FAQ
What is the Bulgaria Digital Nomad Visa? It is an official one-year residence permit launched in June 2025 for non-EU remote workers, freelancers and business owners who earn their income from companies or clients outside Bulgaria.
How much income do I need for the Bulgaria Digital Nomad Visa? You need to show annual income of at least EUR 31,000 from the previous calendar year, based on 50 times the Bulgarian minimum monthly wage of EUR 620,20 as of January 2026.
Can EU citizens apply for the Bulgarian Digital Nomad Visa? No. The visa is specifically for non-EU/EEA citizens. EU citizens already have the right to live and work in Bulgaria freely under EU freedom of movement rules.
Does Bulgaria’s Digital Nomad Visa allow travel to other Schengen countries? Yes. Since Bulgaria joined the Schengen Area in January 2025, holding a Bulgarian residence permit gives you the right to travel freely across all 29 Schengen countries.
How long does the Bulgaria Digital Nomad Visa process take? The full process takes approximately 3 to 4 months: 1 to 2 months for the Type D visa at your local Bulgarian consulate, 2 to 4 weeks for the residence permit after arriving in Bulgaria and 3 to 30 days for the ID card.
Can I renew the Bulgaria Digital Nomad Visa? Yes, once. The permit is granted for one year and can be renewed for one additional year, giving a maximum of two consecutive years under this specific visa category.
Ready to apply for the Bulgaria Digital Nomad Visa?
Plan Bulgaria helps non-EU professionals navigate the full Digital Nomad Visa process — from Type D visa preparation and document translation to residence permit submission and post-arrival setup including registered address and accounting.
Book a free 15-minute consultation with Damyan Pilkov, Managing Partner at Plan Bulgaria, to discuss your specific situation and get a clear timeline.
Published: March 2026. Based on Bulgarian legislation and the Digital Nomad Visa introduced in June 2025. Income thresholds reflect the 2026 minimum wage of BGN 1,213 (hourly rate BGN 7.31). Requirements may be updated — contact Plan Bulgaria for the most current information.
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Managing Partner Plan Bulgaria
Legal and Investment Advisor for international investors entering Bulgaria. Structuring companies, investments and real estate. Delivered end-to-end.
