07
Jan 2026
Bulgaria has officially rolled out the Bulgaria Digital Nomad Visa, opening a new legal path for non-EU remote workers to live in the country.
The program allows eligible freelancers, entrepreneurs, and foreign employees to stay for up to one year, with an option to renew, as long as their income comes from outside Bulgaria.
A legal path to stay
Under the new rules, the Bulgaria Digital Nomad Visa applies to non-EU citizens who earn their income from outside the country and want to live in Bulgaria on a long-term basis.
Applications opened on December 20, 2025, following changes to Bulgaria’s Law on Foreigners that formally introduced a digital nomad residence category.
The permit is issued for one year and can be renewed once, allowing eligible applicants to stay for up to two years. The process begins with a long-stay Type D visa application filed at a Bulgarian embassy or consulate abroad.
After entering Bulgaria with that visa, applicants must submit their documents again to local migration authorities to receive a residence card.
The residence permit does not allow holders to work for Bulgarian companies or provide services to clients based in Bulgaria. All income must come from employers, clients, or companies registered outside the European Union, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland.
Three groups, one permit
Bulgarian authorities have defined three main categories of applicants. The first covers remote employees hired by companies registered outside the EU, EEA, and Switzerland.
The second applies to business owners, shareholders, or members of management bodies who own at least 25% of a foreign-registered company and perform their work remotely.
The third category includes freelancers who have provided digital services to foreign clients for at least one year before applying.
Applicants must meet a minimum income requirement equal to 50 times Bulgaria’s monthly minimum wage for the previous year. Based on current figures, this translates to roughly €27,500, or about $30,000.
Required documents include proof of income, valid health insurance, accommodation in Bulgaria, and a criminal record certificate from the applicant’s country of residence.
Family members can apply to join visa holders through family reunification procedures, though they must submit their own supporting documents and meet eligibility conditions set by immigration authorities.
Targeting foreign income, not jobs
The visa is part of a broader government effort to respond to the rise of remote work and attract foreign professionals who can live in Bulgaria while earning income abroad.
Officials have pointed to the potential economic effect of long-term residents who spend locally without entering the domestic labor market.
Bulgaria has become a popular base for remote workers in recent years, particularly in cities such as Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, and Bansko. These areas offer relatively low living costs, expanding coworking infrastructure, and reliable internet access compared with many Western European cities.
Policy documents linked to the visa note that remote workers typically spend on housing, food, transportation, and local services, which can support regional economies without increasing competition for local jobs.
(Image courtesy of Media Trading Ltd. via iStock)
Money rules, tax lines
While the visa itself focuses on residency rather than employment, tax obligations depend on how long a visa holder stays in Bulgaria.
Under existing rules, individuals who spend more than 183 days in the country during a year may be considered tax residents. In that case, their worldwide income could be subject to Bulgaria’s flat 10% personal income tax.
Immigration authorities have emphasized that visa holders must remain compliant with both immigration and tax laws. Working for Bulgarian clients, failing to maintain health insurance, or no longer meeting income thresholds may affect renewal eligibility or lead to permit cancellation.
Applicants are generally advised to seek professional tax guidance before relocating, especially if they earn income from multiple countries.
Not a tourist shortcut
The Bulgaria Digital Nomad Visa is separate from short-term travel rules that apply to tourists and business visitors. Travelers entering Bulgaria without a residence permit are still subject to the standard 90-days-in-180-days limit used across much of Europe.
This difference is expected to become more visible once the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) comes into effect, currently scheduled for late 2026.
ETIAS will require travelers from visa-exempt countries to obtain online travel authorization before entering most European countries for short stays.
ETIAS does not grant residency rights or permission to work and cannot be used as an alternative to a long-stay visa.
Digital nomads planning to live in Bulgaria for more than 90 days will still need a residence permit, such as the new digital nomad visa, rather than relying on ETIAS approval.
A multi-step application
The application process involves multiple stages and can take several months from start to finish. The initial Type D visa application is filed abroad and typically takes one to two months to process.
After arrival in Bulgaria, the residence permit application is reviewed locally, with processing times ranging from two to four weeks.
Applicants must also complete an identification card process, which can take additional time depending on local workloads. Immigration officials recommend starting the process well in advance of planned relocation dates to avoid gaps in legal status.
Renewals follow a similar review process and require updated proof of income, accommodation, insurance, and compliance with residency conditions.
(Image courtesy of Oscar Gutierrez Zozolia via iStock)
An option in a crowded field
Bulgaria joins a growing list of European countries offering digital nomad or remote work visas. Programs in Portugal, Spain, Croatia, and Estonia have drawn interest from freelancers and remote employees seeking legal ways to stay longer in Europe.
Compared with many of these options, Bulgaria’s income requirement is lower, though the visa offers a shorter maximum stay of two years.
The program is designed for residence rather than a pathway to permanent settlement, and officials have not indicated plans to link it directly to long-term residency or citizenship.
The government has described the visa as an initial framework that may be adjusted as application numbers and economic outcomes become clearer.
What comes next
Immigration authorities are continuing to update application guidance and administrative procedures as embassies and regional offices handle the new visa category. Additional clarifications on documentation and processing timelines are expected as the program matures.
Bulgaria’s recent entry into the Schengen Area and its planned adoption of the euro in 2026 are also likely to shape how foreign residents move, bank, and manage daily life in the country.
For remote workers looking beyond short-term travel permissions, the Bulgaria Digital Nomad Visa offers a structured option to live legally in the country while working for clients or employers abroad, without relying on tourist stays or future systems for long-term residence.