Bulgaria Starts Issuing Digital Nomad Visas

Bulgaria has officially opened applications for its digital nomad visa starting from December 20, 2025, reports Economic Times. The new residence permit forms part of the country’s broader strategy to attract mobile professionals amid the global expansion of remote work.

The program establishes a full legal framework for living in the country without the need for fictitious employment or frequent exits. It provides for three categories of applicants working remotely:

employees of companies based outside the EU, the European Economic Area and Switzerland — a valid employment contract or an official letter from the employer is required, specifying the position, remote work format and level of remuneration. In addition, an extract from the commercial register must be submitted, issued no earlier than six months prior to application and allowing for online verification;

business owners and managers holding more than 25% of a company registered outside the EU and not providing services to Bulgarian individuals or legal entities — applicants must confirm company registration, ownership structure and their status within the business. At least one active contract and a reference letter from a client confirming the remote nature of the services are also required;

freelancers and self-employed professionals must demonstrate that they have been engaged in remote professional activity for at least one year prior to applying. Supporting documents include contracts with foreign clients, invoices, acts of completed work and bank statements.

The mandatory document package also includes a valid international passport, proof of residence in Bulgaria, health insurance covering the entire period of stay and a police clearance certificate. All documents issued outside Bulgaria must be apostilled or legalized and translated into Bulgarian.



A key financial requirement is proof of income for the previous calendar year at a level no lower than 50 minimum monthly wages, notes the BGinfo portal. What is taken into account is the income actually earned, not the balance on a bank account. According to Bulgarian National Television (BNT), in 2025 the minimum monthly wage stands at 1,077 levs (€551), meaning the current financial threshold for digital nomads is around €27,550 per year. However, from January 1, 2026, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy will raise the minimum wage to 1,213 levs (€620.20), which is 12.6% higher than the current level. Accordingly, income requirements for foreign applicants may increase to approximately €31,010 per year, or €2,584 per month.

The residence permit is issued for one year with the possibility of a single extension for the same period. The application procedure involves several stages. First, the applicant must obtain a long-stay Category D visa in their country of citizenship or legal residence, a process that authorities estimate takes one to two months. After entering Bulgaria, the documents are submitted again locally, with the residence permit application typically processed within two to four weeks. The final step is obtaining a Bulgarian identification card, which may take from three to thirty calendar days to be issued.

Special attention within the program is given to the family status of applicants. Holders of the digital nomad visa are entitled to family reunification, making Bulgaria more attractive not only to individual specialists but also to remote-working families planning relocation.



Analysts at International Investment note that the launch of this visa places Bulgaria among European countries competing for mobile human capital. The new program may prove appealing given the relatively low cost of living and the country’s EU and Schengen membership. At the same time, the required income level for digital nomads is comparable to that of Spain and Italy and currently appears somewhat high. How effectively Bulgaria will compete with more established European destinations under these conditions should become clear as early as next year.