Overview
Amendments to the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, published in State Gazette No. 52 of 27 June 2025, added digital nomads to the categories eligible for long-term residence (Art. 24(1), item 23) and set their conditions in a new Article 24c. A digital nomad is a foreigner who works remotely through information technology and who is employed by an employer registered outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland; or is the legal representative, a director, the owner or a holder of more than 25% of a company registered outside those countries; or has provided remote services in a personal capacity for at least one year before applying — in every case without working for people in Bulgaria.
The route starts with a long-stay type D visa from a Bulgarian embassy or consulate; once in Bulgaria you apply for the residence permit. Implementing rules followed in December 2025, so consular practice is still new: check the embassy's instructions before you book.
Editor's note — The income test looks at the previous calendar year. For applications filed in 2026 that means 50 × the 2025 minimum wage of BGN 1,077 — about €27,533 a year. For applications filed in 2027 the benchmark becomes the 2026 minimum wage of €620.20, or €31,010 a year.
Who is eligible
- Non-EU/EEA/Swiss national working remotely through information technology.
- Employed by an employer registered outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland; or representative, director, owner or 25%+ shareholder of a company registered there; or self-employed providing remote services for at least one year before applying.
- No work for employers or clients in Bulgaria, and no liberal-profession activity there.
- Average annual gross income of at least 50 Bulgarian monthly minimum wages for the previous calendar year.
Income & financial requirements
Bulgarian monthly minimum wage, gross, for the previous calendar year.
50 × BGN 1,077, the 2025 minimum wage.
50 × €620.20, the 2026 minimum wage.
For owners and shareholders of a foreign company.
Article 24c asks for an average annual income of at least 50 Bulgarian minimum monthly wages for the previous calendar year, counted gross. With the 2025 minimum wage of BGN 1,077 that is BGN 53,850 — about €27,533. The Ministry of Labour set the 2026 minimum wage at BGN 1,213 (€620.20), which gives €31,010 for applications that look back at 2026.
Employees prove the income with their contract and payslips; owners and freelancers with company accounts, invoices and tax documents. Ask the consulate how it wants the income evidenced.
Costs & fees
- Type D visa fee at the Bulgarian consulate.
- Residence-permit and residence-card fees in Bulgaria.
- Health insurance, certified translations into Bulgarian and apostilles or legalisation of foreign documents.
Taxes
The Foreigners Act changes do not include a tax incentive. If you become a Bulgarian tax resident, your income falls under the ordinary Bulgarian rules; check the residence tests with a tax adviser before you relocate.
How to apply
Check eligibility
Confirm your employer, company or clients are outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland and that last year's income clears the 50-wage test.
Apply for a type D visa
At the Bulgarian embassy or consulate for your country of nationality or residence.
Enter and apply for the permit
File the residence-permit application with the Migration Directorate in Bulgaria.
Collect your card
Then keep your insurance and income in order for the one-year extension.
Duration & renewal
The permit is valid for one year and can be extended once, for another year (Art. 24c(2)). If the extension is still being decided when the permit expires, you may stay until the decision, provided you applied while the permit was valid.
Bringing family
Family members can join through family reunification with the permit holder, with their own means-of-subsistence evidence; ask the consulate for the documents required for spouses and children.
Pros & cons
Advantages
- EU base with an income bar tied to the local minimum wage
- Rules written into the Foreigners Act, with a clear one-plus-one-year structure
- Owners and shareholders of foreign companies qualify, not only employees
- Pending extensions let you stay until the decision
Considerations
- Two years maximum on this permit
- Employer or clients must be outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland
- New programme: consular practice is still settling
- Documents generally need Bulgarian translations