Digital Nomad Visa in Bulgaria: Digital Nomad Visa

Long-term residence permit for remote specialists (Art. 24, para. 1, item 23 of the ZChRB)

Under the provisions of the Law on Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria (ZChRB), the country has an official ground for obtaining a long-term residence permit for foreign specialists who work remotely. The "digital nomad" status makes it possible to live in Bulgaria legally while remaining an employee or contractor of foreign companies.

Financial requirements

A clear official income threshold is set for obtaining the digital nomad visa and long-term residence permit. All calculations are based on the minimum wage in Bulgaria, which as of 1 January 2026 is €620:

The applicant must provide documentary proof that their average annual income for the previous calendar year is no less than 50 minimum monthly salaries in Bulgaria.

Converted to current figures, the total confirmed annual income must be no less than €31,000.

Proof of professional status

The foreigner must submit a set of documents proving the remote nature of their work. The applicant may choose one of three available profiles:

1. Employee of a foreign company

Employment contract: a copy of the contract (or an equivalent document) stating the parties, position, salary amount and term of validity.

Employer details: an extract from the official commercial register of the company's country of origin (issued no earlier than 6 months before submission). The document must confirm the company's registration, its registered address, name and the names of its directors/representatives.

1. Owner or founder of a foreign business

Corporate documents: a recent extract from the commercial register (valid for up to 6 months) containing information on the company's name, its ID number, capital structure, owners, address and types of activity.

Remote activity: at least one active contract with a client of the company and an official letter of reference confirming that the services are provided entirely remotely.

1. Self-employed person / freelancer

Contracts: at least one active civil-law contract or service agreement with a foreign client.

Confirmation of format: a reference from the client confirming that the cooperation takes place remotely.

Mandatory condition: both documents must contain the client's full details (full name or company name, company register/ID number, registered and actual addresses).

General requirements for the document package

In addition to the specific documents confirming nomad status, the applicant will need to provide the standard Bulgarian immigration package (a passport valid for at least 18 months, a certificate of no criminal record, medical insurance with coverage of at least €30,000, as well as a notarised housing rental agreement with an address declaration from the owner).

Rules for legalising foreign documents:

Apostille: all documents (income certificates, register extracts, employment contracts) issued outside Bulgaria are subject to mandatory legalisation or apostille.

Official translation: each document must be accompanied by a translation into Bulgarian, made by a licensed translator and certified in the established manner.

Application procedure and fees

Stage 1 (type D visa): the initial submission of documents takes place at a Bulgarian consulate abroad. The processing period is from 30 working days, the consular fee is €100.

Stage 2 (long-term residence permit): after entering Bulgaria, an application is submitted to the Migration Directorate. The processing fee is €5.11, and the annual state fee for the long-term residence permit is €255.65. The plastic ID card is paid for separately depending on the urgency of production.