08.01.2026 10:00
Bulgaria has joined the countries implementing a digital nomad visa in Europe. Bulgaria, which will switch to the euro in 2025 and is part of the Schengen Area, has announced the necessary conditions for those applying for the digital nomad visa. Applicants must not be citizens of the EU/EEA, must be working remotely, and must obtain their income from sources outside of Bulgaria.
Bulgaria has launched its digital nomad visa. Bulgaria, which will convert its currency to the euro in 2025, has also joined the Schengen Area. Following these steps, the country has officially implemented the digital nomad visa and applications have begun.
The relatively low cost of living compared to many European countries and the rapid development of services for remote workers in its cities with a young population are said to make the country attractive for digital nomads. What is known about Bulgaria's digital nomad visa application...
WHO CAN APPLY?
Applicants must not be citizens of the EU/EEA, must be working remotely, and must earn their income from sources outside Bulgaria.
There are three main eligibility criteria:
- Remote workers registered with companies outside the EU, EEA, and Switzerland,
- Those who own a company registered abroad or hold more than 25% of shares in a company,
- Freelancers or independent professionals who have provided services to clients outside Bulgaria for at least one year prior to the application.
Applicants must also prove that their annual income is at least 50 times the monthly minimum wage in Bulgaria. Since the current monthly minimum wage is 620 euros, the annual minimum income requirement is approximately 31,000 euros.
HOW TO APPLY?
The application process consists of two stages. First, those wishing to apply must obtain a D-type long-term visa from the Bulgarian embassy or consulate in their home country. This process usually takes four to eight weeks. This visa allows foreigners to enter Bulgaria and apply for a residence permit.
After entering Bulgaria, an application for a residence permit under the Digital Nomad Visa program must be submitted within 14 days. Required documents include proof of accommodation in Bulgaria (rental agreement, hotel reservation, or property deed), a clean criminal record certificate obtained from the country of residence, and translated foreign documents into Bulgarian, with apostilled versions where necessary. Additionally, applicants must also document that they meet the specified minimum income requirement. According to the remote work consultancy site Citizen Remote, applicants must also show that they have valid health insurance that covers all of Bulgaria and the entire Schengen/EU area.
In the final stage, digital nomads can apply for an identity card. The entire process can take more than three months. The residence permit is initially granted for one year and can be extended for another year as long as the eligibility conditions continue to be met.