Bulgaria digital nomad visa (2026): who qualifies and how to apply

Bulgaria’s digital nomad visa lets non-EU remote workers live in Bulgaria for up to two years on foreign income. Under Art. 24s of the Foreigners Act, you need an annual income of at least 50 Bulgarian minimum monthly wages — about €31,000 at the 2026 rate of €620 a month — a type D visa, and then a residence permit, which is valid for one year and can be renewed once. You may not work for Bulgarian clients.

Who qualifies for the Bulgaria digital nomad visa?

The scheme was added to the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act in 2025 (State Gazette No. 52). It is open to non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens who provide remote services using information technology, in three groups defined in §1, item 36 of the Act:

• remote employees of a company registered outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland,
• owners of more than 25% of a business registered abroad, or its legal representatives and board members (§1, item 36),
• freelancers who have worked remotely for at least one year before applying.

The work has to stay foreign: for owners and freelancers, the Act’s definition rules out work or services for people in Bulgaria and freelance activity in Bulgaria. EU citizens don’t need this route — see residence for EU citizens.

How does the income rule work?

The threshold in Art. 24s is 50 × the monthly minimum wage per year, counted as gross income for the previous calendar year. At €620 a month, the 2026 minimum wage confirmed by the National Revenue Agency, that is €31,000. Because it is tied to the minimum wage, the figure rises when the minimum wage rises, so ask the consulate which year’s wage it applies before you apply.

What documents do you need?

• A valid passport. The official MFA visa page is the reference for the remaining validity, so check it with your consulate.
• Proof of income and of your remote-work arrangement (contract, company shares or client invoices).
• Health insurance. The Act requires compulsory health insurance for a long-stay permit (Art. 24(2)) but sets no minimum amount, so ask the consulate which cover it accepts.
• Proof of accommodation in Bulgaria, a criminal record certificate, and Bulgarian translations (apostilled where needed).

How do you apply, step by step?

1. Type D visa at the Bulgarian embassy or consulate in your country of permanent residence, with a personal interview. According to the MFA information sheet, it gives a right to stay of up to 180 days.
2. Apply for the residence permit at the Migration Directorate while your visa is valid. By law the application is decided within 14 days, and up to one month longer in complex cases (Art. 24(3)).
3. Collect your residence card, which carries your personal number (LNCh), also used as your tax ID.

Where do you apply in Varna?

Residence applications go to the Migration Directorate of the Ministry of Interior. In Varna, the Medical University lists the migration office at 1 San Stefano Street. Confirm address, hours and appointments on the Ministry of Interior site before you go. Declare your address within 5 days of arrival — our guide to non-EU residence, address and tax ID explains how.

What about tax?

The permit does not make you tax-free. Under the Personal Income Tax Act, spending more than 183 days in Bulgaria in a 12-month period makes you a tax resident (Art. 4), and most personal income is taxed at a flat 10% (Art. 48). Your home-country rules and any double-tax treaty matter too, so speak to a tax adviser.

How to plan your move

• Check the income figure and the insurance the consulate accepts first.
• Gather and translate documents before booking flights.
• Book accommodation with a proper contract — you’ll need it for the permit.
• Put the visa’s expiry and the permit’s one-year expiry in your calendar.

Once you’re settled, our page on remote work and coworking in Varna helps with the day-to-day.