Is the €31,000/year income requirement high?

Compared to Albania's (~$9,800/yr) or Montenegro's (~€21,600/yr equivalent), Bulgaria's €31,000/year requirement is one of the higher thresholds in the Balkans. However, it is well below the €50,000+ requirements of Portugal's D8 or Germany's freelancer visa. The requirement reflects Bulgaria's EU status — it's setting a standard appropriate for an EU country.

Can I get permanent residency in Bulgaria?

Yes, but not directly from the Digital Nomad Permit. The DN permit allows a maximum of 2 years (1 year + 1 renewal). To stay longer, you must transition to another residency category (employment permit, self-employed/company owner permit, family reunification, etc.). After 5 years of continuous legal residence under any valid category, you can apply for permanent residency.

Can I open a Bulgarian EOOD (LLC) while on the Digital Nomad Permit?

This is an area that requires careful legal advice. The DN permit is for working remotely for foreign employers/clients — acting as a director of a Bulgarian company may complicate your permit status. Many expats transition from the DN permit to a company-owner permit once they establish a Bulgarian entity. Consult an immigration lawyer before combining these.

Does Bulgarian residency count toward Schengen 90/180 days?

As a Schengen member state since 2025, Bulgaria is now part of the Schengen Area. A Bulgarian residence permit grants you the right to reside in Bulgaria and, under Schengen rules, to travel within the Schengen Area. The specific rules for third-country nationals with Bulgarian permits and Schengen travel are governed by EU regulations — consult an immigration specialist for your nationality's specific situation.

How does Bulgaria compare to other Balkan digital nomad visas?

Bulgaria has the highest income requirement (~€31,000/yr) among Balkans DN visas, but uniquely offers EU membership, Schengen travel, and euro currency. Albania (DN permit at ~$9,800/yr) and Montenegro (DN visa at ~€21,600/yr equivalent) are cheaper to qualify for but offer none of these EU advantages. For nomads who want EU rights and the lowest EU tax rates, Bulgaria is the clear choice.

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🇧🇬 Bulgaria

Visa & Residency

1 yr (renewable once)

Digital Nomad Permit

Income req. €31,000/yr; launched Dec 20, 2025

No visa needed

EU Citizens

Live and work freely; register within 3 months

3+ months total

Non-EU Processing

Type D visa (35–45 days) + residence permit (14 days)

Full member

Schengen Access

Since 2025; frictionless 27-country travel

183 days/year

Minimum Presence

Required to maintain nomad permit status

5 years

Permanent Residency

Continuous legal residence; does not follow from DN permit directly

Last updated: March 2026

Overview🏛️Sofia 🏔️Bansko

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Overview

Bulgaria's Digital Nomad Residence Permit formally launched on December 20, 2025, following amendments to the Law on Foreigners. It targets non-EU nationals earning at least €31,000/year from non-EU employers or clients. EU/EEA/Swiss citizens require no visa and can live and work in Bulgaria with no restrictions. Bulgaria joined the Schengen Area in 2025, giving permit holders frictionless travel across 27 countries. The permit is valid for 1 year, renewable once, and requires 183 days/year of Bulgarian presence to maintain.

Key Takeaways

Available to non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals only — EU citizens have automatic right of residence
Stage 1 — Type D Long-Stay Visa: Apply at a Bulgarian embassy or consulate in your home country; processing time 35–45 business days
EU/EEA/Swiss nationals: right to reside and work in Bulgaria with no visa, permit, or income requirement
Bulgarian residents with valid permits can travel freely across all 27 Schengen Area countries without passport checks at internal borders

Digital Nomad Residence Permit (Non-EU Nationals)

Bulgaria's Digital Nomad Residence Permit launched December 20, 2025 — one of the most recent in Europe, and made particularly powerful by Bulgaria's Schengen membership.

Available to non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals only — EU citizens have automatic right of residence
Income requirement: minimum average annual income of €31,000 (equivalent to 50× the monthly minimum salary of €620)
Income must come from employers or clients based outside the EU, EEA, and Switzerland
Work options: (a) employed remotely by a foreign company, (b) own or hold 25%+ of a business registered abroad, or (c) freelancer with at least 1 year of documented experience serving non-Bulgarian clients
Permit holders CANNOT work for Bulgarian companies or clients
Duration: 1 year; renewable once for an additional year (maximum 2 years total on this permit)
Must spend at least 183 days/year in Bulgaria to maintain the permit
No direct pathway to permanent residency — must transition to another category (employment, family, etc.) for longer stay
Family members: accompanying spouse and dependants can apply for derivative residency

Application Process for the Digital Nomad Permit

The process has two stages and can take over 3 months in total — plan well ahead.

Stage 1 — Type D Long-Stay Visa: Apply at a Bulgarian embassy or consulate in your home country; processing time 35–45 business days
Stage 2 — Residence Permit: After entering Bulgaria on the Type D visa, apply at the Migration Directorate of the Ministry of Interior within 14 days of arrival; decision within 14 calendar days (extendable by 1 month for complex cases)
Required documents: valid passport (min 6 months' validity), proof of remote work (employment contract, service agreements, invoices), proof of income (6 months' bank statements), proof of accommodation in Bulgaria (lease, hotel, or property deed), clean criminal record (apostilled if required), health insurance valid in Bulgaria
All foreign documents typically must be apostilled and translated into Bulgarian by a certified translator
Fee: varies; consult the Bulgarian embassy in your country for current fee schedule
An immigration lawyer is strongly recommended — €300–€700 for full service; reduces rejection risk significantly

EU/EEA/Swiss Citizens — No Visa Required

EU citizens have full freedom of movement in Bulgaria and no visa requirements.

EU/EEA/Swiss nationals: right to reside and work in Bulgaria with no visa, permit, or income requirement
Register with the local municipality (Общинска Администрация) within 3 months of arrival if staying longer
After 5 years of continuous legal residence: right to apply for permanent residency
EU citizens pay the same flat 10% income tax as Bulgarian nationals if tax-resident (183+ days/year)
EHIC/GHIC valid for healthcare until you register with the Bulgarian NHIF
Bulgarian citizenship by naturalisation: generally after 5 years of legal residence (reduced for those married to Bulgarian citizens)

Schengen Membership — A Game-Changer

Bulgaria's Schengen accession in 2025 significantly increased the practical value of Bulgarian residency.

Bulgarian residents with valid permits can travel freely across all 27 Schengen Area countries without passport checks at internal borders
This means a Bulgarian Digital Nomad Permit holder can travel to Germany, France, Spain, Italy, etc. without re-entry procedures
Bulgaria's Schengen 90-day rule: non-EU third-country nationals with a Bulgarian residence permit can travel within Schengen for up to 90 days without a separate Schengen visa in addition to their Bulgarian permit (verify current status with an immigration lawyer)
For EU citizens: Schengen access was already guaranteed; the addition simply removes the old internal border controls with Romania and other Schengen neighbours
Euro adoption (January 1, 2026) further eliminates currency barriers within the eurozone

FAQs