Do I need a company outside Bulgaria for the nomad visa?

It depends on your category. A freelancer needs non-Bulgarian clients, not a foreign company. A remote employee needs a company registered outside the EU, EEA, and Switzerland. A business owner needs more than 25% of a company registered abroad.

What is the income requirement?

At least 50 times the Bulgarian monthly minimum wage, roughly EUR 31,000 a year in 2026, documented for the preceding year via bank statements, payslips, or tax returns.

How long is the digital nomad permit valid?

One year initially, renewable once, for a maximum of two years. That is shorter than some other European nomad routes, which is a genuine trade-off.

Can I work for Bulgarian clients on this visa?

No. The permit is for income earned outside Bulgaria. You cannot work for Bulgarian employers or clients, or provide services to people in Bulgaria, while on it.

Do EU citizens need the digital nomad visa?

No. EU and EEA citizens can move to Bulgaria without a visa and register residence directly. This permit is for non-EU nationals. See [move to Bulgaria](/move-to-bulgaria).

Does the nomad visa give me the 10% tax rate?

Not by itself. It lets you live in Bulgaria; your tax depends on becoming a Bulgarian tax resident and where your work is managed. Read the [tax guide](/taxes) before assuming a rate.

Can my family come with me?

Family reunification is generally available for the holder's spouse and dependent children under the residence rules. Confirm the current documentation with the consulate or a lawyer, since the specifics are handled case by case.

Is this the right route if I want a Bulgarian company?

No. If you want to form and invoice through a Bulgarian EOOD, the nomad visa does not fit, because it is built for foreign income. Look at [company formation](/company-formation) and, for non-EU founders, [residence routes](/residence-permits).

Bulgaria digital nomad visa: the complete guide

Bulgaria opened a digital nomad residence permit in December 2025. Who qualifies (three categories, not one), the EUR 31,000 income floor, the application steps, and the honest cons, including who should not use this route at all.

General information, not legal or tax advice.

EUR 31,000

Min annual income

50x min wage

1 + 1

Years

Initial plus one renewal

Type D

Visa route

Dec 2025

Introduced

Your income must come from outside Bulgaria

What it is, and what it is not

It is a long-stay (type D) visa leading to a residence permit for people who earn remotely from outside Bulgaria. It lets you live in Bulgaria legally while working for foreign clients or a foreign company.

Who qualifies: three categories

The requirement about where the company sits is different for each category. This is the detail most summaries get wrong.

Digital nomad permit eligibility categories
Category	Requirement
Freelancer / independent contractor	Serving non-Bulgarian clients, for at least a year
Remote employee	Employed by a company registered outside the EU, EEA, and Switzerland
Business owner	Holding more than 25% of a company registered abroad

Only the employee and business-owner categories require a company outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland. A freelancer needs foreign clients, not a foreign company.

The income requirement

You must show an annual income of at least 50 times the Bulgarian monthly minimum wage. With the 2026 minimum wage around EUR 620 a month, that is roughly EUR 31,000 a year, documented for the preceding year through bank statements, payslips, or tax returns.

How to apply

1
Gather documents
2 to 6 weeks
Proof of income for the prior year, proof of remote work in an eligible category, health insurance, a clean criminal record, and accommodation. Foreign documents need an apostille and a Bulgarian translation.
2
Apply for the type D visa
Weeks
At a Bulgarian embassy or consulate in your home country. There is an interview.
3
Enter Bulgaria and apply for the residence permit
Weeks
The type D visa lets you enter and apply for residence at the migration directorate.
4
Receive the permit
Valid for one year, renewable once, for up to two years total.

The honest cons

Short duration. One year plus one renewal is less than Portugal's or Spain's longer routes.
No Bulgarian income. You cannot serve Bulgarian clients or work for a Bulgarian employer on this permit.
Paperwork. Apostille and translation of every foreign document, plus a consular interview.
It does not lower your tax by itself. Where you pay tax depends on residency and management, not on holding this permit.

Written by

Petar Georgiev

Founder, BulgariaHQ

Petar runs Kohi Solutions Ltd, a Bulgarian EOOD registered in Veliko Tarnovo (EU VAT BG206220247), and has built and shipped software products from Bulgaria through it. He writes these guides from the paperwork he has actually filed, and cites the primary source for every number. He is not an accountant or a lawyer, and says so on every page that touches tax or immigration.

Last reviewed July 23, 2026

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Every figure on this page is checked against a primary source. Dates show when we last verified it.

Bulgaria: Digital Nomad Residence Permit IntroducedFragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy LLP · checked Jul 23, 2026
Migration Directorate, Ministry of InteriorRepublic of Bulgaria, Ministry of Interior · checked Jul 23, 2026
Long-stay (type D) visas and consular informationRepublic of Bulgaria, Ministry of Foreign Affairs · checked Jul 23, 2026