Bulgaria Digital nomad permit

One-year permit for foreigners who work remotely by information technology for an employer or company registered outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, or for clients abroad, and earn at least 50 monthly minimum wages a year. ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7}

What you must show

• Income of at least EUR 27,533.07 a year (≈ $30,800) · Average annual gross income of at least 50 minimum monthly wages under Bulgarian law for the previous calendar year (Art. 24s). For applications in 2026 the 2025 minimum wage of BGN 1,077 (≈ $620) gives 50 x BGN 1,077 (≈ $620) = BGN 53,850, (≈ $30,800) which is EUR 27,533.07 (≈ $30,800) at EUR 1 (≈ $1) = BGN 1.95583 (≈ $1); for applications in 2027 the 2026 minimum wage of EUR 620.20 (≈ $690) gives EUR 31,010 (≈ $34,600). Gross income is counted. ^{1 4 5 6}

Requirements

• Applicants are employed under a contract with an employer registered outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland and provide remote services by information technology. ¹
• With a fixed-term contract, the remaining term is at least as long as the permit. ¹
• Alternatively, applicants are a representative, board member, owner, partner or over-25% shareholder of such a company and provide remote IT services through it. ¹
• Alternatively, applicants have personally provided remote IT services for at least one year before applying. ¹
• In the company and self-employed cases applicants do not work or provide services for persons in Bulgaria and do no freelance work in Bulgaria. ¹
• Average annual gross income is at least 50 monthly minimum wages for the previous calendar year. ¹
• For applications in 2026 this is BGN 53,850 (≈ $30,800) (50 x BGN 1,077 (≈ $620)), EUR 27,533.07 (≈ $30,800). ^{4 6}
• The general means-of-support rule of Art. 24(2) also applies, at least the minimum monthly wage for the stay. ¹
• Proof of the income, an employment contract or other employer document, or company registry documents issued within 6 months, are submitted. ³
• A contract and reference from a recipient of the remote services are submitted for owners and self-employed applicants. ³
• Proof of housing, health insurance valid in Bulgaria and a criminal record certificate are submitted. ¹
• Applicants first obtain a long-stay Visa D. ¹
• The permit is valid for one year and can be extended once for another year. ¹

Stay

• Permit valid one year, extendable once for one more year (two years in total).
• Initial permitted stay: 12 months.
• Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
• Long-term residence permit up to 12 months: Valid one year; can be extended once for another year. A residence right continues while an extension filed in time is decided.

Nationality

Third-country nationals whose employer or company is registered outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

Work

Remote work for the foreign employer or company or foreign clients only; no work or services for persons in Bulgaria and no access to the Bulgarian labour market.

Family

Family members can apply for long-term residence as family members of a foreigner with a permit (Art. 24(1) item 13).

Checked 2026-10-11

Official sources

1. Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, consolidated text (amended to State Gazette 52/2025) · Ministry of Labour and Social Policy (consolidated text, printed 13 February 2026) · checked 2026-10-11
2. Law amending the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act (State Gazette 52/2025) · National Assembly of Bulgaria (State Gazette) · checked 2026-10-11
3. Council of Ministers Decree 286 of 12 December 2025 amending the Implementing Regulations of the Foreigners Act (State Gazette 109/2025) · Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria, State Gazette · checked 2026-10-11
4. Council of Ministers Decree 359 of 23 October 2024 on the minimum wage from 1 January 2025 · Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria, State Gazette · checked 2026-10-11
5. Decree setting the minimum monthly wage from 1 January 2026 (BGN 1,213; EUR 620.20) · State Gazette of Bulgaria · checked 2026-10-11
6. Bulgaria adopts euro as of 1 January 2026 (fixed rate EUR 1 = BGN 1.95583) · European Commission, Access2Markets · checked 2026-10-10
7. Labour Migration and Labour Mobility Act (Bulgarian text, as amended to 2021) · Ministry of Labour and Social Policy · checked 2026-10-11