Bulgaria launched its digital nomad permit in December 2025. Remote employees, freelancers with a year of history, and owners of foreign companies can live there for a year, renewable once, with income of about €27,500 to €31,000 a year. Residents pay a 10% flat income tax.
Checked against the sources at the end on November 2, 2026. This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you apply.
At a glance
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Visit first | 90 days in any 180 (Schengen) |
| Route for remote workers | Digital nomad residence permit (since Dec 2025) |
| Money you need to show | Gross income of at least 50 Bulgarian minimum monthly wages a year: about €27,533 (2025 wage basis) or €31,010 (2026 basis); plan for the higher figure |
| Length | 1 year, renewable once (2 years in total) |
| Government fees | €100 for the D visa, €260.76 for the permit, plus €20.45 or more for the card |
| Timeline | Visa about 30 to 45 working days; permit about 14 to 30 days |
| Where you apply | Type D visa in person at a Bulgarian consulate (not from inside Bulgaria), then the residence permit at the Migration Directorate |
| Family | Spouse and dependent children can apply once you hold your permit |
| Long-term residence | No path to permanent residence through this permit |
| US taxes | Still due every year. See our US taxes and banking guide |
Who qualifies
Bulgaria launched its digital nomad permit in December 2025. Remote employees, freelancers with a year of history, and owners of foreign companies can live there for a year, renewable once, with income of about €27,500 to €31,000 a year. Residents pay a 10% flat income tax.
- Remote employees of companies outside Bulgaria: yes.
- Freelancers and business owners: yes.
- Income: Gross income of at least 50 Bulgarian minimum monthly wages a year: about €27,533 (2025 wage basis) or €31,010 (2026 basis); plan for the higher figure. That's about $2,890 a month.
Open question: Officials haven't settled which year's minimum wage sets the income figure.
Documents
Order US documents first: apostilles and FBI checks are the slowest part.
- Passport valid at least 18 months
- Employment or client contracts outside Bulgaria (freelancers: 1 year of history)
- Proof of income
- Apostilled, translated criminal record
- Notarized lease or deed
- Health insurance with at least €30,000 cover
Step by step from the US
- Check your numbers against the rule above, using the last 6 to 12 months of income.
- Order US documents: FBI background check, apostilles and translations where needed.
- Apply: Type D visa in person at a Bulgarian consulate (not from inside Bulgaria), then the residence permit at the Migration Directorate.
- Buy health insurance that meets the requirement for your whole stay.
- Arrive and register your address and any residence card on time.
Taxes
- More than 183 days in 12 months makes you a tax resident, taxed at a flat 10% on worldwide income
- Bulgaria uses the euro since January 2026
- No US-Bulgaria totalization agreement
- US citizens still file a US return every year. The foreign earned income exclusion is up to $132,900 for 2026; the foreign tax credit is the alternative. See our US taxes guide.
Common mistakes
- You can't apply from inside Bulgaria
- File renewals at least 14 days (ideally 30) before expiry
- Working for Bulgarian clients can get the permit revoked
Where to live in Bulgaria
Our city guides cover costs in dollars, neighborhoods, live weather and the time difference: Sofia · Plovdiv · Varna · Bansko.
Moving with a partner or kids? See Moving abroad with family.
Sources
Checked on November 2, 2026. Where sources disagree, we say so above.
- Bulgaria Ministry of Foreign Affairs: visas (official)
- Innovires: Bulgaria digital nomad visa 2026
- Remote Work Europe: Bulgaria digital nomad visa launched
Get an email when Bulgaria's rules change
Income minimums, fees and paperwork change often, and old advice sticks around online. When the rules change for Bulgaria, we'll send you one short email with what changed and the source. Nothing else.
Free. Unsubscribe from any email. See our privacy policy.