Residence permit for digital nomads in Bulgaria
Finally, as of 27.06.2025, Bulgaria has fully operational digital nomad visa and residence program. The legal amendments were published in the State Gazette №52/27.06.2025 and are now part of the Bulgarian Foreigners Law. Since Bulgaria is a full member of Schengen, all digital nomads in the country can travel visa-free to all other Schengen countries.
After comparing all EU digital nomad programs, the 2025 Bulgarian program stands out as the best!
The digital nomad visa and residence permit explained
There are three types of digital nomad visa and residence programs in Bulgaria, each with its own advantages:
- Digital nomad who is employed by a non-EU employer (type A);
- Digital nomad, who is a shareholder or manager of a non-EU company (type B);
- Freelance digital nomad (type C).
So let’s dive into each of these options and find out what the legal requirements are to obtain a digital nomad visa and residence permit in Bulgaria.
Digital nomad who is employed by a non-EU employer
The first condition for this option is that the foreigner must be employed by an employer (a company) from a non-EU country. The employer may also not be from Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein. If the employment contract is for a fixed period, the remaining duration of the contract must be at least as long as the desired long-term residence permit.
The second condition is that the applicant for digital nomad visa and residence permit, logically, must be remotely providing IT services.
Ideal for:
Type A digital nomad visa is ideal for foreigners, working on a payroll for non-EU IT companies. The law does not limit the scope of IT services provided, nor does it prohibit offering services to Bulgarian companies or individuals.
Digital nomad, who is a shareholder or manager of a non-EU company
Under this option, the digital nomad must be a legal representative (director), board member, owner, or hold at least a 25% stake in a non-EU company. The company may also not be from Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein. Through this company, the digital nomad visa candidate must provide remote IT services to clients located outside Bulgaria.
Ideal for:
Type B digital nomad visa is best suited for self-employed foreigners, who prefer providing services through their own non-EU companies. There is a limitation that the company may not provide IT services in Bulgaria.
Freelance digital nomad
This is the wild digital nomad option. No employment contract or any relation with a company is necessary. The digital nomad visa candidate must be providing remote IT services as private individual, under his own name. The condition is that the candidate must have provided similar services for at least one year prior to the application to become a digital nomad in Bulgaria. This is the so called “work experience” requirement, which is usually easy to fulfil. Additionally, the digital nomad is not allowed to provide services in Bulgaria.
Ideal for:
This is the universal option. Basically everyone with an IT experience can qualify for Bulgarian digital nomad visa. No company affiliation is required whatsoever. Easy.
Other conditions that need to be fulfilled
In order to become a digital nomad in Bulgaria, the foreigner must first obtain visa D and then a long-term residence permit. For this to be done, one of the three options above needs to be fulfilled. Additionally, the digital nomad candidate must be in possession of:
Secured housing, mandatory health insurance and social security coverage, sufficient means of subsistence without resorting to the social assistance system, in an amount not less than the minimum monthly wage.
art. 24, par. 2 of the Bulgarian Foreigners Law
The foreigner can additionally prove to have the following:
An average annual income of no less than 50 times the minimum monthly wage according to the legislation of the Republic of Bulgaria for the previous calendar year.
art. 24s, par. 1 of the Bulgarian Foreigners Law
The digital nomad residence permit is valid for one year and can be prolonged for another year if required.
Summary
In the table below, we will summarise the requirements and limitations for each of the digital nomad visa and residence permit options:
| Type | Description | Non-EU company | Work experience | Business in Bulgaria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Digital nomad who is employed by a non-EU employer | required | not required | allowed |
| B | Digital nomad, who is a shareholder or manager of a non-EU company | required | not required | not allowed |
| C | Freelance digital nomad | not required | required | not allowed |
All in all, the new Bulgarian digital nomad visa and residence permit program is quite promising. Compared to its other EU rivals, it offers many advantages with very few limitations. If you have any questions or if you want to apply for a digital nomad visa in Bulgaria, please don’t hesitate to contact our offices.