Income required
€2,583/month
Digital Nomad Visa · 🇧🇬 Bulgaria
Bulgaria Digital Nomad Visa (2026): income, cost & how to apply
Figures verified · July 2026Europe's newest nomad visa — launched December 2025 — with a 10% flat tax ceiling.
Stay
1 yr + 1 yr, max 2
Government fees
≈ €100 + ~€260
Basis of the income figure
€31,000 per year (≈ €2,583/month), defined as 50× the Bulgarian monthly minimum wage (€620 in 2026). The threshold rises whenever the minimum wage does, and income is checked for the previous calendar year.Do you qualify? Check in 10 seconds
Family maths: Family reunification follows Bulgaria's general residence rules with additional means per dependent — the nomad scheme itself doesn't publish a formula. (This checker applies no single published uplift — the verdict below uses the base threshold.)
Requirements at a glance
- Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen in one of three categories: remote employee of a company registered outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland; owner of 25%+ of a foreign company; or freelancer serving non-Bulgarian clients for at least 1 year before applying
- Documented income ≥ €31,000 for the previous calendar year
- Health insurance valid in Bulgaria (and the wider EU/Schengen area) for the stay
- Proof of accommodation in Bulgaria and a clean criminal-record certificate, with Bulgarian translations/apostilles where required
How to apply
- Apply for a Type D long-stay visa at the Bulgarian embassy/consulate in your country of residence (4–8 weeks).
- Enter Bulgaria and file the digital-nomad residence-permit application within 14 days of arrival.
- Collect the 1-year residence permit and ID card.
- Renew once for a second year; plan your follow-on basis at least 3 months before it ends.
Money: savings alternative & taxes
Savings route. Income for the preceding calendar year is the test (bank statements, payslips, or tax returns); savings support a file but don't replace the threshold.
Tax. Stay under 183 days in any 12-month window and you generally remain non-resident. From 183 days you become Bulgarian tax-resident — and worldwide income is taxed at a flat 10%, one of the lowest rates in the EU.
Processing time. 4–8 weeks for the Type D visa; the full two-stage process to residence card commonly exceeds three months.
Worth knowing: Working for Bulgarian clients or employers is categorically prohibited — and note Bulgaria joined both the euro and Schengen before launching this visa, so the permit comes with full Schengen mobility.
Want a professional to handle it?
Immigration lawyers routinely turn borderline files into approvals — income structuring, document legalisation, timing. Tell us your situation and get matched with a vetted Bulgaria immigration specialist.
Get matched with a lawyerFrequently asked questions
How much income do I need for Bulgaria's digital nomad visa?
€31,000 for the previous calendar year — about €2,583 per month — set at 50 times Bulgaria's monthly minimum wage (€620 in 2026). The figure will rise as the minimum wage does, and you prove it with bank statements, payslips, or tax returns.
When did Bulgaria launch its digital nomad visa?
On 20 December 2025, making it one of the newest programmes in Europe. Bulgaria had already adopted the euro and joined the Schengen Area in 2025, so the permit includes full Schengen mobility from day one.
What taxes do digital nomads pay in Bulgaria?
Under 183 days in a 12-month period you generally stay non-resident. From 183 days you become a Bulgarian tax resident and your worldwide income is taxed at a flat 10% — among the lowest personal rates in the EU. Confirm your treaty position with an advisor.
Can I stay in Bulgaria longer than two years as a nomad?
Not on this permit — it's one year plus one renewal. After that you must switch to another basis such as registering a Bulgarian company, taking local employment with a Single Permit, or an EU Blue Card. Plan the switch about three months before expiry.
Primary source: Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Migration Directorate. Thresholds tied to wages or salaries change every year — the figures above were verified July 2026. Travel insurance that satisfies visa requirements: nomad insurance from ~€2/day.