Bulgaria officially opened applications for its Digital Nomad Visa in December 2025, joining the growing list of European countries offering legal residency to remote workers. And the pitch is hard to ignore: live in an EU and Schengen member state, enjoy some of the lowest living costs in Europe, and — if you stay long enough to become a tax resident — pay a flat 10% income tax.
Here's everything you need to know about the visa, what life in Bulgaria actually looks like, and whether it's the right move for you.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Visa launched | December 20, 2025 |
| Duration | 1 year, renewable for 1 more (2 years max) |
| Income requirement | EUR 31,000/year (~EUR 2,583/month) |
| Who qualifies | Remote workers for non-EU employers/clients |
| Currency | Euro (adopted January 1, 2026) |
| Income tax | Flat 10% (if tax resident) |
| EU member since | 2007 |
| Schengen member | Full member since January 2025 |
| Internet speed | #4 globally for mobile (131 Mbps avg.) |
| Monthly budget (Sofia) | EUR 1,200–1,800 comfortably |
Who Can Apply
The visa is designed for non-EU citizens who work remotely for employers or clients outside the EU, EEA, and Switzerland. There are three eligible categories:
- Remote employees: You work for a company registered outside the EU. Your employment contract and salary must come from that foreign employer.
- Business owners: You hold at least 25% ownership in a company registered outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland.
- Freelancers: You provide services to non-Bulgarian clients and have been freelancing for at least one year.
The key restriction: you cannot work for Bulgarian companies or serve Bulgarian clients while on this visa. It's specifically for people bringing foreign income into the country.
Income Threshold
You need to earn at least EUR 31,000 per year (roughly EUR 2,583/month). This is based on a multiple of the Bulgarian minimum wage, which is EUR 620/month in 2026. The threshold may increase in future years as the minimum wage rises.
For context, EUR 31,000 is about twice the average Bulgarian salary — but for most remote workers from the US, UK, or Western Europe, this is a low bar.
How to Apply
The process has two stages:
Stage 1: Type D Long-Stay Visa
Apply at a Bulgarian embassy or consulate in your home country. Processing takes 4–8 weeks. You'll need:
- Valid passport (with at least 18 months remaining)
- Proof of remote employment or business ownership
- Evidence of meeting the income threshold (bank statements, employment contract, tax returns)
- Clean criminal record certificate (from your country of residence)
- Health insurance valid across the Schengen Zone
- Proof of accommodation in Bulgaria (rental contract, hotel booking, or invitation letter)
- Official translations and apostilles where required
Stage 2: Residence Permit
Once you arrive in Bulgaria, you have 14 days to apply for your residence permit at the local migration office. Bring all the same documents plus your Type D visa. The total process from initial application to receiving your residence card can take 3+ months.
The residence permit is valid for 1 year and can be renewed once for a second year. After 2 years, you'd need to apply through a different visa category or leave.
Tax Implications
This is where it gets interesting. Bulgaria has a flat 10% personal income tax rate — one of the lowest in the EU. But it doesn't apply to everyone automatically.
The rule is straightforward: if you spend more than 183 days in Bulgaria within a calendar year, you become a Bulgarian tax resident. As a tax resident, your worldwide income is taxed at 10%.
If you stay fewer than 183 days, you're a non-resident. In that case, only Bulgarian-sourced income is taxable — and since your work is for foreign employers/clients, you'd likely owe nothing in Bulgaria. (You'd still owe taxes in your home country or wherever you're tax resident.)
There's no special tax regime for digital nomads. The standard rules apply. But that flat 10% rate is genuinely attractive — especially compared to rates of 30–50% in most Western European countries.
A few other tax details:
- Corporate income tax is also 10% (the lowest in the EU)
- Dividend tax is 5%
- No progressive brackets, no local income taxes
- Social security contributions add roughly 13% on top if you're employed locally, but as a remote worker for a foreign company, this typically doesn't apply
Spend some time with a Bulgarian tax advisor before making assumptions. Tax residency rules interact with your home country's tax treaty with Bulgaria, and getting it wrong can mean paying taxes in two places.
Cost of Living
This is Bulgaria's biggest selling point for digital nomads. Your euros go remarkably far here.
Sofia
Sofia is the most expensive city in Bulgaria, and it's still one of the cheapest capitals in the EU.
- 1-bedroom apartment (central): EUR 500–700/month (premium neighbourhoods like Lozenets or Iztok: EUR 700–1,000)
- 1-bedroom apartment (outside centre): EUR 350–500/month
- Groceries (single person): EUR 200–280/month
- Dining out (inexpensive restaurant): EUR 10–12
- Dinner for two (mid-range): EUR 45–55
- Coffee (cappuccino): EUR 2.50–3.50
- Coworking space: EUR 180–230/month
- Monthly transport pass: EUR 25
Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas
Move outside Sofia and costs drop further:
- 1-bedroom apartment: EUR 300–500/month
- Overall living costs: Roughly 15–25% cheaper than Sofia
Monthly Budget Summary
- Modest lifestyle (Sofia): EUR 900–1,200/month including rent
- Comfortable lifestyle (Sofia): EUR 1,400–1,800/month including rent and coworking
- Outside Sofia: EUR 800–1,300/month for a comfortable lifestyle
Compare that to Lisbon (EUR 2,000–3,000) or Barcelona (EUR 2,500–3,500) and the appeal is obvious. Your EUR 31,000 minimum income goes a very long way here.
Internet and Remote Work Infrastructure
Bulgaria ranks 4th globally for mobile internet speed, averaging 131 Mbps on download — that puts it ahead of most of Western Europe. 5G coverage is expanding fast, with average speeds around 298 Mbps.
Fixed broadband is decent too, with dense fibre coverage in Sofia and other major cities. You won't have connectivity issues working from home or a coworking space.
Sofia has a growing coworking ecosystem. Spaces like Betahaus, Puzl CowOrKing, and soHo are popular with the digital nomad community. Plovdiv and Varna have smaller but expanding options.
Most cafes in Sofia have reliable WiFi, and the city's digital nomad community has been growing steadily since the visa launched.
Healthcare
Digital nomad visa holders are required to have health insurance valid across the Schengen Zone. In practice, most nomads use private international health insurance.
If you do want Bulgarian coverage:
- Public healthcare (NHIF/NZOK): Funded by mandatory contributions (~EUR 37/month for self-insured). Covers GP visits (co-pay about EUR 1.50), hospital care, and specialist referrals. Quality is improving but can be inconsistent — long waits and aging infrastructure in some areas.
- Private healthcare: EUR 30–80/month. Offers English-speaking staff, shorter waits, and modern facilities. Sofia and Plovdiv have good private clinics.
For most digital nomads, a combination of international travel insurance and a local private plan is the practical choice.
Living in Bulgaria: What to Expect
The Cities
Sofia is where most digital nomads land. It's a compact, walkable city with a mountain (Vitosha) literally on its doorstep. Good restaurants, a growing cafe scene, and enough international community to feel welcoming without losing its Bulgarian character. The city accounts for 88% of Bulgaria's ICT value — so the tech crowd is concentrated here.
Plovdiv is Bulgaria's second city and a former European Capital of Culture. It's smaller, quieter, more affordable, and has an old town that's genuinely beautiful. Growing in popularity with remote workers who want a slower pace.
Varna and Burgas are on the Black Sea coast. Great for summer, quieter in winter. If you want beach access and a Mediterranean-ish lifestyle at Bulgarian prices, these are your options.
Climate
Continental inland — expect cold winters (down to -5°C in Sofia) and warm summers (up to 35°C). The Black Sea coast is milder and more Mediterranean. Bulgaria has four distinct seasons, ski resorts in winter (Bansko is a nomad favourite), and beaches in summer.
Safety
Bulgaria is rated the most peaceful country in Eastern Europe by the Global Peace Index. Violent crime is rare. Standard city precautions apply (watch for pickpockets in tourist areas), but overall it's a safe place to live.
Language
Bulgarian uses the Cyrillic alphabet, which takes some getting used to. English proficiency is ranked #18 globally (EF English Proficiency Index) — classified as "High Proficiency." In Sofia's tech scene, restaurants, and coworking spaces, English is widely spoken. Outside major cities, much less so.
You don't need Bulgarian to get by in Sofia, but learning the basics earns you a lot of goodwill.
Bulgaria's Tech Scene
Bulgaria punches above its weight in tech. The ICT sector has grown 300% over the past seven years, reaching about EUR 2.5 billion in revenue. Sofia is the 2nd fastest-growing tech centre in Europe.
Major companies with Bulgarian offices include HP, SAP, Microsoft, and VMware. The country also has INSAIT — a research institute ranked among Europe's top computer science centres — which is attracting AI talent.
For digital nomads, this means you're joining a city (Sofia) that already has a tech-savvy culture, good infrastructure, and a community of people who understand remote work.
Schengen and Travel
Bulgaria became a full Schengen member in January 2025 (air and sea borders opened March 2024, land borders followed in January 2025). This means:
- No passport checks when traveling to other Schengen countries
- Your digital nomad residence permit gives you the right to travel freely within the Schengen Zone
- Direct flights from Sofia to most European capitals
- Easy overland access to Greece, Romania, Serbia, and Turkey
Bulgaria's central location in Southeast Europe makes it a great base for exploring the Balkans, Greece, and Turkey — all within a short flight or drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work for Bulgarian clients on a Digital Nomad Visa? No. The visa is specifically for remote workers employed by or contracting with companies outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland. You cannot serve Bulgarian clients or work for Bulgarian employers.
What happens after 2 years? The Digital Nomad Visa maxes out at 2 years (1 year + 1 renewal). After that, you'd need to apply through a different visa category — such as a standard work permit if you find local employment, or a business visa if you start a company in Bulgaria.
Will I automatically pay 10% tax? Only if you spend 183+ days in Bulgaria in a calendar year, making you a tax resident. If you stay less than 183 days, you're a non-resident and generally won't owe Bulgarian tax on foreign-sourced income. Consult a tax advisor to understand how this interacts with your home country's tax rules.
Is Bulgaria in the eurozone? Yes. Bulgaria adopted the euro on January 1, 2026, replacing the Bulgarian Lev (BGN). The fixed conversion rate was 1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN. All prices are now in euros.
How fast is the internet really? Bulgaria ranks 4th globally for mobile internet speed (131 Mbps average). Fixed broadband in Sofia is solid too, with dense fibre coverage. You won't have issues with video calls, file transfers, or any standard remote work tools.
Do I need to speak Bulgarian? Not in Sofia's tech and expat circles — English is widely spoken. But Bulgarian uses the Cyrillic alphabet, and outside major cities, English proficiency drops off. Learning basic Bulgarian phrases and the alphabet will make daily life much easier.
Bulgaria's Digital Nomad Visa hits a sweet spot that's hard to find elsewhere in Europe: legal EU residency, a flat 10% tax rate, excellent internet, and a cost of living that makes your remote salary feel like a fortune. It's not for everyone — the winters are cold, the bureaucracy can be slow, and the language barrier is real outside Sofia. But for remote workers who want to live well in Europe without draining their savings, it's one of the best deals available right now.
At Move2Europe, we help remote professionals and skilled workers find the right path into Europe — whether that's a digital nomad visa, an EU Blue Card, or a direct hire.
Book a free consultation and let's figure out your best option.
Official sources:
- Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Visa types and consular services
- Bulgarian Ministry of Interior (MVR) — Residence permits and migration
- European Commission — Bulgaria's Schengen and eurozone accession
- ECB — Bulgaria euro changeover details
- PWC Tax Summaries — Bulgarian tax rates
- Numbeo — Cost of living data
- EF EPI — English Proficiency Index