Bulgaria Digital Nomad Visa or a Bulgarian Company? 2026 Rules
Bulgaria’s “digital nomad visa” is a long-term residence permit for non-EU nationals who work remotely for employers, companies or clients outside the EU. It was added to the Foreigners Act in 2025, requires gross income of at least 50 Bulgarian monthly minimum wages for the previous year, and lasts one year, renewable once. What it does not allow is working for people in Bulgaria — so it is the wrong tool if your plan is to run a Bulgarian company serving local or EU clients.
Current as of September 2026. The rules come from the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act as amended by State Gazette No. 52/2025: Art. 24(1)(23), Art. 24s and § 1(36) of the Additional Provisions. Bulgaria has used the euro since 1 January 2026 (€1 = 1.95583 BGN). Application documents, fees and processing practice are set by implementing rules and the migration authorities — confirm them before you apply. General information, not legal or immigration advice. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens do not need this permit at all.
Who counts as a digital nomad under Bulgarian law
The Act defines a digital nomad as a foreigner who provides remote services using information technology and falls into one of three groups:
| Group | Condition in the law | The Bulgaria restriction |
|---|---|---|
| Remote employee | employed under an employment contract by an employer registered outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland; a fixed-term contract must run at least as long as the permit | — |
| Owner or director of a foreign company | legal representative, board member, owner, or partner/shareholder holding more than 25% of a company registered outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland, providing remote services through it | must not work for or provide services to persons in Bulgaria |
| Independent contractor | has provided remote services personally for at least one year before applying | must not work for or serve persons in Bulgaria, and must not practise freelance activity in Bulgaria |
Read the second row carefully if you are a founder. The company that qualifies you has to be non-EU. A Bulgarian EOOD — or any EU company — does not.
The income test, in euro
Art. 24s requires proof of average annual gross income of at least 50 monthly minimum wages under Bulgarian law for the previous calendar year. Worked out with the published minimum wages:
| Year you apply | ”Previous year” minimum wage | 50 × minimum wage |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025: 1,077 BGN = €550.66 | €27,533 |
| 2027 | 2026: €620.20 | €31,010 |
The figure is gross, before tax and social contributions. If 2027 applications are what you are planning for, use the higher number: the 2026 minimum wage of €620.20 was set by Decree No. 243 of 13 November 2025. How the migration authorities evidence and average the income in practice is set in the implementing rules — ask for the document list before gathering bank statements.
The other conditions, and the two-year cap
The general requirements for long-term residence in Art. 24 apply on top of the income test:
- a long-term (type D) visa — Art. 24(1) grants long-term residence to foreigners who hold a visa under Art. 15(1);
- accommodation in Bulgaria;
- health insurance;
- sufficient means of subsistence;
- for adults, a criminal record certificate from the country of citizenship, origin or habitual residence.
The permit is valid for one year and may be extended once for another year (Art. 24s(2)). If the extension application is filed before the permit expires, you may stay while it is decided. After two years the digital nomad basis is exhausted — anyone planning a longer stay needs a different legal basis from the start.
Where a Bulgarian company fits — and where it does not
Owning a Bulgarian company needs no residence permit. Non-residents, EU or not, can own and manage an EOOD remotely; that is covered in registering a Bulgarian company as a non-resident. What ownership does not do is give you the right to live in Bulgaria.
The digital nomad permit and a Bulgarian company pull in opposite directions. The permit assumes your income comes from outside the EU and that you do not serve anyone in Bulgaria. Moving your business into a Bulgarian EOOD that invoices Bulgarian or EU clients takes you outside group 2 and, in most cases, outside group 3.
The company-based residence route is demanding. Art. 24(1)(2) grants long-term residence to foreigners who carry out commercial activity in Bulgaria that has created at least 10 full-time jobs for Bulgarian citizens, maintained for the duration of the stay — and the requirement applies to each partner and each manager separately. For a solo founder that is rarely realistic in year one.
Freelancing inside Bulgaria is a separate route — Art. 24(1)(15), with permission from the labour authorities under the Labour Migration and Labour Mobility Act.
| Your situation | Route that matches the law |
|---|---|
| Employee of a US/UK/other non-EU company, want to live in Bulgaria | digital nomad permit |
| Own a non-EU company (>25%), clients outside Bulgaria | digital nomad permit |
| Want an EU company for EU clients, will not live in Bulgaria | Bulgarian EOOD, no permit needed |
| Want to live in Bulgaria and run a Bulgarian EOOD serving local clients | not the nomad permit — needs another basis (e.g. the 10-jobs route) |
| EU/EEA/Swiss citizen | no permit; register residence as an EU citizen |
Tax: the part people forget
A residence permit is not a tax status, but living in Bulgaria can create one. Under Art. 4 of the Personal Income Tax Act you are a Bulgarian tax resident if, among other tests, you stay in Bulgaria more than 183 days in any 12-month period or your centre of vital interests is here. A resident is taxed on income from Bulgaria and abroad (Art. 6), at the flat 10% rate on the annual tax base.
For a digital nomad that usually means Bulgarian personal income tax on the foreign salary or profit distributions, subject to any double tax treaty with your other country. Plan this before the 184th day, not at the April filing deadline. Social security is a separate question that depends on your employer’s country and any applicable agreement — check it with an adviser.
FAQ
Is the Bulgaria digital nomad visa a visa or a residence permit? Legally it is a long-term residence permit under Art. 24(1)(23) of the Foreigners Act, normally obtained after entering on a long-term (type D) visa.
How much do I need to earn for a Bulgarian digital nomad permit? At least 50 Bulgarian monthly minimum wages for the previous calendar year, gross: about €27,533 for applications in 2026 and €31,010 for applications in 2027.
Can I work for Bulgarian clients on a digital nomad permit? No. Groups 2 and 3 of the definition exclude work for or services to persons in Bulgaria, and group 1 requires a non-EU employer.
Can I hold the permit and own a Bulgarian EOOD? Owning shares is not prohibited by the definition, but the permit must rest on non-EU employment or a non-EU company — and the EOOD cannot be the business you serve Bulgarian clients through. Get individual advice before combining the two.
How long can I stay as a digital nomad in Bulgaria? One year, extendable once for one more year — two years in total on this basis.
If your plan is an EU company rather than a Bulgarian address, the setup can be done remotely — see company formation in Bulgaria, the signature and power-of-attorney options for filing from abroad, and our pricing. We advise on company formation and accounting, not immigration: for the permit itself, work with a Bulgarian immigration lawyer.