Recently Launched, Bulgaria’s Digital Nomad Visa Establishes Clear Eligibility Criteria, Requires Minimum Annual Income of €31,000, Mandates Application for D-Type Visa Abroad, and Sets a Deadline of Up to 14 Days for Residency Request After Arrival in the Country
The Bulgaria has launched a digital nomad visa that allows residence for one year, renewable, subject to a minimum annual income of €31,000, application for a D-type visa abroad, and a residency authorization request within 14 days after arrival.
Visa Launch and Recent Context of the Country
The new digital nomad visa was recently launched, according to Euronews. The initiative comes at a time of institutional changes, as last year Bulgaria also adopted the euro and joined the Schengen Area, a group of 29 countries with open borders.
The program expands options beyond traditional remote work hubs in Europe, such as Portugal and Spain, by offering a specific regime for professionals who work remotely and earn income outside Bulgarian territory.
-
BNDES approves R$ 244.9 million for bp bioenergy to build a biogas plant in Goiás that will transform ethanol vinasse into renewable fuel.
-
The war in the Middle East has caused the price of rubber gloves to soar by 40%, and analysts warn that hospitals around the world may face shortages of this essential product by the end of May.
-
Vale and BHP must pay R$ 7 billion on April 30, the largest installment of the Mariana agreement, which totals R$ 170 billion over 20 years.
-
IBGE data shows that Brazilians are increasingly far from owning their own homes: rents are skyrocketing, apartments are taking over the capitals, and the Selic rate at 15% makes financing almost prohibitive.
Who Can Qualify for the Digital Nomad Visa
To apply for the visa, applicants must be citizens of countries outside the European Union and the European Economic Area, work remotely, and earn income outside Bulgaria.
Additionally, they need to meet at least one of the three defined criteria.
Self-employed professionals or independent contractors who provide services to non-Bulgarian clients for at least one year prior to the application can apply. Remote employees of companies registered outside the EU, EEA, and Switzerland are also eligible.
The third criterion includes business owners or individuals who own more than 25% of a company registered abroad. These requirements refine the visa profile and prevent direct ties to the local labor market.
Minimum Income Requirement and Financial Verification
Applicants must prove an annual income of at least 50 times the Bulgarian monthly minimum wage, set at €620 or US$723. This corresponds to a minimum of €31,000 or US$36,168 per year.
Financial verification is one of the pillars of the process and must be submitted along with the required documentation. The official minimum amount of US$36,168 per year is also reiterated during the residency authorization application phase.
Application Process and Mandatory Steps
To enjoy the visa, the interested party needs to obtain a long-term D-type visa at a Bulgarian embassy or consulate in their home country. This visa allows entry into the territory and starts the residency process.
After arriving in Bulgaria, the applicant must request residency authorization under the Digital Nomad Visa program within 14 days. Failure to comply with this deadline invalidates regular stay.
For residency authorization, proof of stay in the country, a clean criminal record certificate from the country of residence, translations of foreign documents into Bulgarian, and proof of minimum annual income are required.
It is also necessary to present valid health insurance in Bulgaria and throughout the Schengen Area, according to Euronews.
Visa Validity and General Information About the Country
The digital nomad visa is valid for one year and can be renewed for another year, provided that the eligibility requirements continue to be met. The regime does not alter the previously established financial or documentary requirements.
Bulgaria is one of the oldest countries in Europe and is approximately the size of the U.S. state of Virginia. Its capital, Sofia, is home to the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, one of the largest Christian buildings in the world, according to Britannica.
The country is also known as a destination for winter sports, with famous ski resorts attracting visitors during the cold season, even with some months of harsh weather.

Seja o primeiro a reagir!