Hot on the heels of Bulgaria's recent euro adoption and Schengen entry, the country has released a digital nomad residence permit for remote workers on salaries of €31,000 or more. Olivia Palamountain reports.

Bulgaria has launched a digital nomad residence permit, inviting remote workers from outside the EU/EEA to live and work in the country for up to one year. The permit can be renewed for a second year, giving nomads a flexible base in the heart of Europe.

Applicants must meet three main criteria: work remotely for foreign companies registered outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland; own or hold at least 25% of a business registered abroad; or be a freelancer with at least one year of experience serving non-Bulgarian clients.

A minimum annual income of €31,000 (50 times Bulgaria's monthly minimum wage of €620) and proof of health insurance covering Bulgaria and the wider EU/Schengen area are required, alongside accommodation and a clean criminal record, says EuroNews.

Bulgaria's euro adoption on January 1, 2026, as the 21st member of the eurozone, alongside its Schengen Zone entry in 2025, makes it a particularly convenient hub for European travel.

Nomads choosing Bulgaria can expect a mix of affordable city life, natural beauty and easy connections across Europe, positioning the country as an alternative to pricier Western European bases. Cities such as Sofia and Plovdiv offer growing remote working services, favourable rents and lively cultural scenes, whilst weekend escapes abound in the Rila and Pirin mountains, the ski resort of Bansko, and Black Sea beaches at Varna and Burgas.

The application process begins with a type D long-stay visa from a Bulgarian embassy or consulate, which can take between four and eight weeks. This visa permits foreigners to enter Bulgaria and apply for residency. Once in Bulgaria, applicants must apply for a residence permit under the Digital Nomad Visa programme within 14 days of arrival.

Documents required include proof of accommodation, a clean criminal record certificate, and translations of foreign documents into Bulgarian, apostilled where necessary. In the final step, digital nomads can apply for an identification card. The whole process can take more than three months.

The permit may also allow family reunification, letting spouses and children live in Bulgaria alongside the primary applicant, though specific conditions apply.