Bulgaria’s New Digital Nomad Visa – Requirements, Cost & Process (2025)

Digital Nomad Visas are like the golden tickets inside the chocolate bars in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Thankfully, it seems like the golden tickets aren’t running out anytime soon, and Bulgaria is the next country to officially attract digital nomads.

We’ve spent the past five summers here in Bulgaria, and we’ve seen the transition from being a small nomad escape outside the Schengen Zone to now being part of it (as of March 31st, 2024), causing “trouble” for a lot of non-EU citizens who used this country as a go-to spot between Schengen days.

Luckily, they’re now ready with a solution, and Bulgaria has officially announced that a Bulgarian Digital Nomad Visa is coming very soon…

We’ve done the research, and in this post, we share everything you need to know about this new visa – from what the requirements and criteria are to how you can apply.

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Introducing the Bulgarian Digital Nomad Visa

Let’s be honest, digital nomad visas can be hard to digest and understand. There are so many things you need to look into, and – especially prior to the visa coming out – there’s a ton of different information in a million different places online.

In this post, we’ve done the research for you and put together this post to help you understand what the visa is about, who it’s catered for, and how to apply for it.

• Who it’s for: Non-EU remote workers and freelancers who want to live in Bulgaria for an extended period of time.
• Minimum income requirement: Currently around €2000/month, which is above the minimum wage in Bulgaria. The point being that the government knows you can sustain yourself while living here.
• Duration: Typically 12 months with the option to renew year after year (as long as you still live up to the criteria)
• Taxes: There’s a flat tax rate of 10% (although this may change over time). The current goal is to attract digital nomads to come to Bulgaria with an appealing tax rate.
• Application process: We will go over the details in this blog post.
• When does it start?: This visa is estimated to open up for applications at the end of September 2025. According to NBL (New Balkans Law Office), three months after the legislation was passed and signed (June 27th, 2025), “once secondary regulations come into effect”.

Note: Always consult an official immigration lawyer or advisor before applying. Visa details change all the time, so it’s best to get accurate legal advice before applying.

Requirements for the Bulgarian Digital Nomad Visa

Like with any visa, there are a ton of requirements and bureaucratic things you need to get sorted before you can legally live in Bulgaria on a digital nomad visa.

It’s not necessarily hard, but it does take time. You can do it all yourself, or you can hire a professional to help you.

Here are the requirements they’ve currently announced for this visa:

• Nationality: Non-EU citizen (since this doesn’t benefit EU citizens).
• Remote Work: You must be an employee of a company outside of Bulgaria, be a freelance worker, and be able to prove funds, or be contracted for a company outside of Bulgaria.
• Income requirement: You will need to prove that you generate at least €2000 to €2500 a month consistently (this amount may change after Bulgaria joins the EU).
• Health Insurance: You must have a valid health insurance for the entire duration of your visa in Bulgaria. SafetyWing’s Complete Plan is a great option as it’s made specifically for digital nomads, expats, and families living abroad – and it covers both health and travel! (Check it out here).
• Proof of accommodation: You have to show proof of having a lease agreement in Bulgaria or that you’ve booked a place on a booking platform.
• Criminal record check: Proof from your home country that you have a clean criminal record.
• Supporting documentation: You will need to ensure that your passport is valid for at least 6+ months from the date of your application submission*, show proof of work, bank statements, and anything else they may request.

Once this is all filled out, the process will take a few months to complete, depending on whether you submit your application from your home country or if you’re already in Bulgaria.

As you can see, it’s a bit of work, but it’s doable! And once it’s done, you’ll be able to stay in Bulgaria (and travel around Europe) long term.

*While Bulgaria only requires your passport to be valid for at least 6 months beyond your visa application, it’s strongly recommended that your passport remains valid for your entire stay to avoid complications. If your passport expires soon, we suggest you renew it before submitting your application.

Why Bulgaria?

We’ve been travelling the world for almost 10 years now, and we’ve been nomading for over half of it. We’ve been to some amazing countries that are extremely nomad-friendly, places that are completely oversaturated with nomads, and countries that really aren’t set up for nomads at all.

Bulgaria is one of those countries that has some amazing digital nomad spots around the country, where nomads are welcomed and appreciated. To us, Bulgaria really feels like the perfect balance of living your own remote work life while also being able to mingle and get to know locals as well.

Here are some of the things we love about Bulgaria and why we think it’s a great country for digital nomads…

Low cost of living

One of the biggest perks of Bulgaria is that it’s one of the more affordable countries in the Schengen Zone. From January 1st, 2026, they will transition from their current currency, the Bulgarian Lev, to the Euro, so that might affect the cost of living.

In general, though, the cost of living here is really good and things like monthly accommodation are significantly cheaper than other digital nomad hubs in Europe.

To give you an idea, we pay €375 a month for rent during the summer months here in Bansko, Bulgaria. This is for a one-bedroom apartment, a 5-minute walk from the town square, so as a foreigner, this is a good price!

On top of that, most things like groceries, going out for coffee, and restaurants are also slightly cheaper than in other European countries. You can get lunch from as little as €2.5 for a soup, €4 for a salas, or €6-8 for a big meal.

I do think with the transition to the Euro that may change, but I think for the next 2-3 years Bulgaria will still easily be more affordable than most other digital nomad hotspots in Europe, such as Croatia, Spain, and Portugal.

EU benefits

Once you get your Digital Nomad Visa for Bulgaria, it will also give you access to the rest of the EU.

There will still be some requirements where you will have to stay X number of days in Bulgaria to keep your visa, but nonetheless, it opens doors to spending some time in other EU countries for a longer period of time

Quality of life

This might be a personal opinion because everyone lives life differently, but for me, I really appreciate the way of life in Bulgaria.

I love how life seems to slow down here, how much beautiful nature is nearby, and how good the digital nomad community is.

It could partially be because Bansko (where we spent our summers) is a quiet mountain town, and life in general in small towns moves more slowly, but I really appreciate that.

I also enjoy being able to buy fresh produce at the local market at slightly more affordable prices than elsewhere. You’re close to the mountains and get lots of fresh air, but you can also go to the sea and enjoy some relaxing time by the water in just a few hours, which is also needed sometimes.

When you add all these things together, the quality of life in Bulgaria is really good! Especially if you are making at least the minimum income requirements for the visa, you can live a very comfortable life here.

Fast internet & good coworking culture

Bulgaria might surprise you when it comes to coworking and internet speed. Since they upgraded everything more recently, they basically jumped multiple steps ahead and avoided all this outdated infrastructure you still find in parts of Western Europe (hello Germany).

So instead of patching up old systems, they built newer, faster ones, and it shows. It’s why you have great internet in most parts of the country (even in the mountains).

All the coworking spaces we’ve been to are very modern and up to date, and it really makes for a great work environment. We’re always the most productive when we’re in Bulgaria.

Growing nomad scene

I think by now, you can see why we think Bulgaria is an amazing spot for digital nomads and why we think this digital nomad visa is so attractive.

I think Bulgaria will continue to attract more and more nomads over the next several years (especially while prices stay more affordable compared to the rest of Europe).

Coworking places are on the rise, and multiple different cities and towns around the country are becoming hubs for nomads.

From coastal towns like Varna to mountain towns like Bansko and, of course, the capital city of Sofia, the digital nomad scene is definitely growing here.

Bansko (Bulgarias Digital Nomad Capital)

We probably wouldn’t be writing this post if it weren’t for Bansko. This is actually where we’ve spent a good chunk of our summers for the past 5 years – and there’s a good reason for that!

Why we love Bansko

• Quiet little mountain town with an excess of accommodation during the summer months, which leads to very affordable rental prices.
• It’s home to the Bansko Nomad Fest that happens every June which is one of the biggest Digital Nomad Festivals in the world!
• Tons of hiking and outdoor activities. During your free time, whether you come in summer or winter, you’ll be able to do any outdoor activity imaginable. Things we love are tennis, biking, hiking, cold plunging in the summer and skiing in the winter (even though we haven’t been here a winter season. Yet)!
• It is so laid back and chilled. We literally ride our bikes to the coworking every day, then hang out with our friends in the evenings playing games or playing pickleball at the tennis courts. Sometimes we also go to one of the many hot springs in Banya, the neighbouring town.

Coworking and community vibes

Bansko is home to some incredible coworking spaces. We have started going to Nestwork here in Bansko, and it’s awesome. Altspace Coworking is also another great alternative, and there are even a few coffee shops you can cowork from, too, so there’s something for everyone here in Bansko.

There are so many events constantly happening. Either organized by the coworking spaces (like the Friday night mixer at Altspace), inside the WhatsApp groups, or through the network of people you meet in the town, there’s always something happening here.

Some examples are dance classes, poker nights, yoga sessions, improv nights, comedy nights, and tennis & pickleball sessions. There are so many different events always happening in town that it’s impossible to get bored.

As we mentioned before, the Bansko Nomad Fest brings tons of people to Bansko during the summer months, and a lot of people actually stay for 1-2 months at a time, which is great.

One of the things you notice about Bansko is that people plan to come for a week and end up staying for months!

Things you should know before moving to Bulgaria

It can be slightly daunting moving to a new country, so here’s a quick little FAQ of a few things that may be good to know if you’re thinking of moving to Bulgaria on their new digital nomad visa:

Best cities for nomads in Bulgaria:
If you’re looking for urban life, then Sofia is the city for you. Bansko is definitely the outdoor paradise spot for nomads. Lastly, Varna is great if you’re looking for a seaside hub in Bulgaria. 

Language in Bulgaria:
Bulgarian is an interesting language as it has Slavic roots, and if you speak any Slavic language, you will notice many similarities. The written form is interesting too because Bulgarians use the Cyrillic Alphabet.

Currency:
2025 will be the last year that Bulgaria uses the Bulgarian Lev. From January 2026, Bulgaria will be using the Euro like most other EU countries. Let’s see what that does to prices around the country.

Weather:
Bulgaria is quite southern in Europe (just north of Greece), so the summer months can get very warm. Seaside towns can easily go into the high 30s around this time of year.

Bulgaria has 4 seasons, and in the winter, there are a bunch of popular ski towns (Bansko is one of them) since there are a ton of mountains in Bulgaria.

Healthcare:
While the facilities may look old, Bulgaria’s healthcare is generally considered to be good! Especially the private hospitals in Bulgaria have a good reputation.

On SafetyWing’s Complete health and travel insurance, you can go to any private or public licensed hospital, clinic, and doctor of your choice. Learn more about the insurance and what’s covered here.

You may also like…

• Why Slowmading is The Future of Travel
• World Nomads vs SafetyWing: Which Nomad Travel Insurance Is Best?
• Living in Bansko as a Digital Nomad
• The Ultimate Digital Nomad Guide to Greece
• Is SafetyWing the Best Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads?

Recap of Bulgaria’s digital nomad visa

We hope this post gave you the information you need about Bulgaria’s digital nomad visa. We’ll update it as soon as the application process opens with the final details on how you can apply.

We also hope you now have a better understanding of why we think Bulgaria is a great digital nomad hub in Europe. It has everything from seaside to mountains and even city life, basically something for every nomad.

Also, with the rise in coworking spaces and infrastructure for digital nomads, the price of real estate and the cost of living here in Bulgaria, it really is the perfect time to come and make Bulgaria your base.

We’ve been coming here since 2021, and we see it becoming more and more digital nomad-friendly every single year. With the new visa coming into play, now feels like the perfect time to come live here!

If you have any questions about Bulgaria, we have a ton of blog posts on our site about Bansko, and we’re also more than happy to answer any questions you may have about moving here! Just leave a comment on this post and we’ll get back to you.

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