Bulgaria is drawing fresh attention from remote workers with a new digital nomad visa that offers a longer stay in one of Europe’s most underrated destinations. Known for its Black Sea coastline, mountain villages, and lower travel costs than nearby Greece and Turkey, the country is now positioning itself as a practical base for people who want to work from Europe.
According to the report, the visa program was launched in December 2025 as part of an effort to support the local economy by attracting skilled workers with higher spending power. Because Bulgaria is in the EU, successful applicants can also move more freely through the other Schengen area countries during their stay. The visa is designed as a one-year permit with the option to extend for another 12 months.
Who can qualify
The program is open to remote workers who meet one of three conditions: they must work for a company outside the EU, Switzerland, and the European Economic Area; own at least 25% of an international company; or have provided services to a non-Bulgarian company for at least a year before applying. Applicants also need to show an annual income of at least 50 times Bulgaria’s monthly minimum wage of 620 euros, which comes to 31,000 euros a year. That income threshold is lower than those for similar visas in Spain, Czechia, Portugal, and Malta.
There is a catch, however: the process can take time. Applicants must first secure a long-stay Visa D in their home country, which can take up to two months. After arriving in Bulgaria, they submit the digital nomad visa paperwork, including proof of income and accommodation, and that stage can take another month. Once approved, they then apply for an official identification card, which may require about one more month. Bulgaria is one of several European countries expanding digital nomad options as remote work continues to reshape long-term travel plans.
Source: cntraveler.com