It’s pretty likely that the looming of a new year has got you daydreaming about a fresh start, and one seriously underrated European nation might have just the thing.
Long overshadowed by its more visited neighbours Greece and Türkiye, Bulgaria has just taken a major step towards encouraging international travellers and launched a digital nomad residence permit.
It’s valid for one year, with the possibility for you to extend for up to another year. According to Business Today, there are three categories for applicants, each with different requirements and eligibility criteria.
They are: foreign nationals employed by a non-Swiss, EU or EEA company; foreign nationals who are part of the management or own 25 percent of a company registered outside these regions; and foreign nationals who’ve ‘provided remote services for at least one year before applying, and do not serve Bulgarian entities nor freelance in Bulgaria’.
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If you fall into one of those, you’ll need to submit a Visa D application in your home country (this can take up to two months to process) before receiving approval, arrive in Bulgaria and file more documentation to the government (which takes between two and four weeks), before lastly undergoing an ID card application (which should be sorted in one month).
Citizen Remote outlines that some of the documentation required includes proof of income, which must be 50 times the Bulgarian monthly minimum wage, or around €27,550 per year. You’ll also need private medical insurance, proof of accommodation, and a squeaky-clean criminal record. Dependents can be sponsored through a ‘family reunification process’ under this permit, so your spouse and kids can relocate too.
So, why live in Bulgaria? The Balkan nation has plenty to offer digital nomads, from miles of beaches along the Black Sea coastline to some of Europe’s oldest cities. Plus, the cost of living here is significantly lower than other popular digital nomad locations (we’re looking at you, Lisbon).
Up for a change? Bulgaria has been accepting applications since December 20, so there’s nothing stopping you.
Check out our roundup of all the countries offering digital nomad visas right now.
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