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Exciting news for globle digital nomad community! Bulgaria has officially opened applications for its new Digital Nomad Residence Permit starting December 20, 2025. The program gives remote workers a legal way to live in Bulgaria while working for companies based abroad.

Bulgaria Digital Nomad Residence Permit

Bulgaria’s Digital Nomad Residence Permit allows remote workers, business owners and independent professionals live in Bulgaria while working online for foreign clients. It’s valid for one year, extendable for another, and starts accepting applications from December 20, 2025.

Who Can Apply

The Bulgarian government has created three main categories of eligible applicants:

1. Remote employees

You qualify if you work for a company based outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, and you do your job online from abroad. You must also meet a minimum salary set by Bulgarian law.

2. Business owners and managers

You can apply if you own at least 25 per cent of a company registered outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland. You must work for that company remotely and not provide any services to clients in Bulgaria.

3. Independent remote workers

You fit this category if you have been offering online services for at least one year before applying. You cannot work for Bulgarian clients or freelance within Bulgaria.

Each group has its own set of documents, so applicants need to check which one applies to them.

How Long Does the Permit Last?

The newly launched digital nomad permit is valid for one year. However, you can extend it for another year if you still meet the rules.

How the Application Works

The process to apply for the new digital nomad residence permit is quite simple; you just need to follow the steps below:

1. Visa D: You start by applying for a Visa D in your home country or country of legal residence. This usually takes one to two months.
2. Residence application in Bulgaria: After entering Bulgaria with your Visa D, you submit the same documents again. This stage normally takes two to four weeks.
3. ID card: Once approved, you apply for a Bulgarian ID card. This takes anywhere from three days to a month.

Bringing Family Members

The Bulgarian Digital Nomad Residence Permit also allow you to bring your family members through a separate reunification process. This means your spouse or children can stay in Bulgaria while you hold this permit.

Why This Matters

Bulgaria did not have a clear option for digital nomads before. This new permit finally gives remote workers a legal way to stay in the country while working online.

The Bigger Picture

Digital nomad visas are not appearing as fast as they did a few years ago, but countries are still rolling out new programs. Employers and workers also need to be careful. In places where remote work rules are unclear, people can accidentally break immigration or tax laws without realising it.

As more governments look at remote work policies, both companies and workers will need to pay attention to the legal side of things.

What’s Next

Interest in flexible work visas is still strong worldwide. Many countries continue to face worker shortages, so programs like this may keep expanding. More updates are expected in the coming months.