Moving to Bulgaria
3 routes for people from the US, Canada and the UK, each checked against official sources. Find the one that fits, then check it with the source before you apply.
Keep your job, work remotely
Bulgaria digital nomad visa
Long-term residence permit for digital nomads (Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, Art. 24(1)(23))
Remote employees, owners or managers of non-EU companies, and freelancers with a year of history who earn at least about EUR 27,500-31,000 a year, the lowest bar in this region.
- What you need
- Average annual gross income of at least 50 Bulgarian minimum monthly wages for the previous calendar year. Using the 2025 minimum wage (EUR 550.66) this is EUR 27,533; using the 2026 minimum wage (EUR 620.20) it is EUR 31,010. Practice is not yet settled. (EUR 31,010 a year)
- One of: employment contract with an employer registered outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland (fixed-term contracts must cover the permit year); manager, owner or 25%+ shareholder of such a company; or self-employed for at least 1 year providing remote services.
- Clean criminal record.
- Health insurance.
- Proof of an address in Bulgaria.
- Not for
- Working for or providing services to anyone in Bulgaria
- Employees of EU-registered companies (employer must be outside EU/EEA/Switzerland)
- People seeking permanent residence (time does not count)
- Where you apply
- From home, at a consulate. Two steps: a Type D visa at the Bulgarian embassy or consulate in your country of citizenship or habitual residence, then within 14 days of arrival apply for the residence permit at the Migration Directorate of the Ministry of Interior.
- How long it takes
- Not officially stated. Secondary estimate: D visa about 4 weeks (up to 10), permit about 14 days, overall 3-4 months.
- First permit
- 1 year.
- Renewal
- Renewable once for 1 more year (2 years maximum); file at least 14 days before expiry.
- Family
- Spouse and children may apply for family reunification separately (secondary).
Retire or live on savings Rules need confirming
Bulgaria retirement visa
Long-term (prolonged) residence permit for foreign pensioners (Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, Art. 24)
Retirees with a state or private pension of at least about the Bulgarian minimum wage who want a low-cost EU base.
- What you need
- Pension and sufficient resources to live in Bulgaria. The commonly cited benchmark is a monthly pension of at least the Bulgarian minimum wage (EUR 620.20 in 2026); the legal test is 'sufficient resources' and no official 2026 figure was found. (EUR 620.2 a month)
- Health insurance (one source cites at least EUR 30,000 cover).
- Proof of accommodation in Bulgaria.
- Not for
- Anyone planning to work for a Bulgarian employer
- People without a pension in payment
- Where you apply
- From home, at a consulate. Type D visa at a Bulgarian embassy or consulate, then the residence permit at the Migration Directorate in Bulgaria.
- How long it takes
- Not officially stated.
- First permit
- 1 year (secondary).
- Renewal
- Renewable yearly while conditions are met (secondary).
- Longer term
- Permanent residence after about 5 years. Citizenship after about 10 years.
- Family
- Not verified.
The exact Article 24 ground, the official minimum pension or resources figure, fees and family rules were not verified. Secondary sources disagree on the advisable pension level (from EUR 350 to the minimum wage).
Family roots Rules need confirming
Bulgarian origin route
Certificate of Bulgarian origin (State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad) and naturalization of persons of Bulgarian origin (Bulgarian Citizenship Act, art. 15)
People with at least one Bulgarian ancestor who want Bulgarian residence and then citizenship on eased terms.
- What you need
- At least one ascendant who was Bulgarian, proved by original documents from a Bulgarian or foreign state body or the Bulgarian Orthodox Church; notarized declaration of Bulgarian national consciousness.
- Certified passport copy; documents on the ancestor; translation into Bulgarian by a licensed translator with notarized signature; apostille or legalization as applicable.
- Not for
- People without documentary proof of a Bulgarian ancestor
- Where you apply
- From home or inside the country. Origin certificate: State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad (Sofia office, online or by post); the certificate supports a D visa through a Bulgarian consulate, permanent residence, or long-term residence. Citizenship applications go to the Ministry of Justice (procedure not verified).
- How long it takes
- Origin certificate: decision within 14 days of registration. Citizenship: not verified.
- First permit
- Not verified.
- Renewal
- Not verified.
- Family
- Not verified.
Origin-certificate rules official; the citizenship step, fees and processing time are unverified.