Are you a digital nomad? Bulgaria is waiting for you! | A practical step-by-step guide

A practical step-by-step guide

This guide shows you how to apply for a Type D visa and then for a long-term residence permit in Bulgaria on the grounds of being a “digital nomad”. 

1) Who is considered a “digital nomad”?

Check whether you fall into one of the three categories below:

A digital nomad is any foreign national who:

1. Works under an employment contract with an employer registered outside the EU / EEA / Switzerland and provides remote services through the use of information technologies;
2. (if the contract is fixed-term, its remaining duration must not be shorter than the duration of the requested permit)
3. or
4. Is a legal representative, member of a management body, owner of a company, partner, or shareholder holding more than 25% of the company’s capital, registered outside the EU / EEA / Switzerland, through which they provide remote services, without carrying out activities for persons in Bulgaria;
5. or
6. Provides remote services in a personal capacity through information technologies for a period of not less than one year before applying, and does not carry out activities on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.

2) Application procedure.

The procedure is carried out in two main stages:

1. Obtaining a long-term residence visa (Type „D“ visa)
2. Applying for a long-term residence permit in Bulgaria 

STAGE I: Long-term residence visa (Type „D“)

1. What is a Type „D“ visa?

The long-term residence visa:

• is issued for a period up to six months;

• allows you to stay for up to 180 days;

• allows multiple entries;

• is automatically cancelled upon the issuance of a residence permit.

2. Where to submit the application?

The application must be submitted only at:

• the Bulgarian diplomatic or consular mission of the Republic of Bulgaria in the applicant’s country of permanent residence;

or

• a mission accredited for that country.

! Exception: if you are lawfully residing in a third country, you may apply there, provided that you:

• justify the reasons;

• prove that you can return to your country of permanent residence.

3. Interview.

The interview with the applicant is mandatory. No exceptions are allowed.

4. Required documents.

The following documents must be submitted together with the application for a Type “D” visa:

• a valid passport;

• copies of the passport pages containing personal data, visas, and/or residence permits;

• a recent color photograph – passport format;

• documents justifying the “digital nomad” status – (see Stage II, item 2.6);

• proof of sufficient financial means for subsistence (see Stage II, item 2.2);

• proof of secured accommodation on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria (see Stage II, item 2.3);

• mandatory medical insurance;

• criminal record certificate - issued by the country of citizenship, country of origin, or country of habitual residence - upon initial application.

Important: The listed documents are the same documents that will also be submitted when applying for a long-term residence permit (Stage II). Therefore, they should be prepared in full and in compliance with the requirements already at this stage.

Checklist for Stage I 

□ Valid passport

□ Copies of pages with personal data, visas/residence permits

□ Photograph (passport format)

□ Documents providing „digital nomad“ grounds (see Stage II, item 2.6)

□ Proof of financial means (see Stage II, item 2.2)

□ Proof of accommodation (see Stage II, item 2.3)

□ Medical insurance

□ Criminal record certificate

STAGE II: Long-term residence permit

(After entering Bulgaria with a Type „D“ visa)

1. Competent authorities and deadlines.

• The application shall be submitted in person, in paper copy, using the prescribed form (Annex № 3 to the Implementing Regulations of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act) to:

The Migration Directorate of the Ministry of Interior

or

a Migration department/sector/unit at the respective Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior (RDMoI)

• Submission deadline:

No later than 14 days before the expiry of the issued long-term residence visa (Type “D”).

• Processing time:

Up to 14 days from the date of submission of the application.

In cases of legal and factual complexity or where additional documents are required, the deadline may be extended up to 1 month.

2. Required documents

The following documents must be submitted together with the application :

2.1. Passport (copy and original for verification), including the following pages:

o photograph and personal data;

o Type „D“ visa, where applicable;

o stamp of the last entry into the Republic of Bulgaria

2.2. Evidence that you have an average annual income for the preceding calendar year of not less than 50 gross minimum monthly wages. The gross amount of the acquired income shall be taken into account.

2.3. Proof of secured accommodation in Bulgaria

а) title deed or rental agreement;

б) declaration by the property owner providing an address; where the declaration is not submitted in person by the owner or by an expressly authorised representative, it must bear a notarised signature and content.

2.4. Mandatory medical insurance, valid on the territory of Bulgaria for the entire period of residence;

2.5. Criminal record certificate - issued by the country of citizenship, country of origin, or country of habitual residence - upon initial application;

2.6. Proof of „digital nomad“ status

You must prove that you provide remote services through the use of information technologies and that you fall within one of the following categories:

2.6.1. Ако работите на трудов договор

(§ 1, item 36, sub-item 1 of the Additional Provisions of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act).

In this case, you must submit:

• an employment contract or a document issued by the employer containing details of the parties, position, remuneration, and term;

• a document evidencing the employer’s registration, containing information on the company name, identification number, registered office, management address, and legal representatives, issued no more than six months before the submission of the documents;

• where available - a link to an official company register or website from which the above circumstances are evident.

2.6.2. If you are an owner, partner, shareholder, legal representative, or member of a management body of a company (§ 1, item 36, sub-item 2 of the Additional Provisions of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act).

In this case, you must submit:

• a document certifying the existence of the company, its name, identification number, capital owners, registered office, management address, scope of activity, and legal representatives, issued no more than six months before submission; where the primary document does not contain information on the capital owners, an additional document issued by the company’s management body.

• a link to an official company register or website, where available;

• at least one contract and a reference from the recipient of the remote services, certifying the remote nature of the services, the duration of their provision, and the identification details of the recipient, as follows:

If the recipient is a natural person, name, identification number, number and date of issue of the identity document, address in the country of citizenship or country of habitual residence;

If the recipient is a legal entity – name, identification number, registered office and management address, persons representing it under its national law, as well as a link to an official company register or website from which these circumstances are evident, where available;

2.6.3. If you are a freelancer - self-employed person

(§ 1, item 36, sub-item 3 of the Additional Provisions of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act)

In this case, at least one contract and a reference from the recipient of the remote services must be submitted, certifying:

• that the services are provided entirely remotely;

• the duration of their provision;

• the identification details of the recipient – natural or legal person:

за физически лица – for natural persons – name, identification number, number and date of issue of the identity document, address in the country of citizenship or country of habitual residence;

for legal entities – name, identification number, registered office and management address, persons representing it under its national law, as well as a link to an official company register or website from which these circumstances are evident, where applicable.

2.7. Proof of paid state fee

Important: Depending on the country of origin, the documents submitted by you must comply with the requirements of the relevant provisions of applicable bilateral international treaties or the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (The Hague, 5 October 1961), or the Ordinance on Legalisation, Certification and Translation of Documents and Other Papers, and must be accompanied by translations into Bulgarian, prepared and certified in accordance with the prescribed procedure.

Checklist for Stage II (for your convenience)

□ Application for (Annex № 3 to the Implementing Regulations of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act)

□ Passport + copy (pages: personal data, Type D visa, last entry stamp)

□ Proof of income (50 gross minimum monthly wages)

□ Proof of accommodation (document + declaration)

□ Medical insurance

□ Criminal record certificate

□ Proof of „digital nomad“ status (2.6.1 / 2.6.2 / 2.6.3)

□ Proof of payment of the state fee

Family members of a digital nomad. 

Family reunification – procedure and requirements

Your family members have the right to join you if you already have the right to reside in Bulgaria as a “digital nomad”. 

I. Submission of an application for a family reunification

The application shall be submitted by you in paper copy, using the prescribed form pursuant to Annex No. 2a to the Implementing Regulations of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, to:

• the Migration Directorate,

or

• a Migration department/sector/unit at the respective Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior (RDMoI).

Required documents:

The following documents must be attached to the application:

1. A copy of a valid passport or substitute document of the family member, with a validity of not less than six months, including the pages containing the photograph and personal data;
2. Proof of secured accommodation;
3. Proof of stable, regular, predictable, and sufficient means of subsistence, without recourse to the social assistance system, in an amount not less than the minimum monthly wage or the minimum pension applicable in the country;
4. A criminal record certificate of the family member, issued as of the date of submission of the documents, upon initial application;
5. A marriage certificate or birth certificate.

Examination of the application

• The application is coordinated with the State Agency for National Security (SANS).

• Decision deadline: up to 1 month, with SANS issuing its opinion within 15 days.

• The applicant is notified in writing of the decision taken.

Positive decision

A positive decision constitutes grounds for the family member to apply for a long-term residence visa (Type “D” visa) under a simplified procedure, within six months of notification.

II. Entry into Bulgaria and completion of the procedure

After entering the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria with a Type “D” visa, the family member shall, no later than 14 days before the expiry of the visa, submit the following documents to the Migration Directorate or the respective RDMoI, in addition to the documents already submitted:

1. A copy of a passport or substitute document, including the pages with the photograph and personal data, a copy of the visa, and the stamp of the last entry into the country (the original shall also be presented for verification);
2. Mandatory medical insurance, valid on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, where the person is not insured under the Health Insurance Act.

Within 3 days, the competent authority shall:

• determine the duration of the permitted residence;

• notify the person of the state fee due.

Before you start

This procedure consists of two stages and requires good preparation. To save time, stress, and unnecessary visits, it is best to prepare your documentation in advance and organise a folder containing both copies and originals.

What to prepare in advance (organisational checklist)

1. Document folder
2. Prepare separate sections or pockets for: „Stage I – Type D visa“, „Stage II – Residence permit“, „Family (if applicable)“.
3. Originals and copies
4. Keep originals separately and arrange copies according to the lists below. You will usually need copies of your passport, as well as documents proving income, accommodation, insurance, and “digital nomad” status.
5. Income documents and proof of status
6. These are key documents and often take time to obtain, as they come from an employer, register, or client. Start with these first.
7. Accommodation in Bulgaria
8. If you need to prove an address or accommodation, arrange this early, as some documents (declarations, notarisation) require additional steps.
9. Medical insurance
10. Make sure it is valid in Bulgaria and covers the entire period for which you are applying.
11. Criminal record certificate
12. Plan sufficient time for its issuance (and, where necessary, legalisation/apostille and translation, as described later in the text).
13. Deadlines
14. In Stage II, there is a strict deadline: no later than 14 days before the expiry of the Type D visa. Therefore, immediately after entering Bulgaria, plan when you will submit your documents.
15. Contacts and notes
16. Write down where you will submit the documents, the office working hours, and a contact phone number or email, if available.

Glossary of abbreviations and links

• EEA – European Economic Area
• Switzerland – Swiss Confederation (mentioned separately in legal texts)
• Type „D“ visa – long-term residence visa (described in Stage I)
• MoI – Ministry of Interior https://www.mvr.bg/
• Migration Directorate – a directorate within the Ministry of Interior, designated as the competent authority in Stage II https://www.mvr.bg/migration
• RDMoI – Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior https://www.mvr.bg/sofia
• SANS – State Agency for National Security https://www.dans.bg/
• FRBA – Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.mig.government.bg/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/foreigners_in_the_republic_of_bulgaria_act.pdf
• AP – Additional Provisions (referred to in the text as “Additional Provisions of the FRBA”)
• IRFRBA – Implementing Regulations of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act
• Annex № 3 to the IRFRBA – application form for Stage II, referred to in the text
• Annex № 2а to the IRFRBA – application form for family reunification, referred to in the text
• Legalisation / Apostille / Translations – at the end of Stage II it is specified that documents must comply with the requirements of applicable international treaties / the Hague Convention and must be accompanied by translations into Bulgarian, prepared and certified in accordance with the prescribed procedure.