Plenty of professionals can do their job from anywhere with a laptop and a reliable connection. Bulgaria — with a low cost of living, fast internet and an EU address — has created a specific long-term residence ground for them. It is designed for people who work for employers or their own companies outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland — or as freelancers without Bulgarian clients — so they do not need to set up a business here or employ local staff.
Three ways to qualify
You must be a non-EU national who meets one of the following:
- Employee — you work under an employment contract for an employer registered outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, and perform the work remotely using information technology; if the contract is fixed-term, it must run at least as long as the permit.
- Business owner or director — you are a manager, board member, owner, partner or a shareholder with more than 25% in a company registered outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, and provide services remotely through it — not to persons in Bulgaria.
- Freelancer — you have provided services in your own name, remotely, for at least one year before applying, and not for clients located in Bulgaria.
The income test
You must show average annual gross income of at least 50 times the Bulgarian minimum monthly wage for the preceding calendar year. Bank statements, payslips, contracts and tax returns are the usual evidence; the documents must fit the sub-ground you rely on.
Foreign documents usually need an apostille or legalisation and a certified Bulgarian translation.
How long it takes
Type D visa
Apply at a Bulgarian consulate abroad. Expect two to seven weeks.
Residence application
After arrival, file with the Migration Directorate. A decision normally follows within 14 days.
Residence card
Issued in 3, 10 or 30 days depending on the service level you pay for.
The permit is issued for one year and can be renewed only once, for a further year. If you want to stay longer, plan the move to another ground in good time.
Who it suits — and who it does not
The route works well for remote employees of non-EU companies, owners of foreign businesses who manage them from a laptop, and established freelancers with foreign clients. It is not the right ground if your clients are Bulgarian, if you plan to trade on the Bulgarian market, or if you will be hired by a Bulgarian employer — in those cases the manager route, a representative office or a work permit is the better fit.
Questions clients ask
Can my family come with me?
Yes. Once you hold your residence permit, your spouse and minor children can apply through family reunification.
I have clients both inside and outside the EU. Do I qualify as a freelancer?
Both the business-owner and the freelance sub-grounds exclude work for persons located in Bulgaria; the law does not exclude clients in other countries, inside or outside the EU. The precise mix matters, so we review your contracts before choosing the sub-ground.
Does the permit allow me to work for a Bulgarian company?
No. This ground is built around remote work for foreign employers or clients. Working for a Bulgarian employer requires a different permit.
This guide is general information about Bulgarian law as it stood on the date of publication. It is not legal advice for your specific case.
