Ways to live in Bulgaria
These are the residence routes in Bordr's guide that we have checked against official sources. Each one links to the government page.
Programme details are shown in English.
Work permit Work permits →
EU Blue Card (EU work permit for qualified specialists)
A combined residence and work permit for highly qualified employees of a Bulgarian employer. No labour market test is required.
- What you need
- Higher education (or, for some IT roles and other listed positions, documented professional experience instead), and a contract with a gross salary of at least 1.5 times the Bulgarian average wage as last published by the National Statistical Institute.
- How long
- From 24 months up to 5 years; with a shorter contract, the contract term plus 3 months
- Renewable
- Yes
- How to apply
- Through the Migration Directorate of the Ministry of Interior, with a D visa or an existing long-term residence permit.
- Family
- Family members can come with you
- Path to permanent residence
- After 5 years of continuous legal residence in Bulgaria you can apply for long-term resident status.
Student visa Student visas →
Long-term residence permit for university students
For foreigners accepted as full-time students at a Bulgarian university. You enter on a long-stay D visa and then get a residence permit from the Migration Directorate.
- What you need
- University admission for full-time study, a D visa, housing, health insurance valid in Bulgaria, and stable means to live on without social assistance (at least the Bulgarian minimum wage, stipend or pension level).
- How long
- Up to 1 year, renewed for each year of study; 18 months for the final year. After graduating you can get up to 9 more months to look for work if you register as a jobseeker with the Employment Agency.
- Renewable
- Yes
- How to apply
- D visa at a Bulgarian embassy, then the residence application at the Migration Directorate of the Ministry of Interior or its regional office.
- Family
- Family members can come with you
- Path to permanent residence
- Half of the time spent as a student counts towards the 5 years needed for long-term resident status.
Passive income visa Passive income visas →
Long-term residence for pensioners
For foreigners who receive a pension from Bulgaria, their home country or another state and have enough money to live in Bulgaria.
- What you need
- Proof of a pension entitlement, means of subsistence of at least the Bulgarian minimum pension or wage level, housing, health insurance, a D visa and a criminal record certificate.
- How long
- Up to 1 year at a time
- Renewable
- Yes
- How to apply
- D visa at a Bulgarian embassy, then the residence application at the Migration Directorate of the Ministry of Interior.
- Family
- Family members can come with you
- Path to permanent residence
- After 5 years of continuous legal residence you can apply for long-term resident status.
Investment and golden visa Investment and golden visas →
Long-term residence through real-estate investment
A residence permit for foreigners who have put at least 600,000 leva (about €306,800) into real estate in Bulgaria, directly or through a Bulgarian company they control.
- What you need
- Ownership of Bulgarian property worth at least 600,000 leva (about €306,800), or more than 50% of a Bulgarian company that bought property of that value with your capital. Plus housing, health insurance, means of subsistence and a criminal record certificate.
- Savings
- about $356,000
- How long
- Up to 1 year at a time
- Renewable
- Yes
- How to apply
- D visa at a Bulgarian embassy, then the residence application at the Migration Directorate of the Ministry of Interior.
- Family
- Family members can come with you
Cost of living
Monthly amounts in US dollars.
| One-bedroom flat | $360 |
|---|---|
| Two-bedroom flat | $600 |
| Bills | $90 |
| Typical local salary | $1,150 |
Cities to consider
- SofiaCapital beneath Vitosha
- PlovdivAncient town on seven hills
- VarnaBlack Sea city with a seaside park
- BurgasBlack Sea city with a sea garden
- Veliko TarnovoMedieval capital on a river gorge
- BanskoSki town with a nomad scene
Climate by month, neighbourhoods and costs for each city are in the Bordr guide.
What life is like
Programme details are shown in English.
Why people move
Bulgaria offers Black Sea towns, ski resorts in Bansko and Borovets, and centuries-old monasteries. Sofia sits under Vitosha mountain, Plovdiv has a charming old town, and food is built on fresh salads, yogurt and grilled dishes.
Day to day
Buses are the main way between cities, with slower trains as a backup. Public healthcare is patchy, and private clinics are affordable. Cards work in cities, internet is fast and cheap, and English is common among younger Bulgarians.
Trade-offs
Bureaucracy can be slow and inconsistent. Winter smog affects Sofia, rural areas are emptying out, and nodding for no and shaking the head for yes confuses newcomers.
Before you move: visa-free entry
Most people arrive as visitors first, then apply from inside the country or come back with the right visa. How long you can stay as a visitor depends on your passport:
United States90 days
United Kingdom90 days
Australia90 days
Canada90 days
New Zealand90 days
SwitzerlandVisa-free
NorwayVisa-free
Singapore90 days
Japan90 days
South Korea90 days
Israel90 days
United Arab Emirates90 days
Hong Kong90 days
South AfricaVisa
Mexico90 days
Brazil90 days
Questions
Does Bulgaria have a digital nomad visa?
Not among the routes we have checked. Remote workers usually come as visitors within the visa-free limit or use one of the other routes on this page.
How can I move to Bulgaria?
The routes we have checked are: Work permit, Student visa, Passive income visa, Investment and golden visa.
When was this information checked?
The residence routes for Bulgaria were last checked against official sources on 30 October 2026.
Sources and last check
Residence routes for Bulgaria were last checked against official sources on 30 October 2026.
- Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Visa for Bulgaria
- Ministry of Interior: impact assessment of the implementing regulation amendments (digital nomads, Art. 24c)
- https://www.mvr.bg/migration
This page is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Requirements change; confirm with the official government page or a licensed adviser before you apply.
