Step-by-Step Practical Guide

This guide shows you how to apply for a Type D visa and subsequently for a long-term residence permit in Bulgaria on the basis of "digital nomad" status.

1) Who Qualifies as a "Digital Nomad"

Check whether you fall into one of the three categories:

A digital nomad is any foreign national who:

• works under an employment contract with an employer registered outside the EU / EEA / Switzerland and provides remote services through the use of information technologies; (if the contract is fixed-term, the remaining term must be no shorter than the period of the requested permit)

or

• is a legal representative, member of a management body, owner of a company, partner or shareholder holding more than 25% of the capital of a company registered outside the EU / EEA / Switzerland, through which they provide remote services, without carrying out activities for persons in Bulgaria

or

• provides remote services in a personal capacity through information technologies for a period of no less than 1 year before submitting the application and does not carry out activities on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.

2) Application Procedure

The procedure takes place in two main stages:

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

STAGE I: Long-Stay Visa (Type "D")

1. What is a Type "D" Visa?

The long-stay visa:

• is issued for a period of up to 6 months;
• allows you to stay for up to 180 days;
• permits multiple entries;
• is automatically cancelled upon the issuance of a residence permit.

2. Where to Submit Your Application

The application is submitted only at:

• the Bulgarian diplomatic or consular mission in the country of the applicant's permanent residence;

or

• a mission accredited for that country.

! By way of exception: if you are lawfully residing in a third country, you may submit your application there, if you:

• justify the reasons;
• prove that you can return to your country of permanent residence.

3. Interview

An interview with you is mandatory. No exceptions are permitted.

4. Required Documents

The following must be submitted together with the application for a Type "D" visa:

• valid passport;
• copies of the passport pages containing personal data, visas and/or held residence permits;
• a recent colour photo — passport format;
• documents substantiating the "digital nomad" basis — (see point 2.6 of Stage 2);
• proof of availability of financial means for subsistence (point 2.2 of Stage 2);
• proof of secured accommodation on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria (point 2.3 of Stage 2);
• mandatory health insurance;
• criminal record certificate — issued by the country of which you are a citizen, your country of origin or of your habitual residence — upon initial application.

Important: The documents listed above are in practice the same documents that will be submitted when applying for a long-term residence permit (Stage II). They should therefore be prepared in full and in accordance with the requirements at this stage.

Checklist for Stage I

• ☐ Passport (valid)
• ☐ Copies of pages with personal data, visas/permits
• ☐ Photo (passport format)
• ☐ Documents for "digital nomad" basis (see Stage II, point 2.6)
• ☐ Proof of financial means (see Stage II, point 2.2)
• ☐ Proof of accommodation (see Stage II, point 2.3)
• ☐ Health 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 is submitted in person on paper using the prescribed form (Annex No. 3 to the RFALB) at:
  or
• • Directorate "Migration" at the Ministry of Interior
• • the department/sector/group "Migration" at the relevant Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior (RDMI)
• Deadline for submission: No later than 14 days before the expiry of the long-stay visa (Type "D") that was issued.
• Processing deadline: Up to 14 days from the date of submission of the application. In cases of legal and factual complexity or where additional documents need to be submitted, the deadline may be extended to 1 month.

2. Required Documents

The following must be provided together with the application:

2.1. Passport (copy and original for verification) with the pages showing:

• the photograph and personal data;
• the "D" visa, where required;
• the stamp for the last entry into the Republic of Bulgaria.

2.2. Proof that you have an average annual income for the preceding calendar year of no less than 50 gross minimum monthly wages. The gross amount of income received is taken into account.

2.3. Proof of secured accommodation in Bulgaria

• a) a notarial deed or rental agreement;
• b) a declaration from the property owner confirming the provided address; where the declaration is not submitted in person by the owner or by a person expressly authorised by them, it must bear a notarially certified signature and content.

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

2.5. Criminal record certificate — issued by the country of which you are a citizen, your country of origin or of your 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 into one of the following categories:

2.6.1. If you work under an employment contract (§ 1, item 36, sub-item 1 of the Supplementary Provisions of the FALB)

In this case, the following are submitted:

• an employment contract or document from the employer containing details of the parties, the position, the remuneration and the term;
• a document of registration of the employer containing details of the name, identification number, registered office, management address and representatives, with a validity period of up to 6 months before submission of the documents;
• where available — a link to an official company register or website from which the stated circumstances are visible, where one exists.

2.6.2. If you are an Owner, partner, shareholder, legal representative, member of a management body of a company (§ 1, item 36, sub-item 2 of the Supplementary Provisions of the FALB)

In this case, the following must be submitted:

• a document certifying the existence of the company, its name, identification number, capital owners, registered office, management address, subject of activity and the persons representing it, with a validity period of up to 6 months before submission; where the primary document lacks details on the capital owners — an additional document issued by the management body of the company;
• a link to an official company register or website, if one exists;
• at least one contract and a reference from the recipient of the remote services, certifying the remote nature of the services, the period of provision and the identification details of the recipient:
• • If a natural person — name, identification number, number and date of issue of an identity document, address in the country of which they are a citizen or in the country of their habitual residence;
  • If legal persons — name, identification number, registered office and management address, the persons representing it under its national law, as well as a link to an official company register or website from which these circumstances are visible, if one exists.

2.6.3. If you are a freelancer — Self-employed person (under § 1, item 36, sub-item 3 of the Supplementary Provisions of the FALB)

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

• that the services are provided entirely remotely;
• the period of provision;
• the identification details of the recipient — natural or legal person:
• • for natural persons — name, identification number, number and date of issue of an identity document, address in the country of which they are a citizen or in the country of their habitual residence;
  • for legal persons — name, identification number, registered office and management address, the persons representing it under its national law, as well as a link to an official company register or website from which these circumstances are visible, if applicable.

2.7. Document for paid state fee

Important: The documents you submit, depending on the country from which they originate, must meet the requirements of the relevant provisions of bilateral international treaties or the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (concluded in The Hague on 5 October 1961), or the Rules on the Legalisation, Certification and Translation of Documents and Other Papers, and must also be accompanied by translations into Bulgarian, carried out and certified in the prescribed manner.

Checklist for Stage II (for your convenience)

• ☐ Application using the prescribed form (Annex No. 3 to the RFALB)
• ☐ Passport + copy (pages: personal data, D visa, stamp for last entry)
• ☐ Proof of income (50 gross minimum wages)
• ☐ Proof of accommodation (document + declaration)
• ☐ Health insurance
• ☐ Criminal record certificate
• ☐ Proof of "digital nomad" status (2.6.1 / 2.6.2 / 2.6.3)
• ☐ Document for paid state fee

Family of a "Digital Nomad"

Family Reunification — Procedure

Your family members have the right to join you if you already have the right to be in Bulgaria as a "digital nomad."

I. Submitting an Application for Family Reunification

The application is submitted by you on paper using the prescribed form pursuant to Annex No. 2a to the RFALB:

• at Directorate "Migration,"

or

• at the department/sector/group "Migration" at the relevant RDMI.

Required documents

The following are appended to the application:

• a copy of the valid passport or substitute document of the family member with a validity period of no less than 6 months, with the pages showing the photograph and personal data;
• proof of secured accommodation;
• proof of stable, regular, predictable and sufficient means of subsistence, without recourse to the social assistance system, in an amount no less than the minimum monthly wage or the minimum pension in the country;
• criminal record certificate of the family member, issued as at the date of submission of the documents — upon initial application;
• marriage certificate or birth certificate.

Consideration of the application

• The application is coordinated with the State Agency for National Security (SANS).
• Processing deadline: up to 1 month, with SANS providing its opinion within 15 days.
• The applicant is notified in writing of the decision taken.

Positive decision

A positive decision entitles the family member to apply for a long-stay visa (Type "D" visa) through a simplified procedure, within 6 months of notification.

II. Entry into Bulgaria and Completion of the Procedure

After entering the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria with a "D" visa, the family member, no later than 14 days before the expiry of the visa, submits the following in addition to the previously submitted documents at Directorate "Migration" or the RDMI:

• a copy of the passport or substitute document with the pages showing the photograph, personal data, a copy of the visa and the stamp for the last entry into the country (the original must also be presented for verification);
• mandatory health insurance, valid for the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, where the person is not insured under the Health Insurance Act.

Within 3 days, the competent authority:

• determines the duration of the authorised period of residence;
• notifies the person of the state fee due.

Before You Begin

This procedure is two-stage and requires good preparation. To save yourself time, stress and additional trips, it is best to prepare your documentation in advance and create a folder with copies and originals.

What to Prepare in Advance (Organisational List)

Document folder Prepare separate sections or pockets: "Stage I — D Visa", "Stage II — Residence", "Family (if applicable)."

Originals and copies Keep the originals separately, and the copies arranged in the order of the checklists below. You will typically need copies of your passport, as well as documents for income, accommodation, insurance and "digital nomad" status.

Income documents and proof of status These are key documents and often require time, as they come from an employer/register/client. Start with these first.

Accommodation in Bulgaria If you will be proving an address/accommodation, arrange this in good time, as some documents (declarations, certifications) require additional steps.

Health insurance Make sure it is valid for the territory of Bulgaria and covers the entire period for which you are applying.

Criminal record certificate Allow time for issuance (and where necessary legalisation/translation, according to the requirements described below in the text).

Deadlines Stage II has an explicit deadline: no later than 14 days before the expiry of the D visa. Therefore, immediately after entering Bulgaria, plan when you will submit the documents.

Contacts and notes Write down where you will submit the documents, what the working hours are and what phone/email to contact if you have questions.

Glossary of Abbreviations and Links

EEA — European Economic Area

Switzerland — Swiss Confederation (mentioned separately in the legal texts)

Type "D" Visa — long-stay visa (described in Stage I)

MoI — Ministry of Interior https://www.mvr.bg/

Directorate "Migration" — directorate within the MoI, designated as the competent authority in Stage II https://www.mvr.bg/migration

RDMI — Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior https://www.mvr.bg/sofia

SANS — State Agency for National Security https://www.dans.bg/

FALB — Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act

SP — Supplementary Provisions (cited in the text as "SP of the FALB")

RFALB — Rules for the Application of the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act

Annex No. 3 to the RFALB — prescribed application form for Stage II, referenced in the text

Annex No. 2a to the RFALB — prescribed application form for family reunification, referenced in the text

Legalisation/Apostille/Translations — at the end of Stage II it is stated that documents must meet the requirements under international treaties/the Hague Convention and must be accompanied by translations into Bulgarian in the prescribed manner.