Bulgaria

1 programme · BGN · Bulgarian

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Showing Bulgaria's requirements for Australian citizens. Other passports:🇺🇸 US 🇬🇧 UK 🇿🇦 ZA 🇨🇦 CA All passports

Last updated June 2026Sources:mfa.bg,kinstellar.com,newbalkanslawoffice.com,eurofast.eu

and 9 more

Type D Long-Stay Visa (Remote Work)

Official nomad visa

What this visa gets you

Visa
Entry document
Temporary residency
1 year initially, up to 2 years total
Permanent residency
Not via this programme
Citizenship
Not via this programme

Nomads and expats consistently describe Bulgaria as offering a relaxed, affordable lifestyle that compares favourably to pricier EU countries. Several users who kept remote salaries report feeling like they 'live like a king', and one UK-based remote worker says the move left them significantly happier, citing lower costs and a stronger sense of community than back home.

Nomads and expats consistently describe Bulgaria as offering a relaxed, affordable lifestyle that compares favourably to pricier EU countries. Several users who kept remote salaries report feeling like they 'live like a king', and one UK-based remote worker says the move left them significantly happier, citing lower costs and a stronger sense of community than back home.
r/expats ↗r/IWantOut ↗
Bansko is frequently flagged as a nomad hub, with users noting an active expat/nomad community there and a public Facebook coworking group. Several commenters mention it as a realistic base, with one planning to move there after a ski-season stay.
r/digitalnomad ↗

Anecdotal: what nomads report, not official guidance.

Income requirement: BGN ~53,850/year (50 x previous-year monthly minimum wage of BGN 1,077 for 2026 applications); commonly mis-cited as ~BGN 60,600 / EUR 31,000 using the 2026 minimum wage of BGN 1,213
Application fee: Not stated
Family allowed: Yes

One experienced user strongly recommends spending a full month in Bulgaria before committing to residency, using up the visa-free 90-day allowance first. The process of converting a stay into residency is described as navigable but complex enough that locals and long-timers suggest arriving with 'beginner's mind' and flexibility.

One experienced user strongly recommends spending a full month in Bulgaria before committing to residency, using up the visa-free 90-day allowance first. The process of converting a stay into residency is described as navigable but complex enough that locals and long-timers suggest arriving with 'beginner's mind' and flexibility.
r/IWantOut ↗r/digitalnomad ↗
Nomads report that opening a Bulgarian company bank account as a non-resident can be a real sticking point — one agency told a user the government requires a residence permit for the company director before a business bank account is allowed. Some users report being steered toward 'readymade' shelf companies as a workaround, though concerns about hidden liabilities are raised.
r/digitalnomad ↗

Anecdotal: what nomads report, not official guidance.

How do Australian citizens apply for the Bulgaria Type D Long-Stay Visa?

Can Australian citizens apply from inside Bulgaria?

It depends: we haven't verified this for Bulgaria yet.

Some European permits allow in-country application, and if you already hold legal residence in Bulgaria on another permit the rules can differ from a fresh consular application. The "fly in on a tourist stamp and convert" route, by contrast, usually does not work. Confirm your case with the official Bulgaria source before relying on it.

How long does the Bulgaria Type D Long-Stay Visa really take for Australian citizens?

15–23 weeks (≈ 3–5 months)

Police clearance (typical)3w
Apostille (typical)2w
Consular appointment (typical)4w
Processing 8–16w official8w
Post-arrival registration (typical)2w

Official processing: 8–16 weeks. The rest is doc gathering + waiting in a queue, none of which the consulate counts.

Avoid these

What do people get wrong about the Bulgaria Type D Long-Stay Visa?

Assuming you can convert a tourist stay. For most European residence visas you can't fly in on a tourist stamp and convert it from inside the country. You apply before you travel. A few permits and people who already hold legal residence on another permit are exceptions, so confirm Bulgaria's rule rather than assuming either way.
Underestimating timing by a factor of 2–3. The "60-day processing" line is real, but it's only the consulate's processing window. The door-to-door reality includes police clearance, apostille, consular appointment lead, and post-arrival registration, so most applicants land between 4 and 7 months.
Income proof in the wrong currency. Bank statements showing income in your local currency are routinely rejected if the equivalent in EUR isn't clearly stated and consistent across the qualifying period (usually 3 or 6 months).

Documents

What Australian applicants typically submit

Indicative: we haven't verified Bulgaria's exact checklist for Australian applicants. Confirm the current list with the official source before you start gathering.

Documents needing an apostille (Australian authorities):

AFP national police check
Birth certificate

Worth knowing: AFP National Police Check (national name-based check, ~15 business days). Australia is an Apostille Convention member — DFAT apostilles documents. Australia taxes residents on worldwide income and stops at non-residency, but the residency tests and CGT-on-departure rules for some assets need planning before you go.

Tax

How is Type D Long-Stay Visa income taxed for Australian citizens?

Bulgaria levies a flat 10% personal income tax. Individuals become Bulgarian tax residents if they spend 183+ days in the country in a 12-month period (or have their centre of vital interests in Bulgaria), at which point worldwide income is taxable at 10%, subject to double-taxation treaties. No special or reduced tax regime is attached specifically to the digital nomad permit. Permit income must be foreign-sourced.

Tax treaty with AustralianYes

Social-security totalisationYes

Money, roughly (indicative)

Regime: 10% flat, about 24% effective tax on €60k/yr.

Flat 10% personal income tax, one of the lowest in the EU. Self-employed social + health contributions add roughly 14% on a capped base; may be nil if a totalisation agreement keeps you in your home system.

Living comfortably to well in Sofia runs about €1,300–€1,800/mo for one person, incl. rent. Roughly 62% less than the same living in Sydney, which runs about A$5,700/mo (≈ €3,400).

Estimate your take-home in the tax calculator →

Worth a specialist's time. A short call before you commit usually pays for itself, especially for US citizens (FEIE/FATCA), existing UK ties, or unwinding SA tax residency.

Community members consistently highlight Bulgaria's flat 10% income tax as the primary draw for relocating nomads, particularly those from high-tax countries like Ireland or Belgium. However, users caution that total tax burden including healthcare and social security contributions is higher than the headline rate suggests, and one thread notes a sole-proprietor effective rate (including mandatory social contributions) lands noticeably above 10%. Finding a local lawyer or accountant who specialises in this is described as straightforward, with several knowledgeable firms available in Sofia.

Community members consistently highlight Bulgaria's flat 10% income tax as the primary draw for relocating nomads, particularly those from high-tax countries like Ireland or Belgium. However, users caution that total tax burden including healthcare and social security contributions is higher than the headline rate suggests, and one thread notes a sole-proprietor effective rate (including mandatory social contributions) lands noticeably above 10%. Finding a local lawyer or accountant who specialises in this is described as straightforward, with several knowledgeable firms available in Sofia.
r/digitalnomad ↗r/bulgaria ↗r/digitalnomad ↗

Anecdotal: what nomads report, not official guidance.

Recommended for your move

FAQ

Bulgaria Type D Long-Stay Visa: common questions

Can Australian citizens get the Bulgaria Type D Long-Stay Visa?

Yes. The Type D Long-Stay Visa is open to Australian passport holders as non-EU nationals. The main requirement is proof of income of at least €2,294 per month.

Can I apply for the Bulgaria Type D Long-Stay Visa from inside Bulgaria?

It depends. Some European nomad permits let you apply from inside the country (especially if you already hold legal residence on another permit), while others require you to apply at a Bulgaria consulate before you travel. We haven't verified Bulgaria's rule for Australian applicants yet, so confirm it with the official Bulgaria source before relying on it.

How long does the Bulgaria Type D Long-Stay Visa take for Australian applicants?

As a rough guide, European nomad permits run about 8–16 weeks door-to-door once you add police clearance, any apostille, the appointment lead time, and post-arrival registration on top of the official processing window. We haven't verified Bulgaria's figures for Australian applicants, so treat this as indicative.

Do I need an apostille for the Bulgaria Type D Long-Stay Visa?

Most European permits require documents issued in Australia (such as a police clearance) to be apostilled, but the exact list varies by country and permit. We haven't verified Bulgaria's requirement for Australian documents, so confirm it with the consulate or official source.

How much does the Bulgaria Type D Long-Stay Visa cost?

Budget separately for police clearance, apostille (if required), translations, and required health insurance.

Can I bring my family on the Bulgaria Type D Long-Stay Visa?

Yes. Spouses and dependent children can generally be included as dependants, usually with a higher combined income requirement and their own supporting documents.

What's next

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Track changes

Every dated change we've logged for Bulgaria: income thresholds, fees, consular policy.

Expatlas provides information for orientation only and is not legal advice. Always verify current requirements with official government sources and consult an immigration lawyer for your specific case.