The Bulgarian Parliament has approved the reform of the migration legislation. The Bulgarian Parliament on 18 June 2025 gave final approval to amendments to the Aliens Act, which were proposed by the interim government in January and provisionally approved in the first reading in April. The amendments aim to harmonise Bulgarian legislation with European Commission directives and take into account the new realities following the country's accession to the Schengen area.
Visas For Digital Nomads And Business People
A significant part of the amendments concerns the simplification of procedures for highly qualified professionals. In particular, a new status is introduced for digital nomads - foreign workers employed remotely by foreign employers. Such specialists will be able to receive a long-term residence permit for up to six months with the right to stay for up to 180 days. For businessmen there are favourable conditions for obtaining a residence permit if the annual turnover of the company is at least 100,000 leva (about €51,000).
Other Innovations
The law tightens the requirements for employers hiring foreigners. Within a week after the employee's entry, the company must provide the migration service with a copy of the employee's passport with visa and proof of health insurance. Violators face fines from BGN 200 to 1000, while foreigners themselves face fines from BGN 100 to 500 for late submission of documents.
Special attention is paid to the registration procedure. All foreigners upon entry are obliged to declare the purpose of their visit and within three days to report their residential address by filling in a special address card. An exception is made only for organised tourist groups.
The procedure for obtaining an annual residence permit has been simplified for postgraduate students. There is also a possibility to apply for a long-term residence permit for wealthy foreigners who can prove an annual income of at least 50 Bulgarian minimum wages (about €28,000 gross).
An important innovation concerns the holders of the EU Blue Card. Their family members can now move to Bulgaria without hindrance, receiving a temporary 90-day residence permit while their documents are being processed. All stays of third-country nationals in Bulgaria are now counted as being in the Schengen area.
