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Bulgaria updates immigration legislation: What employers and foreign nationals should know

The Bulgarian Parliament approved the final version of the amendments to the Foreigners Act during a second and final reading on June 18, 2025.

We have summarized below the legislative amendments that are effective as of 1 July, 2025:

  1. Enhanced requirements for obtaining residence  as a representative of a foreign commercial company - a new condition requires the foreign company to have achieved an annual turnover of no less than BGN 100,000 (or its equivalent in foreign currency, calculated based on the official exchange rate of the Bulgarian National Bank applicable on the date of submission of the regular registration documents of the trade representation with the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry), for each of the two consecutive years preceding the registration of the trade representation. A maximum of two representatives may be granted residence on this basis (previously, the limit was three).
  2. A legal framework has been established for granting residence rights to digital nomads, although the procedural rules are pending and will be adopted through forthcoming amendments to the Implementing Regulations. The term "digital nomad" is defined as a foreign national who meets one of the following conditions:
    • Is employed under a labor contract by an employer registered or incorporated outside the European Union, the European Economic Area, or the Swiss Confederation, and provides remote services through the use of information and communication technologies. In the case of a fixed-term employment contract, the remaining duration of the contract must not be shorter than the validity period of the residence permit granted on this basis; or
    • Is a legal representative, member of the management body, owner, partner, or shareholder holding more than 25% of the capital of a company registered or incorporated outside the European Union, the European Economic Area, or the Swiss Confederation, through which remote services are provided via ICT, and who does not perform work or provide services to persons located on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria; or
    • Personally provides remote services via ICT for a period of not less than one year prior to the date of application, and does not perform work or provide services to persons on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria and/or does not carry out freelance activity within the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.

In addition, the foreign national must provide evidence of a minimum average annual income of not less than 50 minimum monthly wage in Bulgaria for the previous calendar year /1070 BGN min monthly wage this year/. The gross amount of the income earned shall be taken into account.

The residence permit shall be valid for a period of one year, and may be extended once for an additional one-year period.

  1. Proof of accommodation is no longer required at the time of submission of applications for a Single Permit, EU Blue Card, or ICT Permit. Such proof has to be submitted at the time of application for a visa type D.
  2. Where the position applied for requires higher education, the foreign national must submit a document certifying the recognition of their foreign higher education qualification at the time of the visa application and upon registration with the Migration Directorate after entry. If the certificate is already recorded in the National Center for Information and Documentation academic recognition register, only the registration number and issue date must be indicated in the application, and the certificate itself need not be attached.
  3. The deadline for submission of a visa application by Blue Card applicants has been extended from 20 to 30 days following notification of granted access to the labor market.
  4. The deadline for Blue Card and ICT applicants to appear before the Migration Directorate after entering Bulgaria with a type D visa has been extended from 7 to 14 days.
  5. A ban on entry and stay in the territory of the Member States shall be imposed where a short-term foreign resident fails to leave Bulgaria after the expiry of their authorized period of stay
  6. The deadline for Blue Card and ICT applicants to appear before the Migration Directorate after entering Bulgaria with a type D visa has been extended from 7 to 14 days.
  7. A ban on entry and stay in the territory of the Member States shall be imposed where a short-term foreign resident fails to leave Bulgaria after the expiry of their authorized period of stay

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