Bulgaria
Republic of Bulgaria · Capital: Sofia
An affordable EU member with a flat 10% personal and corporate tax, a growing IT and outsourcing sector and low living costs, increasingly popular with founders and remote workers.
Migration statistics
Who is arriving
Top source countries and the make-up of recent arrivals into Bulgaria.
Policy overview
3 visa routes into Bulgaria
Eligibility, fees, processing times and whether each route leads to permanent residence.
EU Blue Card
SkilledBG-EUBC
Work-and-residence permit for highly qualified non-EU professionals paid at least 1.5 times the Bulgarian average gross wage (about EUR 24,000 a year).
Eligibility
- Salary of at least 1.5x the average gross wage
- Higher-education degree or qualifications
Document checklist (9 items)
Core
Professional
Financial
Background
Type D Long-Stay (Work)
SkilledBG-D
Long-stay visa leading to a residence permit for employment or business. The visa fee is EUR 100 (EUR 200 for urgent processing).
Eligibility
- Work permit or company
- Accommodation
Document checklist (8 items)
Core
Professional
Financial
Background
Investment Residence
InvestorBG-INV
Permanent residence for investing at least EUR 511,292 (formerly BGN 1 million) in a licensed Bulgarian investment fund or company. A lower route of EUR 255,646 (BGN 500,000) in a Bulgarian company also requires creating at least 10 jobs. Entry is on a Type D visa (EUR 100).
Eligibility
- EUR 511,292 in a licensed alternative investment fund or Bulgarian company, or
- EUR 255,646 in a Bulgarian company plus at least 10 jobs
- Clean record
Document checklist (10 items)
Core
Professional
Financial
Background
Economic context
The numbers behind the move
Pay reflects the local market in Bulgaria, what you'd typically earn there, not your current salary.
Skill shortages
Sectors actively recruiting from abroad
Where Bulgaria needs foreign talent most, and what those roles pay.
IT & outsourcing
Sofia is a major outsourcing and software-development hub for Europe.
Manufacturing & engineering
Automotive-parts and electronics plants need skilled technicians.
Shared services & BPO
Multilingual shared-service centres recruit heavily.
Recent changes
What's changed lately
Recent policy changes that affect migrants, newest first.
No policy changes recorded in the last 90 days. The intelligence agent is monitoring.
Quality of life
What living there feels like
Sofia
Capital & tech hubThe capital and economic centre, home to most IT, outsourcing and startup employers.
- Cost index
- 52
- 1-bed rent
- $650
- Quality
- 74
Plovdiv
Historic culture cityOne of Europe's oldest cities, cheaper and more relaxed than Sofia.
- Cost index
- 46
- 1-bed rent
- $480
- Quality
- 76
Varna
Black Sea coastThe Black Sea 'maritime capital', popular in summer and for coastal living.
- Cost index
- 48
- 1-bed rent
- $520
- Quality
- 76
Safety & climate
The reception you can expect
How welcoming the public and political mood is, how safe it is, and how geopolitically stable the country is right now.
Anti-migrant sentiment
trendEU stability and low taxes draw founders and remote workers; bureaucracy can be slow.
Higher = more hostile public/political climate.
Geopolitical stability
A composite of governance, security and regional-risk signals. Higher means a more predictable environment for settling long term.
Higher = more stable.
Safety
Generally safe; petty crime in Sofia's tourist and nightlife areas.
Higher = safer (crime index 38/100).
Where to live
Which Bulgaria city fits you?
Cities matched to who you are, career, family, retirement, study or remote work. We flag the ones to consider and the ones to approach with care.
Sofia
Affordable EU capital
The capital and economic centre, home to most IT, outsourcing and startup employers.
Plovdiv
Ancient & artsy
One of Europe's oldest cities, cheaper and more relaxed than Sofia.
Varna
Seaside city
The Black Sea 'maritime capital', popular in summer and for coastal living.
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Immigration solicitors for Bulgaria
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