In short
Americans can stay in Sofia visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180. To live there, most people first get a long-stay visa D at a Bulgarian consulate and then a one-year residence permit — as a pensioner, a digital nomad or an employee. Owning a Bulgarian company is not a residence ground on its own. A single person spends about €760 a month without rent, and a 1-bedroom apartment costs about €520–690, so about €1,300–1,450 in total. Income tax is a flat 10%.
Sofia: key facts
Last verified 28 September 2026| Short stays without a visa | 90 days in any 180-day period (Schengen)# Source: Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: visa for Bulgaria |
|---|---|
| Before you move | Long-stay visa D from a Bulgarian embassy or consulate in your country of residence; then the residence permit from the Migration Directorate in Bulgaria# Source: Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: visa D (long-stay) information sheet · Bulgarian Administrative Register: long-term residence permit (service 21815) |
| Residence permit | Long-term residence permit, up to 1 year, renewable (apply at least 14 days before expiry)# Source: Refugeelight.bg: long-term residence permit for pensioners · Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act (consolidated text) |
| Digital nomad income | At least 50 minimum monthly wages of the previous year — about €27,500 a year for 2026 applications (€31,010 from 2027)# Source: State Gazette No. 52/2025: amendment of the Foreigners Act (digital nomads) |
| Owning a company | Not a residence ground on its own; a company must, for example, create at least 10 full-time jobs for Bulgarian citizens# Source: Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act (consolidated text) |
| Sofia population | 1.30 million (end of 2025)# Source: National Statistical Institute: population and demographic processes 2025 |
| Sofia transport | €25.50 monthly pass; €0.80 single ticket (2026)# Source: Novinite: Sofia public transport — tickets €0.80 (2026) · Metro Sofia: new euro fares from 1 January 2026 |
| 1-bed apartment, Sofia | about €690/month in the centre, €520 outside estimate# Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Sofia (Sep 2026) |
| Living costs, single person (Sofia) | about €760/month without rent estimate# Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Sofia (Sep 2026) |
| Euro | Since 1 January 2026 (21st member; €1 = 1.95583 lev); lev not legal tender since 1 February 2026# Source: ECB: Bulgaria introduces the euro (1 Jan 2026) · Bulgarian National Bank: dual circulation period |
| Income tax | 10% flat# Source: Personal Income Taxes Act (consolidated text) |
Not American?
Canadians, Australians, Brits and other non-EU citizens: the same rules apply
Bulgarian permits work the same for all non-EU citizens, so Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and Brits move to Sofia exactly as described here. Only a few points differ:
- Canada
- Australia
- New Zealand
- United Kingdom
- Japan
- South Korea
- + other visa-free countries
| Short stays | 90 days in any 180-day period (Schengen). |
|---|---|
| Where to apply | The long-stay visa D is filed at the Bulgarian embassy or consulate in your country of residence. |
| Tax treaty with Bulgaria | Bulgaria has income tax treaties with the US and many other countries — check how yours treats your income. |
| Documents from abroad | Need an apostille; the US, Canada (since 11 Jan 2024), the UK, Australia and NZ issue them.Source: HCCH: Apostille Convention status table |
Overview
Living in Sofia as an American
Sofia is one of Europe's most underestimated capitals — a fast-developing tech hub with good infrastructure, Vitosha mountain on the city's southern edge and a quality of life that surprises first-time visitors. Bulgaria is a full EU and Schengen member and adopted the euro on 1 January 2026 as the 21st euro-area country. Bulgaria's software sector employs tens of thousands of people, and companies such as Paysafe and Progress have large engineering teams in Sofia. For Americans seeking EU access at a moderate cost, Sofia is a compelling answer.
City at a Glance
Sofia — Quick Facts
1.3 million (Sofia city)
Bulgarian (Cyrillic) — English common in tech and business
Euro (€) — since 1 January 2026
EET (UTC+2) / EEST (UTC+3 summer)
Continental — cold winters, warm summers (July highs about 28 °C)
Very fast mobile data; home broadband about €13/month
4 metro lines, trams, buses — €0.80 a ride, €25.50 a month
Sofia Airport (SOF) — 10 km from the centre, metro Line 4
Good in tech, business and among younger people
Vitosha Nature Park on the city's edge — hiking; limited skiing at Aleko
Full member since 1 January 2025
Cost of Living
How Much Does It Cost to Live in Sofia?
Sofia is far cheaper than any Western European capital, mainly because of rent — with full EU legal protections and improving infrastructure.
| Item | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment, city centre | about €690 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside centre | about €520 |
| Everyday costs without rent (single person) | about €760 |
| Utilities (85 m² apartment) | about €140 (more in winter) |
| Internet (60+ Mbps) | about €13 |
| Inexpensive restaurant meal | about €15 |
| Mid-range dinner for two | about €60 |
| Cappuccino | about €3.10 |
| Monthly transport pass | €25.50 |
| Single person, total with rent | about €1,300–1,450 |
Estimates from Numbeo (September 2026); transport fares from 1 January 2026. Source: Numbeo: Sofia
Rents vary by district — Lozenets and the central residential areas are above the city average, outer districts such as Mladost, Lyulin or Nadezhda below it.
Neighborhoods
Best Neighborhoods in Sofia for Americans
Sofia's districts range from the historic centre to newer residential areas and the green foothills of Vitosha.
Lozenets
One of Sofia's most sought-after residential districts — leafy streets towards Vitosha, good restaurants and cafés, embassies and an established international community. A top choice for expats.
Oborishte & Ivan Vazov
Central residential areas with tree-lined streets and some of Sofia's best-preserved older architecture, close to the centre, the National Palace of Culture and South Park.
City centre
The historic and commercial heart — Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the National Theatre, the Largo and pedestrian Vitosha Boulevard. Central and convenient, but noisier.
Iztok & Mladost
Established residential districts in the east and south-east with good amenities and metro links. Mladost is also home to Business Park Sofia and many tech offices.
Studentski Grad
The student district in the south-east — young, lively and affordable, close to universities and to Sofia Tech Park on Tsarigradsko Shose.
Expat Life
Practical Life in Sofia for Americans
Visa D first, then the residence permit
For stays beyond 90 days, most Americans need a long-stay visa D from a Bulgarian consulate and then a long-term residence permit from the Migration Directorate. Main routes: pensioners, digital nomads and employees of a Bulgarian employer. You need accommodation, health insurance and sufficient means — at least the minimum wage (€620.20 in 2026) for each month of stay. Permits last up to a year; renew at least 14 days before expiry.
EOOD — the Bulgarian company, not a visa
Many self-employed people use an EOOD, Bulgaria's single-member limited company, with minimum capital of just €1 since the euro switch. It is a practical way to invoice clients — but owning one does not give you a residence permit. If you need residence, plan the permit route separately.
Bulgarian flat tax — 10%
Bulgaria has a flat 10% personal income tax and 10% corporate tax, and dividends are taxed at 5%. Social security contributions come on top for employees and the self-employed. State pensions, including US Social Security, are not taxed in Bulgaria.
Vitosha — the mountain on the city's edge
Vitosha Nature Park rises right behind Sofia, with its highest peak, Cherni Vrah, at 2,290 m. It is great for hiking and cycling. The Simeonovo gondola closed permanently and the Dragalevtsi chair lift has been out of service since 2017, so you reach the mountain by bus or car. Skiing at Aleko is limited — most people ski at Borovets or Bansko.
A city on the move
New restaurants, coffee shops, coworking spaces and tech parks keep opening. The metro now has four lines, including Line 4 to the airport. Vitosha Boulevard and Lozenets have excellent dining, and visitors expecting a grey post-communist city are often surprised.
Visas & Residency
To Live in Sofia You Need a Bulgarian Residence Permit
US citizens can visit Sofia visa-free for 90 days in any 180. For longer stays, choose one of these routes and apply for the visa D before you move.
Pensioner Permit
A pension from any country plus means of at least the minimum wage for each month of stay, health insurance and accommodation. Up to 1 year, renewable.
Retirement guide →Digital Nomad Permit
For remote employees of non-EU employers, owners of 25%+ of a non-EU IT-services company and remote IT freelancers. About €27,500 a year for 2026 applications. 1 year, renewable once.
Expat guide →Employment / EU Blue Card
A job offer from a Bulgarian employer, who applies for the single permit. The Blue Card needs a salary of at least 1.5 times the average gross wage.
All Bulgarian routes →Company Owners
An EOOD alone is not a residence ground. Company routes need, for example, 10+ full-time jobs for Bulgarian citizens.
Company formation guide →For all routes and requirements see the Bulgaria country page.
Expat Tips
Essential Tips for Americans Moving to Sofia
Sort out residence before the company
An EOOD is quick and cheap to set up, but it does not give you the right to live in Bulgaria. Secure your residence route first, then register the company if you need one. A Bulgarian accountant can handle registration and bookkeeping — for a small company without VAT, from about €50–95 a month. Directories like LocalVouch can help you find vetted, English-speaking accountants and lawyers in Sofia.
Enjoy Vitosha — by bus or car
Vitosha's trails start on the edge of the city. With the old lifts closed, take a bus or drive up to Aleko or the Zlatni Mostove area for hikes; for serious skiing, head to Borovets or Bansko.
Learn Cyrillic first
Bulgarian uses the Cyrillic alphabet. Learning to read it makes street signs, menus and public transport much easier. Most younger people in Sofia's business and tech sector speak good English.
The lev is gone — prices are in euro
Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026 and the lev has not been legal tender since 1 February 2026. The Bulgarian National Bank still exchanges old lev cash free of charge. If an older guide quotes leva, divide by 1.95583.
Explore beyond Sofia
Weekend trips are easy: the UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery (about 2 hours), Plovdiv (about 1.5 hours), Bansko (about 2–2.5 hours), Burgas on the Black Sea (about 3.5–4 hours) and Varna (about 5 hours).
Compare
How Does Sofia Compare?
Comparing budget-friendly EU countries?
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is Bulgaria's income tax rate?
A flat 10% on personal income; corporate income tax is also 10%, and dividends are taxed at 5% (2026). Employees and the self-employed also pay social security contributions. State pensions, including US Social Security, are not taxed in Bulgaria.
What is an EOOD in Bulgaria?
A single-member limited liability company. Since the euro switch on 1 January 2026 its minimum capital is €1. Registration online costs €28.12 and the Registry Agency examines a new company by the end of the next working day. Owning an EOOD does not by itself give you a residence permit.
How affordable is Sofia for Americans?
A single person spends about €760 a month without rent, and a 1-bedroom apartment costs about €690 in the centre and €520 outside it (Numbeo, September 2026) — about €1,300–1,450 in total. A monthly transport pass is €25.50.
Is Bulgaria in the euro area?
Yes — Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026 as the 21st euro-area country, at a fixed rate of 1.95583 lev to the euro. The lev circulated alongside the euro until 31 January 2026. The Bulgarian National Bank still exchanges lev cash free of charge.
Can you ski on Vitosha?
Only a little. Vitosha rises right behind Sofia and is excellent for hiking, but the Simeonovo gondola and Dragalevtsi chair lift are out of service and the Aleko ski area runs only a few small lifts. Most Sofia residents ski at Borovets or Bansko.
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