Bulgaria or Latvia
Two countries side by side across the same rows as the full comparison. A dash means the value is missing: fields are not filled with guesses. about the data
| Bulgaria | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Salary in IT | $ 63 728 | $ 25 036 |
| Citizenship | 5 years | 5 years |
| Partner can work | yes | — |
| Parents | difficult | difficult |
| Pets | no trouble | no trouble |
| Pet limit | 5 | 5 |
| Quarantine | no | no |
| Residence permit fee | — | — |
| Rent, 2 bedrooms | $ 888 | $ 888 |
| Basket | $ 32,1 | $ 34,3 |
| Life expectancy | 75.76 | 76.43 |
| Homicides/100k | 1.17 | 2.78 |
| Natural hazards, 0–10 | 3.3 | 2.4 |
How the two sets of routes differ
Long-stay routes in this reference: Bulgaria — 71, Latvia — 64. Types present in both: work, remote work, study, family, investment, startup, repatriation, retirement and job seeking. Bulgaria adds: talent.
Fees, thresholds and deadlines
Bulgaria: fees range from 3.58 to 511.29 EUR. Routes with a published decision deadline: 69; the shortest is 14 days. Latvia: fees range from 90 to 210 EUR. Routes with no fee: 5. Routes stating an income threshold: 37; the lowest is 780 EUR a month. Routes with a published decision deadline: 61; the shortest is 14 days.
Beyond the first permit
Permanent status: both after 5 years. Citizenship: both after 5 years. Neither recognises a second citizenship.
Bulgaria in brief
An EU country on the euro (from 2026), with a low cost of living and a flat 10% tax; Sofia is a growing tech hub. Held back by high perceived corruption, underfunded healthcare, a long route to citizenship (~10 years, Bulgarian language, usually giving up the previous passport on naturalisation) and moderate seismic risk in the south-west.
Latvia in brief
An EU and eurozone country with a relatively low cost of living. The IT sector is concentrated in Riga. Naturalisation comes after 5 years of permanent residence with a Latvian language exam; dual citizenship is allowed only with a limited group of countries. Since 2022 checks have been tightened and a language exam introduced for some permanent residents. Natural risks are minimal, but winters are cold and overcast, and proximity to Russia and Belarus adds regional tension.
Other comparisons
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This material is for reference and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Visa rules, tax thresholds and prices change. Before deciding anything, check the official sources and consult a licensed professional in the relevant country.