A stable economy, low cost of living, and numerous employment opportunities make Bulgaria a popular destination for international workers. If your company is planning to expand to Bulgaria, you’ll need to ensure that your teams have the necessary permits and visas to work there legally.
Types of work visas in Bulgaria
Bulgaria has a variety of visas available for international workers. Bulgaria is a member of the European Union (EU), which means that EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals can enter and work freely in the country. If nationals from these countries intend to stay longer than 90 days, they need to submit an application for registration to the Migration Directorate at the Ministry of Interior.
Bulgarian visas include:
- Type A visas for airport transit
- Type C visas for short stays
- Type D visas for long stays
In order to work in Bulgaria, a work permit application needs to be submitted to the local branch of the Bulgarian National Employment Agency for consideration. Once approved, the Employment Agency provides written authorization of qualified employment. At that point, a Type D visa must be obtained at the Bulgarian consular post in the applicant’s area of residence or country of nationality.
If any of your company’s team members need to travel to Bulgaria for a short time, like a business trip or conference, they’ll most likely need a Type C visa to do so.
Requirements to obtain Bulgaria work visas
Employers are responsible for submitting the work permit application on behalf of international employees. However, the employee will need to provide some of the documents required along with the application.
Required documents typically include:
- 3 passport photos of the applicant
- A copy of the applicant’s passport
- A document stating the reason for requesting the work permit
- A copy of the employer’s certificate of incorporation in Bulgaria
- The employment contract
- Documents proving the employee’s qualifications, such as a diploma, relevant certifications, and evidence of previous work experience
- Any additional documents relevant to the job position
- A completed work permit application form
The employee will also require a long-stay visa. To obtain one, they’ll need to produce the following documents:
- A copy of the first page of their passport
- A passport photo in color
- Proof of the reason for travel, such as the work permit
- Proof of medical insurance
- Evidence of sufficient financial means
- Proof of accommodation in Bulgaria, such as a lease agreement
- A police background check
Application process
It can be difficult to obtain a Bulgarian work permit because the country is highly selective when it comes to immigration. Employers must apply for the permit on behalf of international workers. The most common work permit options are:
1) Single work and residence permit: The employer must prove to the National Employment Agency that the position cannot be filled by any job-seeking Bulgarian nationals. Currently, only up to 10% of an employer’s workforce can be work permit holders.
2) EU Blue card: For the EU Blue card there is no quota restriction. However, employees need to prove relevant experience and skills for the position, as well as a university degree and a minimum salary of BGN 2,400 gross per month.
Once all the necessary documents are prepared, the employer should submit the application to the Employment Service Directorate within the National Employment Agency. Within 3 business days, the agency will verify the documents and forward them to the executive director of the agency. The director has 1 month to make the final decision regarding the issuance of the work permit.
Once the permit is issued, the employer must register the employee with the local Employment Office in Bulgaria.
The EU Blue card is issued for a period of up to 4 years, whereas the Single work and residence permit is issued for a period of up to 3 years. The duration of the permit will be entirely at the discretion of the authorities and will also depend on the duration of the employment contract. As long as the conditions of employment have not changed, the work permit can be further renewed and can lead to permanent residence in Bulgaria.
After obtaining a work permit, the employee will need to apply for a Type D visa at the Bulgarian embassy or consulate in their country. In addition to the required documents stated in the previous section, applicants must attend a personal interview when applying for a Type D visa. Upon the issuance of the long-stay visa and work permit, the employee may travel to Bulgaria and begin working.
Other important considerations
The Bulgarian government does not issue open work permits to nationals from other countries. Before obtaining a work permit, it’s essential for workers to secure a job with a company based in Bulgaria.
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At this moment, G-P does not offer support processing work visas or permits in this particular location.
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