Since Bulgaria joined the European Union, we have been witnessing hundreds of international businesses opening offices here.
Finding a job in another country, especially as a foreigner, could be tricky and stressful, but as a foreigner, you can rise up to the business position you have always dream of and earn a competitive European salary while living in the country, which offers one of the most affordable lifestyles in the whole Europe.
The freedom to move and work to another EU country without a work permit is a right for citizens of EEA countries. That means EU + Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, and Switzerland.
If you are a lucky citizen of one of these 32 countries (including the UK after Brexit) you may finish reading here and start looking for a job – outsourcing companies are a very good choice, start freelancing or thinking how to establish your own business in Bulgaria.
There is only one requirement – to register with the local Employment Office of the region you live in.
But, if you are non-EU nationals, intending to work (for whatever employer) in Bulgaria, the situation is completely different. Obtaining a Working permit can be quite a complicated and tricky process. Sometimes it’s a real challenge. In fact, Bulgaria is very selective regarding immigration.
Why’s that?
Let’s start with the most fundamental question. Generally, it is not allowed for
The work permit is issued by the National Employment agency
A work permit for foreigners can only be granted based on a request from your future Bulgarian employer. This is the most tricky part of the process as you need first to find a job and an employer who is willing to hire you.
And because of bureaucratic hassles, long and hard procedure counting on your potencial employer for assistance may be a very fragile hope.
Be ready that most of the employers will prefer to hire someone who doesn’t need the work permit, thereby eliminating the required paperwork, time and additional cost involved.
According to The Employment Promotion Act – the main legal framework regulating the employment in Bulgaria, including foreigners, your future employer can be a Bulgarian company or foreign company permanently established in Bulgaria, no matter where it has been incorporated.
Let’s assume that you have found a company who is willing to hire you. First of all, your future employer must prove it’s impossible to hire Bulgarian for the position you want.
How to do this?
Your future boss must complying with few restrictions:
- Access to the
labour market shall be allowed when taking up positions do not require Bulgarian citizenship; - The National Employment agency requires also a labor market test for your kind of industry, business, and position;
- Proved that in the preceding 12 months the total number of non-EU citizens, working for a local employer,
are less than 20 percent of the average number of all hiring people; - The proposed conditions of work and pay are not less favorable than those for Bulgarian citizens for the same job;
- You as a foreign non-EU citizen possesses knowledge, skills and professional experience necessary for the willing position;
When the employer complete the work permit application, it is required to submit the additional almost 10 documents to the specific application form like
- a document stating the reasons for the request to hire non-EU national;
- three recent photos of the foreign employee, in this case – you;
- a legalized copy of the Bulgarian company’s certificate of incorporation;
- legalized documents proving the employee’s education, specialty, skills, qualifications or experience. So, because of that translate all your documents and bring them with you in Bulgaria. It will save a lot of money and time;
- the foreign citizen’s employment contract;
- other documents related to the position applied for by the foreign citizen;
- a copy of the employee’s valid passport.
If the Bulgarian company will hire you on managerial positions, it’s possible The Employment agency to have additional requirements.
All documents attached to the application have to be submitted in the original or officially certified for compliance with the originals, with exception of the identity card or/and passport.
Documents in a foreign language must be translated into Bulgarian by a sworn translator.
It’s important your future employer comply with the procedure proving impossibility to hire Bulgarians for your willing position.
The employer must published a very, very detailed job offer for the work position which duration is at least 15 day and maximum 3 mounts and after that to provide in-depth labor market analysis to The Employment agency.
The job offer must be published on at least one job website as
3 days from filing of the work permit application form and documents they are sent to the local branch of the Employment Agency of the foreigner’s
The executive director of the National Employment Agency takes a decision within 1 month. The decision may be appealed within 14 days, so in this case, the permit should be issued not later than 2 months from the commencement of the procedure.
When the permit is issued, the company must register the employee with the local Employment Office.
The duration of the obtained work permit shall be for the duration of the contract with the employer, but for no longer period than 12 months. This condition is clearly mentioned in the application form.
It’s possible that the work permit be prolonged for no longer than 3 more years, provided that the initial employment conditions have not been changed.
Notice that in order to get a work permit, the document include the name of the company that hiring you and your future job position. That’s mean your work permit is only valid for you in the given company and position. That’s very important. If you decide to leave your company you will lose everything – the work permit and similarly. If you want to get a new job, your new boss will have to go through the same process of applying a new work permit for you.
“Seasonal Worker Permit”
The permit is issued to third-country nationals who apply for a residence permit for the purpose of seasonal work from 90 days to 9 months within a calendar year. These are persons employed under an employment contract within the meaning of the Labor Code by a local employer who has submitted an application to the Employment Agency for this purpose.
” Seasonal worker ” within the meaning of the Law on Labor Migration and Labor Mobility / LTMTM / is a third-country national who retains his main place of residence in a third country and resides legally and temporarily in the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria to perform seasonal work, on the basis of one or more fixed-term employment contracts concluded directly with an employer whose registered office is in the Republic of Bulgaria.
The procedure for issuing a “Seasonal Worker Permit” is in line with Directive 2014/36 / EU on the entry and stay of third-country nationals for the purpose of employment as seasonal workers.
A little bit stressful, isn’t it?
There is another legal basis for a foreign citizen to obtain a residence and work permit in Bulgaria – “EU-Blue Card” allowing access to the Bulgarian
If you need more information and can’t speak Bulgarian, don’t forget to bring a friend speaking it as well who can serve as a translator, as people in the labor office where you may ask for all about procedure to get a job permit, either don’t speak any English or will refuse to do so.
So, what kind of jobs you think can you find as a foreigner here in Bulgaria?
