Employed worker in Bulgaria

You must first obtain an approval for the issuance of a single permit.

Before your arrival, your employer must apply for an approval for the issuance of a single permit at the Employment Agency’s relevant local Directorate "Employment Office", where he is established.

The approval is given, after application of the labour market test, by the central administration of the Employment Agency directly to the Migration Directorate of MoI and the employer is being informed.

According to this labour market test, the employer must show that:

• he/she has actively searched for a suitable candidate for the past 15 days;
• there are no Bulgarian/EEA/Swiss nationals or long-term residing in Bulgaria non-EU workers matching the required profile; and
• there is no possibility of training existing personnel.

Exempted from a labour market test are the cases where the worker is:

• hired under the terms of an international agreement, to which Bulgaria is a party;
• a guest-professor, lector or teacher in Bulgarian higher or secondary education entity, approved by the relevant academic boards or Regional Inspectorates of the Ministry of Education and Science;
• a professional sportsman or trainer, approved by the relevant Bulgarian sports federations or unions;
• an actor-performer, approved by the Ministry of Culture;

Visa "type D"

Once the approval for a single permit has been given, you should apply for a visa "type D" at the Bulgarian embassy or consulate in your home country. The visa gives you the right to enter Bulgaria.

Single permit

Once you have arrived in Bulgaria with your valid visa (in case you need a visa to enter the country), you must also obtain a Single permit itself from the Migration Directorate. Your Single permit gives you the right to reside in Bulgaria and work at the respective employer’s enterprise in Bulgaria.

To obtain a Single permit, you must present:

• a copy of national ID (valid passport or replacing document with the pages of the personal data, photo);
• a certificate showing no previous convictions, issued by your country of origin or country of usual residence;
• evidence for stable, regular, providable and sufficient maintenance funds without referring to the social assistance system in the amount not lower than the minimal monthly work salary, the minimal stipendium or the minimal pension for the country, for the term of residence on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria;
• accommodation;
• health insurance;
• secondary professional education (or higher), or specific professional qualifications and experience corresponding to the objective requirements of the occupation if required by the employer.

More on single permits

More on visas

Single/Work permits are issued to a specific employee and to the specific position and type of work. Change is not allowed.

If you want to change the employer, you must submit a new application.

You will be eligible for long-term residence status after five years of legal residence. You cannot leave Bulgaria for more than six consecutive months or a total of 10 months during this five-year period.

Applications for long-term residence must be submitted to the Migration Directorate of the Ministry of Interior.

The duration of your long-term residence status will depend on the validity of the national passport with which you have entered Bulgaria.

As a long-term resident, you will not need a single/work permit and will have equal access to health insurance and social security.