Bulgaria is a country in Eastern Europe that is a member of the European Union. In recent years, the state has become increasingly popular among expats looking for work abroad. Find out how to get a work visa in Bulgaria and what are the features of working here

Bulgaria is a country of the European Union that attracts foreign workers with an affordable cost of living, a pleasant climate and employment prospects. Despite the fact that the country's economy faced difficulties in the past, it is currently protected by EU conventions and is actively developing. The unemployment rate in the state is falling, and therefore more and more expats are thinking about working here. Citizens of Nepal, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh are most interested in employment in Bulgaria in 2025.

In addition, Bulgaria is facing a serious labor shortage this year, especially in tourism, and urgently needs 50,000 foreign workers.

How can a foreigner find a job in Bulgaria? Detailed guide for expats in this article.

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Advantages of employment in Bulgaria

- Low tax rate, the amount of which is only 10%.

- Possibility to receive pension insurance and social security after 6 months of official work in the country.

- High loyalty of employers and extended social package: medical insurance, compensation for meals, sports, etc.

- Low cost of living. Salaries in Bulgaria are generally more modest compared to other EU countries, but the low cost of living largely compensates for this.

Do you need to know Bulgarian to work in Bulgaria?

Knowledge of the Bulgarian language will be a significant plus for an expat when hiring. Given that the majority of the population does not speak English, without knowledge of the state language you can only count on junior positions.

Where do expats work in Bulgaria?

Bulgaria's main industries include energy, mining, metallurgy, electronics and tourism, while finance and IT are booming. Most of the vacancies are open in the fields of tourism and hospitality, agriculture, beauty, etc.

In addition, there is a great demand for qualified specialists in the fields of medicine, management, trade and construction.

The following specialists earn the highest wages: IT specialists, artists and workers with knowledge of foreign languages. It also pays well to work in so-called contact centers, which offer customer support and sales services in countries around the world. For the latter positions, there are often no special requirements other than proficiency in the target language and some knowledge of English.

Another opportunity for expats in Bulgaria is to study. Bulgarians, especially in big cities, willingly learn foreign languages, especially English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, and recently Chinese. And native speakers are always needed.

- Which sectors in Bulgaria will have the greatest shortage of workers in 2025?

The problem of staff shortage in Bulgaria concerns the tourism sector, but there is also a serious shortage in construction, transport and even the medical sector.

How can an expat find a job in Bulgaria?

Most expats working in Bulgaria find work on one of the following internet portals:

- Popular local sites with job ads: JOBS.BG, Zaplata.bg and Karieri.

- International sites for employment: Linkedin and Jooble.

- Recruitment agencies: Many of them specialize in hiring foreign workers.

- Company websites: Direct applications to hotels, IT firms, and factories looking for foreign talent.

Important! Before submitting, make sure your resume is written in English and meets European standards.

Requirements for employees for employment in Bulgaria

Citizens of EU and EEA countries do not need any permits to work in Bulgaria. Representatives of the rest of the world need to obtain a work visa and a residence permit before moving.

Types of work visas in Bulgaria:

Foreign specialists planning to work in Bulgaria can choose one of several legal employment paths depending on their qualifications, contract duration and field of activity:

1. EU Blue Card

Designed for highly qualified specialists, particularly in IT, medicine, engineering. Grants the right to long-term residence and work in Bulgaria. A job offer with a salary of at least 1.5 times higher than the national average is required.

- Validity: up to 4 years

- Possibility of family reunification.

2. Single Permit

Aimed at third-country nationals who plan to work in Bulgaria for more than 90 days in areas requiring additional labor. The application is submitted by the employer on behalf of the employee. Suitable for various industries: manufacturing, services, logistics, etc.

- Validity: up to 1 year, with the possibility of extension.

3. Seasonal Work Visa (Type D)

Valid for temporary employment during the tourist or agricultural season. Often used in the tourism, hotel and restaurant business and agriculture. The documents for the visa are submitted by the employer.

- Validity: for employment up to 9 months.

4. Intra-corporate transfer permit (ICT Permit)

Allows foreign employees of international companies to work temporarily in a Bulgarian office without changing employers. Suitable for managers, specialists and interns with experience in their company. Available only to citizens of non-EU countries.

- Validity is determined by the terms of the transfer.

Quotas for the employment of foreigners in Bulgaria

Currently, Bulgarian legislation sets limits on the share of foreigners in the staff of companies:

- For large enterprises - no more than 20% of the staff;

- For small and medium-sized businesses - up to 35% of employees.

However, these restrictions may be revised in the near future. Against the background of a growing shortage of personnel, the government is actively considering options for easing regulations in order to facilitate the access of foreigners to the Bulgarian labor market.

The procedure for obtaining a work visa to Bulgaria

1st stage – to obtain a permit from the Bulgarian Employment Agency

If you want to apply for a work visa in Bulgaria, your Bulgarian employer must first obtain a work permit for you from the Bulgarian Employment Agency.

For employment, the employer must confirm the lack of suitable candidates among Bulgarians and citizens of the European Union, provide an analysis of the labor market and the search for candidates, as well as provide guarantees of working conditions and wages in accordance with current legislation.

For this, you need to provide the following package of documents:

- Work permit application form.

- Confirmation of having a private health insurance policy in Bulgaria.

- Medical insurance from your country of residence.

- Certificate of criminal record.

- A letter explaining the reason for the appeal.

- Employment contract.

- Copy of passport/travel document valid for at least another 7 months.

- Three passport size photos of you.

- A certified copy of your employer's registration document or identification code.

- Documents relating to your education, skills and qualifications, previous work experience, etc.

- A report on the number of employees your employer had under employment contracts for the previous 12 months.

- Any additional documents related to your work.

Step 2 – Prepare a package of documents

After receiving confirmation of the possibility of employment, prepare a package of documents for obtaining a visa:

- Foreign passport, preferably biometric;

- Signed employment contract;

- Work permit;

- Completed visa application form;

- Medical insurance for a period of 6 months or more;

- Certificate of no criminal record;

- A housing rental agreement for the duration of the employment contract or a certificate of owning real estate in Bulgaria.

Step 3 – Fill out the questionnaire

After collecting the documents, carefully fill out the visa application form. Please ensure that all information provided is accurate and complete.

Step 4 – Make an appointment at the nearest Bulgarian embassy/consulate

Next, you need to make an appointment at the nearest Bulgarian embassy or consulate.

Stage 5 – Come to the appointment

On the appointed day, come to the meeting with all the necessary documents.

Step 6 – Pay the visa fee

You will also need to pay a visa fee at the time of registration. The cost of an application for a work visa is 120 euros.

Step 7 – Wait for approval

Processing time is usually at least 15 business days, although sometimes this period can be up to 30 days or more.

Residence permit through employment

Official employment on the territory of Bulgaria allows a foreigner to issue a temporary residence permit. It is issued for a period of 1 year and can be extended an unlimited number of times for the same period. For 5 years, a foreigner can apply for a permanent residence permit.

What are the challenges faced by expats when finding work in Bulgaria?

Despite the growing demand for foreign workers, the process of their official employment in Bulgaria remains too slow and burdened with bureaucracy. According to reports, the processing of a work permit can take from 6 to 9 months. The main reasons for delays are:

- Weak interaction between state institutions.

- Outdated and inefficient procedures.

- Chronic shortage of administrative staff.

Such delays are particularly painful for industries where seasonality is important - hotels, restaurants, travel companies. For them, rapid employment of staff is critically important.

Work culture in Bulgaria

Trust is important in the work environment. Relationships can develop slowly, as Bulgarians tend to take their time getting to know new colleagues. Bulgarians generally value directness and cooperation, and they can show respect for age and seniority.

A noticeable cultural difference in Bulgaria is the reverse meaning of head shaking and nodding, which can initially confuse expats. A shake of the head means "yes", and a nod means "no". Expats should keep this in mind when doing business and in everyday life in Bulgaria.

Otherwise, the work culture in Bulgaria is clearly not different from the work culture in other EU countries.

Working conditions in Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, the working week is usually 40 hours, and the working day is 8 hours, plus an additional hour for lunch and breaks. Overtime is regulated and usually compensated at a higher rate. The government sets the minimum wage, which is adjusted annually. In 2025, the minimum wage is 940 leva per month (approximately 480 euros). Employers and employees pay into social security, which covers pensions, health care, unemployment benefits, and other benefits. Bulgaria has a universal health care system, but many employers also offer additional private health insurance.

In 2025, Bulgaria became one of the most attractive countries for employment of foreigners in Europe. Due to the acute shortage of personnel in most industries – from construction to the hotel and restaurant business – the labor market is increasingly opening up to specialists from abroad.

It does not matter whether you are a highly qualified engineer or looking for seasonal work in tourism – the demand for international personnel in Bulgaria is steadily growing.

To avoid bureaucratic difficulties and reduce the time for paperwork, we recommend contacting a professional immigration lawyer. Specialists will help you choose the appropriate type of visa, collect a full package of documents and accompany you at every stage of employment in Bulgaria.

Qualified specialists of Visit World – Your reliable support during migration abroad!

We will remind you! Romania's economy is developing at the expense of local enterprises, as well as international startups. The most opportunities for expats to work in the IT industry. We have already told whether foreigners can work in Romania and what the employment procedure is.

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