Do Russian citizens need a work visa or permit to work in Bulgaria?

Yes, to work in Bulgaria, Russian citizens must acquire both a work permit and a long-term type D visa.

What is a work permit and how does it work?

A work permit allows non-EU nationals to legally work for a Bulgarian employer or to be seconded to a Bulgarian company under a service agreement between the sending and receiving companies.

How long is the work permit valid for Russians?

The work permit is initially granted for 1 year and can be extended for an additional 12 months if needed.

What documents are required for citizens from Russia to get a work permit?

To apply for a work permit, citizens from Russia must provide the following documents:

• A completed application form

• Proof of private health insurance in Bulgaria

• A certificate of no criminal record from the country of residence

• A cover letter explaining the reason for the request

• A signed employment contract

• A passport/travel document that is valid for at least 7 months

• Three passport-size photographs

• A certified copy of the employer’s registration or identification code

• Documents proving your qualifications, education, and relevant work experience

• A report detailing the number of employees the employer has had in the last 12 months

• Any additional professional documents required

Long-term visa type D requirements for Russian citizens

Alongside the work permit, Russian citizens need to apply for a type D visa. Required documents include:

• A copy of the first page of your passport

• A recent passport photo

• Confirmation of the reason for travel (e.g., work permit)

• Proof of health insurance

• Evidence of sufficient financial resources

• Proof of accommodation in Bulgaria (e.g., rental agreement)

• A police clearance certificate

What’s the processing time for a work permit?

The National Employment Service issues a decision within 30 days of receiving the application.

Who is not required to have a work permit in Bulgaria?

Certain categories of individuals are exempt from needing a work permit in Bulgaria:

• Company directors or branch managers of foreign legal entities

• Members of the boards of directors or management boards of local companies who are not under an employment contract

• Sales representatives of foreign companies registered with the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

• Expats who already have permanent residence in Bulgaria

Freelance work opportunities for citizens from Russia

As of January 1, 2017, non-EU nationals can work and live in Bulgaria as freelancers, provided they obtain approval from the Bulgarian Employment Agency.

• Freelance residence permits are issued initially for 1 year, with the possibility of extending for another 12 months.

Required documents for freelance work in Bulgaria

To apply for a freelance residence permit, you’ll need:

• A completed application form

• A detailed plan of your freelance work activities

How long does it take to process the application?

Processing usually takes around 30 days from the date the documents are submitted.

For further details, visit the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy website:

https://www.az.government.bg/en/

In Bulgaria, there are certain professions in which foreigners may be in demand for work. Some in-demand professions for foreigners in Bulgaria include:

• IT professionals: Programmers, software developers, web developers, and other information technology specialists are in demand on the job market in Bulgaria.
• Healthcare professionals: Doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other medical professionals can find employment opportunities in Bulgarian medical institutions.
• English teachers: Foreign teachers who have a native level of English can find work in schools, colleges or private training centers.
• Tourism industry: Hotel workers, tour guides, tour operators and other professionals in the tourism industry may have opportunities to work in hotels, travel agencies and travel companies.
• Construction industry: Workers in the construction industry such as construction workers, bricklayers, carpenters and electricians may be in demand on the labor market in Bulgaria.
• Restaurant business: Chefs, waiters and restaurant staff can find employment in restaurants and hotels in Bulgaria.

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To find a job in Bulgaria, foreigners can use some useful job portals. Here are some of them:

1. Jobs.bg (https://www.jobs.bg/): This is one of the most popular job portals in Bulgaria. You will find a large number of vacancies in various fields, including foreign workers.
2. JobTiger (https://www.jobtiger.bg/): This portal offers a wide range of jobs in Bulgaria. You will be able to browse the vacancies, create your resume and receive notifications about new offers.
3. EURES: is a network of public employment services in the European Union. They provide information on jobs, housing and other employment-related issues for foreigners.
4. Learn4Good: This portal provides information about job opportunities in Bulgaria for foreigners who speak English. You can browse different jobs and submit your resume.
5. LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/): LinkedIn is a popular professional social network where you can find jobs and build professional contacts in Bulgaria. Use the search filters to select a job and other criteria.

The EU Blue Card scheme enables highly skilled non-EU individuals to work and reside in Bulgaria for a maximum period of 36 months (3 years).

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Who can obtain the EU Blue Card?

To meet the conditions of the EU Blue Card for Highly Qualified Persons, you need to have:

• A diploma or other educational document confirming at least 3 years of study at an educational institution in your home country, recognized by a college or university
• Work experience in a relevant position
• Employment contract for at least 1 year, where the contractual salary must be at least 1.5 times higher than the average salary in Bulgaria according to the statistical data for the previous 12 months. 

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What are the benefits of the EU Blue Card?

• The EU Blue Card gives you the longest period of work in Bulgaria (up to 3 years)
• It is the least time-consuming procedure when it comes to the statutory deadlines for processing and collecting the necessary documents
• Your family can come and live with you during the period of your work abroad
• You can start working for another Bulgarian company with the permission of the Bulgarian Employment Agency
• If the job is in the IT sector of business, you can get an EU Blue Card even faster, as your future Bulgarian employer does not need to undergo market testing.

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What documents are required?

• Standard application form
• Diploma or other educational document confirming higher education, legalized and translated
• Work experience documents, legalized and translated
• Employment contract with a Bulgarian company
• Documents from the employing company - certificate of reputation, declarations, results of market tests, etc. 

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How long does it take to get a Blue Card?

The Executive Director of the National Employment Service makes a decision within 15 days from the date of submission of the documents.

1. Working hours: The law sets the maximum working hours at 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week. Additional hours of work may be established by agreement of the parties or in exceptional cases, but they must be paid as overtime.
2. Minimum wage: The current minimum wage in Bulgaria is BGN 933.00 per month in 2024.
3. Vacations: The law provides for the right to paid vacation for employees. For each year of employment, an employee is entitled to at least 20 working days of vacation.
4. Remuneration: The Law establishes rules on remuneration, including regular payment of wages, compensation for overtime, holidays and days off, as well as other payments that may be provided for in the terms of the employment contract.

There are several options that you can choose as the most common ones, this decision will affect the way you do business, as well as how you can manage your company, the liability of your company:

• "Single person limited liability company" (EOOD) - a company with one sole owner with limited liability
• "Limited Liability Company" (OOD) - owned by two or more limited partners
• "Sole proprietorship" (ET) - a simplified form of legal entity suitable for very small businesses (full liability of the owner)
• "Freelance" - personalized individual registration
• "Open joint stock company" (AD) - a joint stock company is a commercial company with share capital owned by its members
• "Branch in Bulgaria" - foreign legal entities registered abroad can register a branch in Bulgaria

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Stages of registration:

1. Choosing a company name: Before setting up a company in Bulgaria, you must choose a company name that is not already in use and meets the requirements of the Bulgarian Commercial Registry.

2. Register the company: After you have chosen a company name, you must register it with the Bulgarian Commercial Register. This requires a package of documents, including the Certificate of Incorporation, Memorandum and Articles of Association, Shareholders' Declaration, Power of Attorney (if applicable) and notarized copies of the shareholders' identity documents.

3. Obtain a tax identification number: After the company registration, the shareholders must obtain a Tax Identification Number (TIN) from the Bulgarian National Revenue Agency.

4. Open a bank account: After company registration and obtaining the TIN, it is necessary to open a bank account in the name of the company.

5. Obtain a business license: Depending on the type of business activity, a business license may be required. It should be obtained from the local municipality or other relevant authorities.

6. Register as a VAT payer: If the company's turnover is expected to exceed BGN 100,000 per year, it must register as a value added tax payer.

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In order to prepare the relevant documents, we will need the following information in advance:

1. Passport data of the shareholder/s and the director/s

2. Proposal for a company name: Here you can check the availability of the company name: public brra.bg CheckUps Verifications RightsOverCompany.ra Note: the check can only be done in Cyrillic

3. Company activities

The registration procedure takes 3 days. If the required notarized documents are notarized abroad (in case the director/s decide not to come to Bulgaria), the procedure will be extended by the days required for legalization of the documents.

The owners of newly established companies in Bulgaria should be aware that their company will be obliged to pay a 10% fixed income tax, regardless of the total amount of profit.

Companies in Bulgaria must file an annual tax return for the previous calendar year by the end of March. This is required even if the company did not conduct any activities during the last year.

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Business visa

Citizens of non-EU countries can obtain a Bulgarian business visa on the basis of registration of a limited liability company, branch or sales office in Bulgaria. 

A short-term Bulgarian business visa type C is a multiple-entry visa that allows you to stay in Bulgaria for up to 90 days. After receiving the invitation letter, you must apply for a visa at the nearest Bulgarian embassy or consulate. The visa processing time is up to 10 working days and the visa fee is 60 euros.

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The main steps for obtaining a business visa to Bulgaria include the following stages:

1. Prepare the necessary documents: Typically, you will need the following documents to obtain a business visa to Bulgaria: a completed application form, passport, photographs, business plan, proof of financial stability (bank statements, financial statements, etc.), documents confirming the status of your company, an invitation from a Bulgarian business partner or a cooperation agreement, and insurance coverage.
2. Applying for a visa: Contact the Bulgarian consulate or embassy in your country to apply for a business visa. Follow all the instructions and requirements provided by the consular section. You will usually have to fill out a special application form and pay a consular fee.
3. Application processing: The consulate or embassy will process your visa application. This process may take some time.
4. Interview and additional documents: In some cases, the consulate may invite you for a personal interview to obtain additional information about your business activities and intentions. You may also be required to provide additional documents that confirm your business plans and financial stability.
5. Obtaining a visa: If your application is approved, you will receive a visa in your passport or a visa label. Depending on the type of visa, you may be subject to a certain visa validity period and restrictions on the length of stay and business activities in Bulgaria.

You can find a job in Bulgaria on your own by using this job search site. You can also take advantage of free assistance from the Employment Agency of Bulgaria (Directorate for Labor), which includes support in your job search, primarily through mediation and career counseling. You can also search for job offers using the special mobile application "My Tomorrow" (Android and iOS). This career guidance app is designed specifically for Bulgarian users and includes a career test, information about professions, opportunities in Bulgaria and the required higher education, as well as interviews with successful Bulgarians in various fields. 

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Employment contract

There are two types of employment contracts in Bulgaria:

• temporary contract
• permanent contract.

A temporary employment contract has no minimum term and a maximum term of three years. It can be concluded in one of the following cases:

• Seasonal or short-term work (less than three years)
• A specific task that needs to be performed on a regular basis
• Replacement of an employee on sick leave or maternity leave
• Replacement of an employee who is absent for the purpose of an exam or competition
• For a mandate (a legal relationship of representation, as well as a document certifying the legality of this representation).

If you are dismissed before the end of your contract, your employer must give you three months' notice. If you stay at work for 5 days after the expiry of a temporary contract without written objections from your employer, it will be considered a permanent contract.

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Language skills: Learn the language of Bulgaria as knowing the local language can be a big advantage when looking for a job.