A seasonal worker is a citizen of a non-EU country who legally and temporarily resides in the Republic of Bulgaria for the purpose of performing seasonal work under a fixed-term employment contract with a Bulgarian employer. A Bulgarian employer is one whose registered office is located in the Republic of Bulgaria.

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Bulgarian employers who want to hire non-EU nationals must operate in one of the following sectors

• agriculture
• forestry,
• fishing,
• hotel business,
• restaurants.

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Seasonal work for up to 90 days

short-term visa issued for the purpose of performing seasonal work, if necessary.

Seasonal work from 90 days to 9 months

Bulgaria has a special scheme for seasonal workers in accordance with the requirements of Directive 2014/36/EU. You must obtain a work permit for a seasonal worker; a "type D" visa.

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Where and how to apply

Seasonal work for up to 90 days

No work permit is required.

Upon your arrival, the employer must register your employment with the relevant local office of the Employment Agency "Labour Office" where he/she is registered.

Seasonal work from 90 days to 9 months

You must first obtain a seasonal work permit.

Before your arrival, the employer must submit an application for a seasonal work permit to the central office of the Employment Agency. Seasonal work permits are issued only for approved specific economic sectors: HORECA (tourism) and agriculture.

The permit is submitted by the Employment Center directly to the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the employer is informed about it.

"Type D" visa

After obtaining a residence permit, you must, if necessary, apply for a type D visa at the Bulgarian embassy or consulate in your country of residence. The visa entitles you to enter Bulgaria.

Your employer must pay for your travel from your place of origin to your place of work in the Republic of Bulgaria and back.

The employer is obliged to provide you with suitable accommodation that meets all health and safety standards for the duration of your contract.

Residence permit

After you have arrived in Bulgaria with a valid visa (if you need a visa to enter the country), you must also obtain a residence permit from the Migration Office after entering Bulgaria.

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Documents required

To obtain a work permit, you must submit

• An application
• Declaration forms;
• Justification of the request, stating the facts and circumstances requiring the employment of third-country nationals who are not Bulgarian citizens;
• A copy of the permit/certificate issued to the employer by the competent authorities to carry out the relevant activity;
• Fixed-term employment contract;
• Job description as part of the employment contract;
• A copy of the employee's international travel document (usually a valid foreign passport).
• Travel and accommodation expenses, as well as medical insurance, are covered by the employer
• Proof of stable, regular, predictable and sufficient means of support without recourse to the social assistance system in the amount not lower than the minimum monthly wage, minimum scholarship or minimum pension in the country, for the period of residence in the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.

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Validity of permits

The seasonal work permit is valid for a maximum period of 9 months.

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Further requirements

Upon arrival, you have five days to inform the competent authorities of your address of residence.

Citizens of EU/EFTA member states

Currently, the same conditions apply to all citizens of EU/EFTA member states. EU/EFTA citizens have advantages in accessing the labor market.

EU citizens are not required to obtain Bulgarian work permits. They only need to register with the local employment office of the region in which they reside. 

Citizens of other non-EU/EFTA countries

If you are not a citizen of an EU member state and you want to work in Bulgaria, you must obtain a work permit.

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What does a work permit entail?

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

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What is the validity period of the permit?

The work permit gives you the opportunity to work and reside in Bulgaria for an initial period of 1 year (with the possibility of extension for another 12 months).

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What documents should I submit to obtain a work permit?

• Work permit application form
• Proof of private health insurance in Bulgaria
• Certificate of no criminal record from your country of residence
• Letter explaining the reason for the request
• Employment contract
• Copy of your passport/travel document valid for at least 7 months
• Three passport size photos of yourself
• A certified copy of your employer's registration document or identification code
• Documents related to your education, skills and qualifications, previous work experience, etc.
• A report on the number of employees your employer had under employment contracts in the previous 12 months
• Any additional documents related to your work. 

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You will also need a long-term visa type D. To obtain it, you need to provide the following documents:

• A copy of the first page of your passport
• A color passport photo
• Confirmation of the reason for travel, such as a work permit
• Proof of health insurance
• Proof of sufficient financial means
• Proof of residence in Bulgaria, e.g. rental agreement
• Police check.

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How long does it take to get a permit?

The Executive Director of the National Employment Service makes a decision within 30 days from the date of submission of the documents.

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Who does not need a work permit in Bulgaria?

• Managers of companies or branches of foreign legal entities
• Members of the management board or board of directors of local companies who do not work under an employment contract
• Sales representatives of foreign companies registered with the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Expats with permanent residence in Bulgaria.

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Freelance work

Since January 1, 2017, any non-EU citizen can work and reside as a freelancer in Bulgaria if the relevant approval has been granted by the Bulgarian Employment Agency.

The residence permit on the basis of freelance work is issued for an initial period of 1 year (with the possibility of extension for another 12 months).

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What documents are required?

• Standard application form
• Detailed plan of freelance work.

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How long does it take to process an application?

It takes about 30 days to process the application from the date of submission of documents. 

More information on the work permit procedure can be found on the website of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy:

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

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 780.00 per month in 2023.
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.