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.
How to become a seasonal worker for Portuguese citizens?
Bulgarian employers who want to hire non-EU nationals must operate in one of the following sectors:
• agriculture
• forestry,
• fishing,
• hotel business,
• restaurants.
Seasonal work opportunities for the Portuguese
Seasonal work for up to 90 days for the Portuguese
Short-term visa issued for the purpose of performing seasonal work, if necessary.
Seasonal work from 90 days to 9 months for citizens from Portugal
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.
Where and how Portuguese citizens can 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 for the Portuguese
• 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.
Documents required for citizens from Portugal
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.
Validity of permits for Portuguese citizens
The seasonal work permit is valid for a maximum period of 9 months.
Further requirements
Upon arrival, you have five days to inform the competent authorities of your address of residence.
Do Portuguese citizens need a work visa or work permit to work in Bulgaria?
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.
Freelance work for the Portuguese
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).
What documents are required?
• Standard application form
• Detailed plan of freelance work.
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/
Popular jobs for citizens from Portugal
Citizens from Portugal in Bulgaria often find work in sectors that require language skills or specialized knowledge. Popular job opportunities include:
• IT & tech – Software development, cybersecurity, and IT support roles are in high demand, with many international companies setting up operations in Bulgaria.
• Customer service & call centers – Many global businesses outsource customer support to Bulgaria, making multilingual positions widely available.
• Tourism & hospitality – With a strong tourism industry, there are seasonal jobs in hotels, restaurants, and travel agencies.
• Education – Teaching English and other foreign languages is a common opportunity, especially in private schools and language centers.
• Finance & outsourcing – Many foreign companies have financial service centers in Bulgaria, offering roles in accounting, HR, and administration.
Advantages of working in Bulgaria for Portuguese citizens
• Low cost of living – Compared to Western Europe, Bulgaria offers affordable housing, food, and services.
• Competitive salaries in certain sectors – While wages are lower on average, IT, finance, and multilingual positions offer attractive salaries.
• EU membership – Being in the EU allows for easier business interactions and mobility within Europe.
• Quality of life – Bulgaria boasts beautiful nature, cultural heritage, and a slower pace of life.
• Growing economy – Foreign investments and business development create new opportunities for skilled workers.
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Learn4Good: This portal provides information about job opportunities in Bulgaria for foreigners who speak English. You can browse different jobs and submit your resume.
- 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.
- 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.
- Minimum wage: The current minimum wage in Bulgaria is BGN 1,213 per month in 2026.
- 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.
- 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- Application processing: The consulate or embassy will process your visa application. This process may take some time.
- 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.
- 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.
