Work Permits for Foreigners in Bulgaria

To be admitted to a job when not an EU citizen, firstly one must obtain a work permit issued by the Employment Agency. The application for such a permit is made by a local employer on the following conditions: 1. The employer has presented evidence that he has actively searched for workforce for at least 15 days prior to that on the labor market, including at the Job Centre to the Employment Agency and also by placing job advertisements in the national and local mass media, and that he has explained the reasons for not hiring a Bulgarian citizen or a EU citizen, or a citizen of a country – party to the European Economic Area Treaty, or a Swiss citizen, or foreigners entitled to permanent and long-term residence in the Republic of Bulgaria, or other types of citizens who have been granted the same rights; 2. The foreigner has a secondary specialized education or a higher education, and /or specific professional qualifications and experience which meet the requirements for the specific job and the pertinent activity; 3. (supplement, State Gazette, issue 92 of 2004; amendment, issue 50 of 2011) there are no Bulgarian citizens, or EU citizens, or citizens of a country – party to the European Economic Area Treaty, or Swiss citizens, or foreigners entitled to permanent and long-term residence in the Republic of Bulgaria, or other citizens who have been granted the same rights in accordance with art.70, par. 3 of the Employment Encouragement Act, who have the required profession, specialty and/or qualifications, including there is no workforce training opportunity to meet the demand for workforce in due course, ascertained by researching the labor market, in accordance with the requirements for the specific job and pertinent activity. Assessment of compliance with the above requirements is provided by the Employment Agency. Filing an application for a work permit at the Job Centre, the employer has to present the following documents: rn1. application – declaration – two copies of a form established by the Minister of Labor and Social Policy; rn2. grounds for the request; rn3. three photos of the foreigner;rn4. copy of the document for registration or EIK (uniform identification code) pursuant to art.23 of the Commercial Register Act and/or the registration at the Bulgarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce, or any other document which legitimizes the applicant, and also a Good Standing Certificate ( for companies having no EIK pursuant to art.23 of the Commercial Register Act);rn5. Documents for education, specialty, legal capacity or acquired professional qualifications, skills and experience of the foreigner, that have all been legalized under the established procedure;rn6. report - declaration for the foreigners working for the company, their names by passport, their birth dates and citizenship for: а) those hired under an employment contract, including holders of EU Blue Card - indicating a number, date of issue, term of work permit, visa or residence permit; rnb) the persons authorized to run the company, those working under a management and control contract – indicating a number and validity term of the foreigner’s ID card; 7. report – declaration for the number of payroll employees – Bulgarian citizens, EU citizens, citizens of a country – party to the European Economic Area Treaty, Swiss citizens, foreigners entitled to permanent and long-term residence in the Republic of Bulgaria, or other citizens who have been granted the same rights in accordance with art.70, par. 3 of the Employment Encouragement Act – all on the payroll list for the previous 12 months, with said report – declaration being signed by the employer and the chief accountant;rn8. employment contract made under the Bulgarian Law, signed by the parties thereto and taking effect upon issuance of the permit sought; the employment contract will have to lay down the parties’ obligations concerning the cost of living accommodation, medical treatment, insurances, transport from and to the foreigner’s country of permanent residence; rn9. other documents relating to the job’s specificity and performance of the profession and the activity as required by legal regulations; rn10. copy of a regular document for overseas travel valid for at least 7 months starting from the date of application, with the photo pages and foreigner’s personal data.