Bulgaria is a well-liked location for expats due to its stable economy, low cost of living, and abundant career prospects. You must make sure that every employee has the proper documentation to work lawfully in Bulgaria if your business intends to grow there or outsource operations there.
Bulgarian employment visa categories
Foreign nationals wishing to enter Bulgaria may do so with several different visas. Members of the European Union (EU) are permitted to work in Bulgaria without a visa or other authorization.
Bulgarian visas for other foreign nationals include:
- Type A transit visas.
- Short-term visas of type C.
- Long-term visas of type D.
Foreign employees will require Type D visas to obtain a Bulgarian work permit.
Employees of your firm that need to visit Bulgaria for a brief period for a meeting or business trip almost certainly require a Type C visa.
Requirements for obtaining work visas for Bulgaria
The application for a work permit must be made by the foreign employee’s employer in Bulgaria. However, some of the necessary paperwork must also be submitted with the application by the employee. Required paperwork includes:
- Three pictures from the applicant’s passport.
- A duplicate of the worker’s passport.
- A letter outlining the justification for the work permit request.
- A duplicate of the employer’s Bulgarian incorporation certificate.
- The agreement for employment.
- Documents attesting to the employee’s qualifications, including a diploma, any necessary certificates, and proof of prior employment.
- Any more paperwork related to the job
- A filled-out application for a work permit.
A long-stay visa will also be necessary for the employee. They will have to present the following paperwork to get one:
- A duplicate of their passport’s front page.
- A colored passport photo.
- Authentication of the trip’s purpose, such as a work visa.
- Evidence of health insurance.
- Proof of enough financial resources.
- Providing evidence of housing in Bulgaria, such as a lease.
- A background check by the police
Applying procedure
Due to the country’s strict immigration policies, it may be challenging to get a working permit in that country. Employers are required to apply for the visa on behalf of foreign employees, and they must demonstrate to the national employment agency that no Bulgarian nationals who are looking for work can fill the position. When all the required paperwork is ready, the employer should apply for the national employment agency’s employment service directorate. The agency will check the documents and send them to the executive director of the agency within three business days. The director must make a final choice regarding the granting of the working permit within a month. Following the issuance of the permit, the employer in that state is required to register the employee with the regional employment office. A Bulgarian work visa is only good for a year at a time, after which it may be renewed if the employment requirements have not changed. The employee must apply for a Type D visa at the Bulgarian embassy or consulate in their nation after receiving a working permit. When applying for a Type D visa, applicants must also bring the documents listed in the previous section and show up in person for an interview. The employee can go to Bulgaria and start working after receiving their long-stay visa and working permit.
Additional crucial factors
Foreign nationals are not granted open work permits by the Bulgarian government. Workers must land a job with a business headquartered in Bulgaria before applying for a work permit. You can satisfy this criterion if your company is not incorporated in Bulgaria by employing another organization as the employer of record.