How to Get a Work Permit in Bulgaria

If you are interested in moving abroad to live and work in Bulgaria you will most like need to be in possession of a valid work permit for the country. Typically foreign workers that wish to take up employment in Bulgaria are required to be in possession of a valid work permit. However there are some instances where certain nationalities are permitted to take up paid employment within the country for a period of three months or less and not need to be in possession of a valid work permit. Instead they are required to register with the employment agency in Bulgaria as a temporary worker. Typically this is utilized by students that are in the country for a short period of time.

If you plan on working in Bulgaria for a period greater than three months then you will need to have a work permit in order to be legally employed. In order to get your self a work permit you will need to submit an application at the Bulgarian Ministry of Labor and Social Policy. One you have a work permit you are able to apply for a long stay visa, or a Type D visa, that will allow you to have a residence permit for a period of 12 months. Usually the way that the work permit process works is that foreign workers find a Bulgarian employer that will hire them. Once the employer has identified a foreign candidate then the employer will take care of getting the necessary paperwork in order for the foreign worker to obtain a Bulgarian work permit.

Before setting your sights on working in Bulgaria there are some things that you should take into consideration. Generally unemployment in the country is quite high and sits around 14 percent. The workforce in Bulgaria is fairly highly skilled and the labor costs are low. Due to the high unemployment in the country there are some restrictions placed upon Bulgarian employers in regards to hiring foreign workers. In Bulgarian companies no more than 10 percent of the workforce at the company can be made up of foreign workers.

If you are looking for the best sectors to seek employment in there are a few. Thriving sectors include tourism, oil, IT, translation, construction and au pair work. There is also a high demand for English language teachers in the country. Teaching English is usually the easiest job to get in Bulgaria as it typically cannot be filled by a Bulgarian.