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Work permits for foreigners in Bulgaria outside the Blue Card

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In response to a listener's question, in a series of publications Radio Bulgaria presents to its multilingual audience the types of documents giving the right to reside and work in Bulgaria to foreign citizens of third countries. 

In the previous article in the series we told you about the Blue Card, which gives access to the Bulgarian market for highly skilled workers. However, not everyone who wants to apply for a job in Bulgaria meets the high requirements for this type of permit. 

Bulgarian legislation also provides opportunities for those applicants who do not meet the conditions for highly skilled employment. Such is the most commonly used such document authorising third-country nationals to reside and work on the territory of Bulgaria, namely the Single Residence and Work Permit, but there are also other options that are commonly applied, as you can learn more about them below.

Single Residence and Work Permit
  • For obtaining this document there is no requirement for a high degree of qualification and education. The worker simply has to prove with a document his/her skills to perform the job for which he/she will be hired - education, specialty, legal capacity, experience or professional qualification.
  • The permit is issued for a period of 3 years or, if the duration of the employment contract is shorter, for the duration of the contract.
  • It is not required that the foreigner with the right of residence in the country at the initial and subsequent application be outside the territory of Bulgaria. 
  • If the foreigner has a long-term residence permit, he/she must submit the application within 2 months before the expiry of his/her residence. 
  • The procedure for issuing this type of permit is no longer than two months, but in cases of legal complexity the deadline may be extended by two months.
  • It is issued by the Ministry of the Interior.


Seasonal worker permit
  • Issued for the entry and stay of third-country nationals for seasonal work for the duration of the employment contract, but not less than 90 days and not more than 9 months in any 12-month period.
  • When applying for the permit, the foreigner must reside outside Bulgaria.
  • Documents on the foreigner's education, specialty, legal capacity, professional qualifications and experience must be submitted.
  • The procedure for issuing this permit lasts a maximum of 2 months. 
  • The permit is issued under an accelerated procedure for foreigners who have worked at least once in Bulgaria as seasonal workers in the last 5 years.
  • It is issued by the Ministry of the Interior.



Freelance work permit
  • Freelance activity means a business activity carried out personally, without commitment to an employer.
  • Unlike the permits listed above, which are issued by the Ministry of the Interior, this type of permit is issued by the Executive Director of the Employment Agency at the request of a third-country national, on the basis of which the Ministry of the Interior issues a long-term residence permit.
  • The procedure for issuing a permit must be carried out before the start of the foreigner's activity on the territory of Bulgaria.
  • The documents shall be submitted personally by the third-country national or a person authorised by him/her to the Central Office of the Employment Agency (Sofia, 3 Dondukov Blvd.).
  • Among the required documents are: a description of the type, nature and objectives of the freelance activity; a detailed plan of the activity for the period for which the permit is requested; a document proving the availability of financial resources to carry out the activity; a document proving proficiency in Bulgarian at a minimum level B1.

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