Bulgaria guide du permis de travail et de l'immigration pour les travailleurs hors UE

Apercu

La Bulgarie plafonne la proportion de travailleurs ressortissants de pays tiers chez un employeur. Les ressortissants de pays tiers ayant travaillé pour l'employeur au cours des 12 mois précédents ne peuvent pas dépasser 20% de l'effectif moyen sous contrat de travail, ce seuil étant porté à 35% pour les petites et moyennes entreprises.

Quotas, plafonds et ratios

• Quota / cap: 20% of workforce (35% SMEs).
• L'emploi de ressortissants de pays tiers est plafonné à 20% de l'effectif moyen de l'employeur sous contrat de travail au cours des 12 mois précédents ; 35% pour les PME.
• Ratio rule: Third-country workers ≤ 20% of average workforce (≤ 35% for SMEs).

Eligibilite et restrictions employeur

• L'effectif de ressortissants de pays tiers doit rester dans la limite de 20% de l'effectif moyen sous contrat de travail (35% pour les PME).
• La règle d'égalité de rémunération s'applique au travailleur parrainé.
• Aucun test distinct de chiffre d'affaires fixe ou de solde bancaire n'a été vérifié.
• La question de savoir si les dossiers Blue Card / ICT sont exemptés du plafond de 20/35% nécessite une confirmation juridique article par article.

Principales voies de permis de travail

• Single Permit
• EU Blue Card
• Seasonal worker registration
• Intra-corporate transfer

Procedure de demande

• Labour market test — Employer via Employment Agency: The Bulgarian employer advertises the vacancy for the mandatory minimum posting period before applying, to evidence that no suitable Bulgarian, EU/EEA or settled candidate is available (required for the Single Permit route). (15-day mandatory vacancy posting (Single Permit only))
• Labour market access / written opinion — Employer via Employment Agency: The employer files the labour-market access application (Single Permit, EU Blue Card, intra-corporate transfer or work permit) with the Employment Agency, which issues a written opinion on access to the labour market. (Up to 30 days from filing of the application · BGN 100-400)
• Long-stay (Type D) visa — Worker via Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Bulgarian embassy / consulate): The worker applies for a long-term residence (Type D) visa at the Bulgarian embassy or consulate in their country of residence in order to enter Bulgaria. (Within 35 working days from the date of filing)
• Single Permit / residence decision — Authority via Migration Directorate, Ministry of the Interior: The worker files for the residence permit at the Migration Directorate (proving sufficient funds and accommodation); the Directorate seeks the Employment Agency opinion and State Agency for National Security confirmation and decides on the single permit for residence and work. (Up to 14 days (extendable to one month for complex cases) · BGN 100-1,000 annually)
• Issue of residence document — Authority via Migration Directorate, Ministry of the Interior: The worker is issued the Bulgarian residence identity document; employment may begin only after this document is obtained. (3-30 calendar days depending on service type · BGN 45-225)
• Start-of-work notification — Employer via General Labour Inspectorate Executive Agency: The employer notifies the General Labour Inspectorate Executive Agency of the actual start date of the employment within seven days. (Within 7 days of actual start of employment)

Delais de traitement et frais officiels

• Overall processing time: Single Permit: around two months end-to-end (Employment Agency labour-market opinion up to 30 days, then Migration Directorate residence decision up to 14 days, extendable to one month for complex cases). EU Blue Card: maximum 3 months.
• Government fees: Labour market access permit: BGN 100-400. Residence permit: BGN 100-1,000 annually. Residence ID document: BGN 45-225. EU Blue Card issuance: 110 BGN (approx. EUR 55); express options 45 EUR (10 working days) or 112 EUR (3 working days).
• Authority names, the four-stage Single Permit flow, step deadlines and the BGN fee ranges were verified on the Bulgarian Ministry of Economy official services page; EU Blue Card deadline and fees were verified on the EU Immigration Portal. The exact 2026 salary threshold and any in-year fee revisions should be confirmed directly with the Employment Agency and Migration Directorate.

Documents essentiels

• Valid passport meeting the destination validity rule
• Signed work contract or binding job offer
• Proof of qualifications / professional experience
• Criminal-record certificate (apostille/legalisation where required)
• Certified translations of foreign documents where required
• Proof of health insurance and accommodation where required

Certified translators & interpreters — sworn / certified translators & interpreters

44 certified Bulgaria translators/interpreters from Association of Interpreters and Translators in Bulgaria. Click any name to open their on-site Migratalent profile (with the original source listing linked there). Sworn/certified translation is typically required for diplomas, criminal-record certificates and civil documents in the work-permit file. Verify accreditation directly before engaging.

• Atanas Tschelebiev (Chairman of the Auditing Board)
• Bistra Stoimenova (member of the Auditing board)
• Emilia Mednik (member of the Managing Board)
• Iskra Peeva (member of the Managing Board)
• Ivan Turturikov (member of the Managing Board)
• Kaloyan Pavlov
• Mariana Hill (Chair of the Managing Board)
• Mila Stavreva
• Milena Marinkova
• Nedyalka Gocheva Chakalova
• Nikoleta Georgieva
• Rossitza Borissova
• View all 44 translators →Full Bulgaria directory

Common questions