site.btaUPDATED Over 12,000 Non-EU Foreign Nationals Obtained Work Permits in Bulgaria from January to November 17

Over 12,000 foreigners from outside the European Union (EU) were granted various types of work permits in Bulgaria in the period January 1 - November 17, 2023, according to data from the Employment Agency (EA).

The number of foreigners from third countries who were granted a work permit during this period is 1,556. Most of them are from Turkiye (1,309), Kyrgyz Republic (75) and Russia (43). Citizens from Serbia and North Macedonia were granted 23 and 21 permits respectively. Construction is the main sector in which these workers are employed. Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas and Elin Pelin are the cities with the highest number of permits of this type, according to the data.

Up until November 17, seven have come to Bulgaria as freelancers - three from Russia, two from Ukraine, and one each from Serbia and Japan. They have found work in the "creation and dissemination of information and creative products" sector and in healthcare. They mainly work in Sofia and Varna.

Between the beginning of the year and 17 November, 6,837 people from outside the EU have registered for seasonal employment for up to 90 days in Bulgaria. They were employed in the hotel and catering industry, as well as in agriculture, forestry and fisheries. They worked mainly in the resorts Sunny Beach, Golden Sands, Albena, Nessebar, Bansko and Razlog. Among them, most are from the Kyrgyz Republic (2033), Turkiye (1364), Moldova (1058). There are also some from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

3,741 citizens from Turkiye have been granted registration of short-term employment of posted persons for up to 90 days. The other countries with the most permits of this type are China (25), Kosovo (20), Serbia (18) and Albania (11). Again, construction was the sector in which these nationals were employed. They were mainly located in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas and Haskovo.

The number of foreigners of Bulgarian origin registered to work in Bulgaria was 156. Most of them came from Moldova (54), Russia (49), Serbia (28), Ukraine (19) and North Macedonia (5). They were mainly employed in trade, manufacturing, transport and warehousing, and mainly in Plovdiv, Sofia, Varna, Burgas and Pazardzhik.

Migration Directorate reports 2,134 foreigners with the right to long-term residence and work

At present, 2,134 third-country nationals have been granted the right for permanent residence and work on the basis of the Aliens in Bulgaria Act through the EU Blue Card. In the period January 1 - December 31, 2022 this right was granted to 1,039 third-country nationals. From January 1 to November 22, 2023, some 879 third-country nationals were granted this right. 

The Employment Agency indicates that it provides the Migration Directorate with a written opinion on access to the labour market in cases of employment in connection with the issuance of a "Single Residence and Work Permit", for highly qualified employment of a foreigner on the granting of an "EU Blue Card", and also for seasonal employment from 90 days to 9 months. Among the cases is the "intra-corporate transfer of managers/employees/trainees".

Bilateral agreements

Since 2011 Bulgaria and Israel have concluded an agreement on mediation and temporary employment of citizens of both countries. Bulgarians can find temporary jobs in the construction sector in Israel as reinforcement workers, tile setters, formworkers and plasterers, the agency said.

"Six recruitment campaigns have been conducted, as a result of which 1,165 workers have been approved and have gone to work in Israel," the agency said.

Between 2013 and 2016, activities under the agreement were at a standstill. After the resumption of activities, a new recruitment procedure was launched and by the beginning of 2017, 145 Bulgarians had gone to work in Israel. At the moment there are no active offers.

Bulgaria and Moldova have an agreement on the regulation of labour migration. The document applies to workers for an initial period of up to one year, with the possibility of extension for a total period of up to three years, and to seasonal workers for the maximum period under the legislation of the host country. Since the launch of activities under this agreement, 493 offers have been made by Bulgarian employers for 2,676 jobs. The number of Moldovan nationals who have started working in the country is 282.

Procedures and documents under an agreement between Bulgaria and Armenia, signed in February 2018, are being coordinated and approved. There is still no final approval of the forms sent by Bulgaria to Georgia on the application of an agreement with the Georgian state.