site.btaGovernment Approves Bill to Amend and Supplement Foreigners in Bulgaria Act

The Council of Ministers approved a bill to amend and supplement the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, the government press service said here Wednesday.

The adopted amendments aim at synchronizing the Foreigners Act with Directive /EU/2021/1883 of the European Parliament and of the Council of October 20, 2021 on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purpose of highly qualified employment and repealing Council Directive 2009/50/EC.

In this respect, a legal possibility to change employer after the first 12 months of highly qualified employment, to change the position occupied by the holder of the Blue Card, including the performance of specific official work by the holders of this card issued in another Member State, without requiring any authorization other than an EU Blue Card and a regular passport, are provided for. 

The conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purpose of employment as seasonal workers are amended. The possibility of extending the period of residence of a foreigner for up to 90 days after obtaining a residence permit is introduced. 

The scope of the Foreigners Act is expanded with a procedure for granting the right of residence to foreign "graduate students". 

The procedure for the submission of the right of long-term residence to investors is optimized. New conditions are introduced for granting residency on the grounds related to the submission of documents for an annual turnover of at least BGN 500,000 or their equivalent in foreign currency for a period of two years prior to the registration of the commercial representation of the foreign company in Bulgaria. It is also foreseen that up to two representatives may obtain a permit on this basis. 

The procedure of interaction of the competent state structures involved in the process of issuing the respective type of residence permits has been improved, the press release reads.