What is the single permit for residence and work in Bulgaria?

It is a permit which, once the statutory requirements are met, allows a third-country national to reside and work in Bulgaria for a specific employer.

Do I need a type D visa?

This depends on the applicant's current status. A person who does not hold a valid residence permit in the Republic of Bulgaria will, as a rule, need to obtain a type D long-stay visa.

How long does it take to obtain a single permit?

The timeline depends on the specific circumstances of the procedure, the workload of the competent institutions and the availability of interview slots for the type D long-stay visa. In practice, the procedure for obtaining a residence and work permit usually takes between 3 and 6 months.

Is there a quota for hiring foreign nationals?

Yes. As a general rule the applicable threshold is 20% of the average number of employees for the preceding 12 months, and 35% for small and medium-sized enterprises, subject to the statutory calculation rules.

Can an employer hire an unlimited number of foreign nationals?

No. The employer must align the hiring of third-country nationals with the applicable statutory limit.

Can I change my employer?

An issued Single Permit for residence and work is valid for a specific employer and a specific position. Changing employer therefore generally requires a new procedure, in which all statutory preconditions for granting labour-market access and issuing a residence and work permit must be proven again.

Can my family come with me to Bulgaria?

A person who has obtained a residence permit valid for no less than one year may start a family reunification procedure on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.

Can I apply if I already reside in Bulgaria?

In certain cases, yes. This depends on your current status and the applicable rules. The foreign national's status must therefore be checked before an application is filed.

What is the difference between the Single Permit and the EU Blue Card?

The EU Blue Card is designed for highly qualified specialists and has different requirements regarding qualification, remuneration and labour-market access. The choice of the right regime depends on the specific position and the applicant's profile.

Single Permit for Residence and Work in Bulgaria

Q: How long is the single permit valid?

The permit is usually granted for the duration of the employment contract, but for no more than three years.

Q: What documents are required?

The required documents depend on the specific applicant, employer and position. They typically include a passport, a certificate of no criminal record, proof of accommodation, education and qualification documents, an employment contract, employer documents, a labour-market access justification, a labour market test and a set of employer declarations.

Foreign nationals from countries outside the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland who wish to live and work in Bulgaria can, in certain cases, obtain a Single Permit for residence and work ("Single Permit").

The Single Permit is a combined procedure through which a third-country national is granted the right to reside in Bulgaria and access to the labour market with a specific Bulgarian employer, for a defined position and under the conditions stated in the permit.

The procedure involves interaction between the competent migration authorities and the Employment Agency and, where applicable, a subsequent application for a Bulgarian long-stay visa – a type D visa.

Depending on the specific case, the procedure may apply both to persons located outside Bulgaria and to foreign nationals who already reside lawfully in the country.

In brief: what is the Single Permit?

The Single Permit for residence and work is a permit for a third-country national which allows them to simultaneously:

reside lawfully in Bulgaria;
carry out employment activity;
work for the specific employer;

The permit is granted for the duration of the employment contract, but for no more than three years.

This means the Single Permit is not a general permit for unrestricted access to the Bulgarian labour market. It is tied to the specific employment relationship and employer.

Who can apply for a Single Permit for residence and work?

The procedure is intended mainly for third-country nationals who wish to be hired by an employer in Bulgaria.

A number of conditions relating to the foreign national, the Bulgarian employer and the position offered usually need to be met.

Among the key questions that should be checked in advance are:

whether the person is a national of a state outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland;
whether a genuine employment relationship exists with a Bulgarian employer;
whether the position can be filled by a third-country national;
whether the candidate holds the required education, professional qualification and/or experience;
whether the requirements for access to the Bulgarian labour market are met;
whether the employer complies with the applicable limit on the number of hired third-country nationals;

The specific set of requirements depends on the position, the employer, the applicant's nationality and their current status.

Limit on the number of third-country workers – 20% and 35%

One of the important issues when applying for a Single Permit concerns the maximum number of third-country nationals that a given employer may hire.

As a general rule, the number of third-country nationals working for the local employer must not exceed 20% of the average number of staff employed over the preceding 12 months.

For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the applicable threshold is 35%.

Labour market test

The procedure for issuing the Single Permit includes a check on whether the vacant position could be filled by a person who already has access to the Bulgarian labour market.

This check is often referred to as the labour market test.

The employer must be able to justify the need to hire the third-country national and provide information on the steps taken to find a suitable candidate. As part of the documentation, the following should be submitted:

A justification of the request. In the justification, the employer states the facts and circumstances necessitating the hiring of the third-country worker and explains its refusal to hire Bulgarian nationals or EU/EEA/Swiss nationals;
copies of published vacancy advertisements on recruitment portals.

What documents are required?

The exact set of documents depends on the specific case. The main categories of documents that may be required are set out below.

Documents from the foreign national

1. Passport

A copy of a valid passport or substitute travel document, including the pages bearing the photo and personal data of the applicant.

2. Certificate of no criminal record

For an initial application, a certificate of no criminal record is required, issued by the country of the foreign national's nationality or country of habitual residence.

Depending on the country that issued the document, full legalisation or an apostille and a translation into Bulgarian may be required.

3. Proof of accommodation

Proof of secured accommodation in Bulgaria must be submitted, together with a declaration from the property owner that they are providing an address to the foreign national.

4. Education and professional qualification documents

Depending on the requirements for the specific position, the following may be required:

diplomas;
professional qualification certificates;
certificates;
proof of professional experience;
other documents evidencing the candidate's qualification.

The qualification must match the requirements for the relevant position and the applicable National Classification of Professions and Positions.

5. Regulated-profession documents

Where the position falls within the list of regulated professions in the Republic of Bulgaria, recognition of the professional qualification or fulfilment of the relevant requirements for practising the profession may be required.

6. Health insurance

Where the foreign national is not insured under Bulgarian law, mandatory health insurance valid in Bulgaria may need to be submitted for the relevant period until the Single Permit is issued.

Documents from the Bulgarian employer

The employer plays a substantial role in the procedure and must prepare its own set of documents.

Depending on the specific case, the following may be required:

1. Employment contract

A signed employment contract for the relevant position.

The contract must be for a position matching the applicable National Classification of Professions and Positions.

The contract takes effect from the date the foreign worker's residence document is obtained.

2. Job description

A job description is submitted together with the employment contract.

It is important for establishing the requirements for the candidate and the match between their qualification and the specific position.

3. Justification for the need to hire

The employer must submit information on the reasons why it is necessary to appoint a third-country national.

4. Recruitment evidence

Evidence of the search carried out for suitable candidates on the Bulgarian and European labour markets must be submitted.

5. Declaration on hired foreign nationals

The employer declares information on the third-country nationals working under employment relationships, including the legal basis on which they reside.

6. Declaration on the number of staff

The employer submits information on the number of staff for each of the preceding 12 months, including the persons in the categories taken into account when calculating the applicable limit.

7. Declaration on working conditions and remuneration

The employer must confirm that the foreign national's working conditions and remuneration meet the statutory requirements and are not less favourable than the applicable conditions for Bulgarian nationals.

Procedure for obtaining a Single Permit – step by step

The procedure can be divided into several main stages.

Step 1: Procedure for obtaining labour-market access

The employer prepares the full set of documents and files the application for issuance of a Single Permit for residence and work with the Migration Directorate, or with the relevant department, sector or "Migration" group at the regional directorate of the Ministry of Interior.

Within 14 days of the application being filed, the Migration Directorate electronically sends the Employment Agency the applications for which proceedings have not been discontinued, together with the documents attached to them. The application and the attached documents are also sent electronically to the State Agency for National Security (DANS) for an opinion.

Within 15 days of receiving the file, the Employment Agency electronically sends the Migration Directorate the written opinion of the Executive Director of the Employment Agency on whether or not grounds exist for granting labour-market access.

Where the application for issuance of the Single Permit was filed by the employer or a person authorised by it, upon receiving positive opinions the Migration Directorate notifies the employer within three days. The notification states that grounds exist for granting the relevant third-country national access to the labour market. The notice is also sent to the "Consular Relations" directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The employer notifies the foreign national of the notice received. Within 20 days of the notice being sent to the employer, the foreign national must take the necessary steps to file an application for a long-stay type D visa, where such a visa is required.

Step 2: Type D visa – where applicable

Where the applicant is outside Bulgaria and a visa is required for their entry and long-stay residence, a procedure for issuing a Bulgarian type D visa must be carried out.

However, the applicant does not always need to leave Bulgaria or go through the type D visa procedure. The possibility of filing and completing the procedure from within Bulgaria depends on the foreign national's current status and the specific statutory preconditions.

The applicant's immigration status should therefore be checked before starting the procedure.

Step 3: Entry and residence in Bulgaria

Where a type D visa is required, the foreign national enters Bulgaria after it is issued. Within 14 days of the foreign national entering the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria with a type D visa, the employer or a person authorised by it must appear with the foreign national at the Migration Directorate, or the department/sector/group "Migration" at the regional directorates of the Ministry of Interior, and submit together with the application a copy of the passport page bearing the visa and mandatory medical insurance valid on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria for a period of at least three months, pending the issuance of a permit for continuous residence and work of the type "Single Permit for residence and work".

Step 4: Issuance of the Single Permit

Once the necessary checks are completed and the statutory requirements are met, the Single Permit for residence and work and the corresponding residence document are issued.

How long does the procedure take?

The duration of the procedure depends on the specific case, the completeness of the documents, the need for additional checks, the legalisation and translation of documents, and the need for a type D visa.

The administrative procedure itself has statutory deadlines, which may be extended where the case is factually or legally complex.

In practice, applicants should allow additional time for:

preparing the documents;
legalisation or apostille;
translations;
obtaining a certificate of no criminal record;
the type D visa procedure, where required;
issuance of the residence document.

Our experience shows that the procedure usually takes place within 3 to 6 months of filing the application.

How long is the Single Permit issued for?

The Single Permit is granted for the duration of the employment contract, but for no more than three years, subject to the applicable statutory requirements.

If the employment contract is concluded for a shorter period, the permit is likewise limited to that period.

Where the employment relationship continues and the statutory preconditions are met, a procedure to extend the residence and the right to work may be carried out.

Can a Single Permit holder change employer?

The Single Permit does not grant unrestricted access to the Bulgarian labour market.

It is tied to the specific employment relationship, employer, position and conditions on the basis of which it was granted.

A new residence-and-work procedure is therefore required in order to take up employment with a different employer.

A foreign national should not begin work for a new employer solely on the basis of an existing Single Permit for residence and work.

Single Permit or EU Blue Card?

The Single Permit is not the only way a third-country national can work and reside in Bulgaria.

For highly qualified specialists, the EU Blue Card regime may be applicable.

The two regimes have significant differences.

Single Permit / EU Blue Card
	Single Permit	EU Blue Card
Main purpose	Work and residence	Highly qualified employment and residence
Nationality	Third-country national	Third-country national
Qualification requirements	Matched to the position	Higher education or at least 3 years' professional experience in a position requiring higher education
Labour market test	Applicable in relevant cases	Not applicable
Quota for third-country nationals	20% / 35% in applicable cases	Not applicable
Employer	Specific employer	Subject to special rules on change
Maximum term	Up to 3 years	Up to 5 years
Salary	No specific requirements	1.5x the average national salary

The choice between the two regimes should be made after analysing the specific position, qualification, remuneration, employer and the foreign national's long-term goals.

Can the Single Permit holder's family reside in Bulgaria?

Family members of a foreign national with authorised residence in Bulgaria may apply for residence on the ground of family reunification.

This is a separate immigration procedure and does not follow automatically from the issuance of the Single Permit.

Depending on the specific case, documents will be required proving:

the family relationship;
availability of housing;
sufficient financial means;
health insurance;
identity documents;
legalisation and translation of civil-status certificates.

What can the employer do before starting the procedure?

The employer can significantly reduce the risk of delay by checking in advance:

1. Does the candidate meet the requirements?

The candidate's nationality, passport, qualification, professional experience and the requirements for the specific position are checked.

2. Does the employer comply with the quota?

A check must be carried out of the average staff headcount and the number of hired third-country nationals for the relevant period.

3. Has the necessary recruitment been carried out?

The employer should hold the necessary documentation on the search for a suitable employee.

4. Are the documents from abroad ready?

Documents such as a certificate of no criminal record, diplomas and certificates can require significant time to issue, legalise and translate.

How can Global Lex Consulting help?

Residence and work procedures in Bulgaria involve immigration, labour and administrative requirements at the same time. Incomplete documentation or an incorrectly determined procedure can lead to delay or refusal.

Global Lex Consulting provides legal assistance to foreign nationals and Bulgarian employers in preparing and conducting residence and work procedures in Bulgaria.

Depending on the specific case, we can assist with:

a preliminary eligibility assessment;
analysis of the applicant's immigration status;
checking the applicable regime – Single Permit, EU Blue Card or another option;
analysis of the applicable quota;
preparation and review of the required documents;
assistance with preparing the employment contract and related documentation;
coordinating the procedure with the competent authorities;
assistance with the type D visa;
assistance with the issuance of the residence document;
subsequent assistance with extending residence;
advice on a subsequent family reunification procedure.

About the author

Attorney Boris Iliev is a lawyer, member of the Sofia Bar Association, who advises foreign nationals and companies on matters relating to immigration, residence and work in Bulgaria, corporate and tax planning, establishing and developing a business in the country, as well as litigation.

Single Permit for Residence and Work in Bulgaria – Requirements, Procedure and Documents