Employment of foreigners with a long-term residence permit in Bulgaria

Whether a foreigner with a long-term residence permit has the right to work in Bulgaria or not depends on the grounds on which the long-term residence permit was granted. With some grounds work is allowed, with others it is not.

Who is allowed to work as an employee in Bulgaria?

Access to the Bulgarian labour market is granted to:

• foreigners of Bulgarian origin – until they obtain a permanent residence permit, under any lawful status of residence in Bulgaria, including a type C visa;
• persons who were already working in Bulgaria before filing an application for access to the labour market, in accordance with the terms of an international treaty to which Bulgaria was a party;
• persons who worked without a work permit while on a business trip in Bulgaria – if the work continues for more than 3 months;
• family members of foreigners from third countries (i.e. any countries outside the EU) residing in Bulgaria on a long-term basis.

Holders of a permanent residence permit and of EU long-term resident status also have the right to work as employees in Bulgaria.

After hiring a foreigner who has the right to work, it is sufficient and necessary for the employer to notify the «Централна администрация на Агенция по заетостта и ИА «Главна инспекция по труда»

Who cannot work in Bulgaria with a long-term residence permit?

Article 8 of the Law on Labour Migration and Labour Mobility lists the categories of foreigners who do not have the right to work as employees in Bulgaria. These are those who obtained a long-term residence permit on the following grounds:

• merchants who have created at least 10 jobs;
• trade representatives;
• financially secure parents of a Bulgarian citizen or of a foreigner with a permanent residence permit;
• people undergoing long-term treatment at a Bulgarian medical institution;
• pensioners;
• other family members of a foreigner or their domestic helpers;
• those wishing to carry out non-commercial activities or invited as religious ministers;
• investors in real estate (an amount of at least 600 thousand leva);
• investors in economically disadvantaged regions.

If it is not allowed, but you really want to

It is a mistake to assume that those who are denied access to the Bulgarian labour market by law cannot work and earn money in Bulgaria. Such a prohibition only means that an employment contract cannot be concluded. However, this is not the only option.

The solution for foreigners who do not have the right to work as employees is to open a company in Bulgaria. After that, services can be provided on behalf of a Bulgarian legal entity. Even those who do not have a Bulgarian long-term residence permit can do this. At the same time, you can quite legally receive a salary under a management contract – and here it does not matter on what grounds you obtained your long-term residence permit, or whether you obtained one at all. A management contract is in fact the equivalent of an employment contract, but no permit is required to conclude it.

Is it always advisable to open a company in order to work? What taxes have to be paid in that case? What kind of servicing does a legal entity require? We know the answers to all these and many other questions. Contact Bulgarian Expert for a consultation. We will tell you in detail about all the advantages and disadvantages of opening a company in Bulgaria, help you with registering a legal entity and servicing the company, and give you useful recommendations on any business matters.

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Residence in Bulgaria (long-term residence permit)