EU long-term resident status in Bulgaria and the “Blue Card”

• Enter Bulgaria repeatedly and stay on Bulgarian territory indefinitely;
• Use compulsory health insurance services (“Zdravna kasa”);
• Take up employment in Bulgaria;
• Study at Bulgarian universities on the same terms and at the same price as citizens of the country;
• Buy a car in your own name rather than in the company’s name;

• Obtain an EGN.

  To obtain the status you need to live in Bulgaria for five years holding a long-term residence permit. During this period you may not leave the country for more than six months in a row and for more than ten months over the whole five years. The status must be renewed five years after it is obtained, although it is considered open-ended unless grounds arise for its revocation. Upon receipt a fee of 1000 leva must be paid. In addition, you must present evidence of funds available to the foreign national and their family (no less than one minimum wage/pension), as well as health insurance. A decision on granting EU long-term resident status is taken within three months, and this period may, if necessary, be extended to 5 months.

  A foreign national with EU long-term resident status also receives an EU long-term residence permit valid for 5 years.

  And what about work?

  Many people have heard about the “Blue Card” in Bulgaria, but practically no one has seen one. That is why there are no fewer myths about this document than about EU long-term resident status.

  The “EU Blue Card” is the name for a work permit in European Union countries. Such a card can also be obtained in Bulgaria. To do so you must hold EU long-term resident status, and before that spend 50 months on Bulgarian territory. To obtain a “Blue Card” you need to find an employer ready to hire a foreign national and to obtain permission for this from the Ministry of Labour. The foreign national themselves must have at least secondary vocational education and experience in similar work.

  To obtain the permit, the employer must prove that there are no suitable specialists among Bulgarian citizens. For this the vacancy is posted on the Bulgarian labour exchange, and the employer is obliged to hire any Bulgarian specialists who meet their requirements. Only if no such specialists are found may they look for employees among foreign nationals.

  Obtaining permission from the Ministry of Labour can take several months. In addition, the employer has to pay a fee. Clearly, they need to be very interested in hiring a foreign national specifically.

  It is expected that this procedure will be substantially simplified for representatives of professions in short supply. For now, however, obtaining permission cannot be avoided.

  The permit is issued by the Employment Agency, and the “General Labour Inspectorate” monitors compliance with the legislation. Unlawful employment without official permission is punishable by fines, and both employers and employees are fined. Inspections take place quite often, especially at resorts. So it is better not to take the risk.

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