EU Blue Card in Bulgaria for highly qualified professionals

Below is the fully updated text of the article as of 2026, taking into account Bulgaria's transition to the euro (€), the abolition of the type D visa in many cases inside the country and the new rules on recognition of qualifications.

EU Blue Card in Bulgaria (EU Blue Card)

Residence and work permit for highly qualified specialists

The EU Blue Card is a single residence and work permit (Единно разрешение за пребиваване и работа) intended for citizens of countries outside the EU (third countries) who hold high qualifications and have received an official job offer in Bulgaria.

The document gives the right to live and work legally in the country and also opens a simplified route to mobility within the European Union.

Who can obtain a Blue Card

An application may be submitted by a foreign national who meets the following criteria:

High qualification:

Higher education (a course of study of at least 3 years) confirmed by a diploma.

OR confirmed high-level professional experience. For IT specialists and a number of other shortage occupations the requirements are relaxed: it is enough to prove comparable work experience (usually from 3–5 years) instead of providing a diploma.

Contract: A valid employment contract with a Bulgarian employer for a position requiring high qualifications, for a term of at least 6 months (previously a minimum of 1 year was required).

Salary requirements

The salary of a highly qualified specialist is strictly regulated by law and is calculated in euro (€) on the basis of data from the National Statistical Institute (НСИ):

The gross salary stated in the contract must be at least 1.5 times the average salary in Bulgaria over the last 12 months.

All payments, taxes and fees at the migration authorities are calculated and paid exclusively in euro (€).

Main documents

The submission procedure has become more digitalised and centralised (documents are submitted to the Migration Directorate by the employer or by the employee themselves). The main package includes:

Employment contract (copy and original) signed by both parties.

The employer's justification and the company's documents (ЕИК/Bulstat).

A higher education diploma or documents confirming relevant experience (employment record book, references).

A certificate of no criminal record from the country of origin (with apostille/legalisation and translation).

Proof of housing in Bulgaria (title deed or lease agreement + notarised declaration from the owner).

Medical insurance (if the employer does not cover it from the first day of entry).

A passport valid for at least the term of the requested card.

Requirements for foreign documents

Legalisation: Documents (diplomas, certificates of no criminal record) issued outside Bulgaria must be apostilled or legalised.

Translation: An official translation into Bulgarian by a licensed translator is required.

Recognition of the diploma: For a number of regulated professions (medicine, law, engineering) mandatory recognition of the diploma is required (for example, through НАЦИД). For the IT sector, the procedure for verifying education by the migration services is now as simple as possible.

Validity and renewal

The Blue Card is issued for a term of up to 5 years (the standard term is up to 4–5 years depending on the decision of the migration service), or for the term of the employment contract plus 3 months (to look for a new job in the event of early termination).

Important 2026 update: Foreign nationals already legally in Bulgaria on other grounds (or under the visa-free regime) can in most cases submit documents for a Blue Card inside the country, without having to travel home for a type D visa.

‍‍‍ Advantages of the Blue Card

Simplified family reunification: Family members (spouses, children) receive a long-term residence permit under an accelerated procedure and have the right to work in Bulgaria without obtaining additional permits.

Changing employer: Changing jobs has become easier. During the first 12 months notification of the migration authorities is required, and after a year of work the procedure becomes purely notification-based, which increases the specialist's flexibility on the labour market.

Mobility within the EU: After 12 months of legal residence in Bulgaria, a Blue Card holder can move to another EU country for highly qualified work under a simplified scheme.

Permanent residence permit and EU long-term resident status: Time spent living in Bulgaria on a Blue Card counts in full (100%) towards obtaining EU long-term resident status or a permanent residence permit after 5 years.

Why is this the best choice right now?

Bulgaria is actively attracting international IT and technical capital. The transition to the euro (€), integration into the Schengen area and flexible rules for highly qualified professionals make the Bulgarian EU Blue Card one of the fastest, most transparent and most stable instruments for legalising a business and a career in Europe.