September 27th, 2023 at 06:54 am
Work in Bulgaria for Foreigners | Bulgaria Work Permit
Since 2007, Bulgaria has been a member of the European Union. The rejection of Soviet economic management methods, the implementation of structural changes, and the attraction of foreign investment all help the country’s long-term development. Bulgaria, meanwhile, remains significantly behind other wealthier European countries.
First and foremost, it concerns the level of earnings and the overall quality of life of Bulgarians. In the interest of fairness, it is vital to emphasize that living expenditures and daily expenses in Bulgaria are twice as low as the EU average. Another critical issue for the country’s sustainable development is government corruption and organized crime. These problems have not been fully resolved.
Bulgaria has an unemployment rate of 4-6%. This is not the worst figure in Europe. Nonetheless, an examination of the Bulgarian labor market reveals that working in Bulgaria for foreigners in 2023 is not the most lucrative option. Only extremely cool specialists, most commonly in the field of IT, may count for rather substantial remuneration.
In any case, there may be numerous reasons for seeking a job in Bulgaria. After all, the country has a pleasant environment, a thriving tourism industry, and certain other businesses, such as construction, that can attract foreign expertise. There is also a demand for unskilled foreign labor. In this post, we will learn about available positions and salaries in Bulgaria in 2023, as well as the main possibilities for obtaining work and the employment circumstances for foreigners.
How to work in Bulgaria
Foreigners who are not citizens of the EU or Switzerland must obtain a work permit in Bulgaria in most instances. There are, however, certain exceptions.
Who does not need a work permit in Bulgaria?
- People who already have a long-term resident permit or who live in Bulgaria permanently;
- Employees or representatives of foreign businesses doing business in Bulgaria;
- Members of Bulgarian company boards of directors who are not on a contract basis;
- Refugees and migrants to Bulgaria for humanitarian or political reasons;
- Families of European and Bulgarian nationals (EU nations, Switzerland, EEA members) or long-term residents of Bulgaria.
In other circumstances, a foreign specialist must first locate a job in Bulgaria and obtain a work permit. A potential employer can accomplish this by submitting a related application and a list of acceptable documents to the local office of the National Employment Agency of Bulgaria. The foreign worker must do the following:
- A duplicate of a foreign passport;
- Three colored photographs
- Diplomas attest to the level of education, as well as other documents attesting to the skills and professional experience. A degree from a Bulgarian university would be a huge benefit.
The employer prepares the rest of the information, particularly a persuasive justification for why the vacancy is granted to an employee from abroad. In most cases, it indicates a lack of necessary expertise in the local labor market. In Bulgaria, a decision on obtaining a work permit is made within one month of the application being submitted. The applicant then arranges for a work visa at the Bulgarian Consulate in his home country.
A work permit is typically issued for a maximum of one year with the option of renewal and provides employment in a certain company and field of activity. A residence permit in Bulgaria can be obtained no later than three months following your arrival.
It is not difficult to imagine that Bulgarian enterprises must be highly interested in the services of international workers; however, you must have unique talents and expertise that local specialists do not have. Alternatively, the emptiness indicates hard physical labor or rough employment, which Bulgarians and Europeans oppose.
Work in Bulgaria without the use of intermediaries
In Bulgaria, the most common approach to finding work is through personal ties and acquaintances. It means that family or friends who are already in the nation are more likely to help you find work than you are to find work on your own. According to statistics, more than half of all jobs in Bulgaria are filled in this manner and are not even posted.
If you’re having trouble making personal contacts, it’s time to visit Bulgaria for vacation, relax on the Black Sea coast, and try to meet the right people. A basic understanding of English and Bulgarian is required.
The second option, which is more time-consuming and labor-intensive, is to do an individual job search using a variety of information sources on the Internet. We’d like to highlight the top options for foreigners to find work in Bulgaria in 2023.
az.government.bg is the official website of Bulgaria’s National Employment Agency. It contains a wealth of information about the general state of the Bulgarian labor market. To be honest, it is intended primarily for local inhabitants.
Popular job search websites in Bulgaria
International resources for the workplace
Websites of Bulgarian Newspapers Trud
Use this website to identify local recruiting agencies – yellowpages.bg. You can also identify a Bulgarian company and offer your services to the employer directly.
A professional social network – Linkedin – is an efficient instrument for getting a job in the current world, including Bulgaria.
It is best to use the resources listed above in tandem to maximize your chances of finding work in Bulgaria.
Bulgarian employment and wages
Unfortunately, Bulgarian wages are among the lowest in the EU. The national average net wage in 2023 will be around 740 euros per month. Since January 1, the official minimum has been 780 lev (about 400 euros). It is preferable to focus on economically active cities when looking for a job in Bulgaria. First and foremost, there is Sofia, as well as Plovdiv and Varna.
Bulgarian employment and wages
Average monthly salaries in Bulgaria by profession in 2023 (in euros):
- IT specialists – 1200-1300
- Financiers and insurers – 920
- Power engineers – 880
- Energy industry – 880 Government employees – 615
- Health care and social workers – 560
- Trade and transport – 500-520
- Construction and production workers – 420-500
- Tourism and entertainment – 450
- Agricultural workers – 425
- Unskilled workers (waiters, loaders, cleaners) – 280-320
Concerning the available openings in Bulgaria in 2023, we should first address the field of information technology, where there is a relative shortage of specialists and salaries are relatively high. The best option is to try to acquire a job in one of the multinational corporations. A strong mastery of the English language is required.
Despite some decrease in Bulgarian industry, highly skilled foreign employees with specific skills and expertise can find work in construction and manufacturing.
Seasonal work in Bulgaria, for example, in the tourism business, is highly competitive and low-paying. Vacancies are usually advertised to local students first, and subsequently foreigners are hired. The same is true for temporary agricultural work. There is no way to make money here. However, you have the choice of considering this form of career.
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