Bulgarian work permits: the single permit route

Visas and residence · Last reviewed: 2026-08-23

One document, two administrations

The single permit combines two rights in one document: residence in the country and work for a named employer. The document is issued by the Interior Ministry's Migration Directorate, but the work right inside it rests on a written decision of the Employment Agency. The file therefore passes two examinations and can fail on either — the labour market side or the residence side.

The permit is tied to a specific employer and a specific post. Leaving the job weakens the ground, and moving to a new employer is not a free step but a fresh administrative procedure. If a job change is on the horizon, establish the route before you resign, not after.

The labour market test: 20 per cent and 35 per cent

According to Employment Agency guidance, the employer must show that over the preceding twelve months the total number of third-country nationals employed does not exceed 20 per cent of the average number of employees who are Bulgarian, EU, EEA or Swiss nationals or persons with equivalent rights, and 35 per cent in the case of small and medium-sized enterprises. This threshold rarely comes up in job interviews, yet it dictates the employer's answer: a small company may want to hire you and still be unable to open the file.

Step by step

1. 1

   Put the job offer in writing

   Post, pay, term and duties are fixed. Pay should not fall below comparable work in the country, and the minimum monthly wage of 620.20 € is a floor no contract may go under.
2. 2

   The employer files with the Employment Agency

   The staffing ratio, the nature of the post and, where required, the advertising process are examined. The output is a written decision on labour market access.
3. 3

   The file moves to Migration

   The single permit is issued by the Migration Directorate. On the residence side the usual conditions apply: accommodation, health insurance and a criminal record certificate.
4. 4

   The visa stage, where it applies

   If you are outside the country a long-stay D visa is needed. Third-country nationals who already hold an approved right of residence no longer have to be outside Bulgaria when first applying for the single permit.
5. 5

   Card, address and starting work

   Once the card is collected and the address registered, the employment contract takes effect. Starting work before the document is issued exposes both sides to penalties.

How long it takes

The Employment Agency states that the procedure for issuing a single residence and work permit may not exceed two months, and that in cases of factual and legal complexity this period may be extended by a further two months. In practice the calendar stretches less because of the administration than because of document gathering: apostilles, certified translations, criminal record certificates and diploma recognition each run on their own clock and add months if they are not started in parallel.

The EU Blue Card

For highly qualified employment there is a separate type of single permit, the EU Blue Card. On the Employment Agency's explanation, this document is likewise issued by the Interior Ministry's Migration Directorate, after the Agency has given written permission for highly qualified employment. Qualification and salary requirements differ from the general regime, so check with your employer whether the specific post falls within its scope.

Common mistakes

• •Job hunting during a short stay and hoping to complete the procedure from inside the country.
• •Never asking the employer about the staffing ratio — the earliest point at which files break.
• •Leaving diploma recognition to the end in regulated professions.
• •Starting work before the permit is issued, which exposes worker and employer alike.
• •Changing employer without a new procedure, forgetting that the permit is tied to the previous one.

Frequently asked questions

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