Bulgarian Visas and Work Permits
Our tax guide for freelance contractors working in Bulgaria
Bulgaria joined the EU on 1st January 2007, along with Romania. According to the Accession Treaty, Bulgaria could apply restrictive transitional rules for citizens of Member States who apply this kind of rules themselves. Bulgaria has chosen, though, not to apply any restrictive rules, but to open its labour market to workers from all other EU Member States. Citizens from other countries need work permits which their prospective employers have to apply for before the worker can begin the work. Obtaining a work permit is usually lengthy and difficult and in principle only possible if the Bulgarian company has advertised the open position for several months and can prove that it has been unable to find a qualified candidate not only on the local labour market but in the whole of Europe.