There are quite a lot of available vacancies in Bulgaria due to the fact that most of the local population works outside the republic. According to the Eurostat report on labor mobility in Europe, the number of registered Bulgarians living in other EU states exceeds 900,000. Bulgarian passport holders, in accordance with the provisions of the Maastricht Treaty, are citizens of the European Union and thus have the right to choose to live in any of the countries of the union .
Pros and cons of working in Bulgaria
Among the advantages of working in the Republic of Bulgaria:
- low cost of living (prices for food and rental housing are lower than in the CIS countries);
- low taxation (foreigners working on Bulgarian territory pay income tax at a rate of 10%);
- the possibility of receiving a pension ( a foreigner can apply for a state pension after working officially in Bulgaria for only six months ).
One of the main difficulties in finding employment in Bulgaria is the language barrier: the majority of citizens of the state do not speak English. But since Bulgarian is close to Russian, learning it for residents of the CIS countries will not be particularly difficult.
Popular vacancies and in-demand specialties
Employment centers in Bulgaria posted 199,392 vacancies on the primary labor market. Demand for workers and employees was highest in the personal services sector: Bulgarian employers are looking for cooks, waiters and bar staff, hairdressers, beauticians, animators, etc. – a total of 26,900 job offers. A large number of jobs (15,324) were available in the mining and processing industries. There are 15,605 vacancies open for operators of stationary machinery and equipment and 5,842 for workers in agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
Demand for skilled workers in the food processing, apparel, wood processing and related industries was also strong, with a total of 10,976 job openings posted. A total of 10,229 job offers were opened for teachers and educators. 10,554 vacancies were for waste collection workers and 8,749 for mechanics, machine builders and other craftsmen. When recruiting personnel, employers gave preference to applicants with “soft” skills, i.e. able to learn quickly and communicate competently.
Requirements for foreign applicants
Emigrants with permanent resident status have the right to any work that is offered to them on equal terms with citizens of the state. Other foreigners are under strict control and are required to have a work permit, which must be renewed annually.
Regardless of the vacancy, a foreigner can get a job in Bulgaria only if he has an agreement with the employer and a national visa category D. Additional requirements may be imposed on representatives of certain professions. For example, doctors will need to provide a diploma recognized in European territory, service workers will need to confirm a basic level of knowledge of the Bulgarian language to communicate with clients.
How to find Bulgarian vacancies
The modern labor market in Bulgaria requires highly qualified specialists with knowledge of one or more foreign languages. At the same time, it is quite easy for Russian speakers to find work in the country. Many large international corporations that have outsourced some of their service, production or marketing teams need a multinational workforce. Most of the vacancies offered in Bulgaria involve full-time work (40-hour work week).
Job search sites in Bulgaria
Job seekers can check current job offers on specialized portals and other sites where there are sections with Bulgarian vacancies:
| jobs.bg |
| rabota.bg |
| zaplata.bg |
| jobtiger.bg |
| bgrabotodatel.com |
| empregocerto.uol.com.br |
| buljobs.bg |
| alo.bg |
| bazar.bg |
| olx.bg |
| burkan.info |
Agency help in Bulgaria
You can find work in Bulgaria with the help of the state Employment Agency or private companies specializing in personnel selection. The conditions for cooperation with an intermediary who helps in finding employment are the same as in the CIS countries. The foreigner makes an advance payment for searching for a future job. After the recruitment agency fulfills its obligations, the foreign employee pays the remaining amount. As a rule, it is 25% of the first salary.
The advantage of this method of job search is that it saves the applicant’s time and that a foreigner can find a vacancy that meets his expectations. The main disadvantage of working with intermediaries is financial costs. When choosing an agency, you should carefully study information about it on the Internet, including reviews and ratings, so as not to fall for scammers.
How to get a job in Bulgaria
- Find a suitable vacancy on an employment portal or through a recruitment agency.
- Prepare and send your resume for the position you are interested in.
- Pass an interview with the employer.
- Sign an employment contract and obtain a work permit.
- Prepare and submit documents to the visa center, consulate or embassy to obtain permission to enter and reside in Bulgaria.
- Cross the Bulgarian border with a work visa.
Obtaining a work permit in Bulgaria
A work permit for foreigners can only be granted based on a request from a future Bulgarian employer. Along with the application, the following must also be submitted to the National Employment Agency:
- a document indicating the reasons for the request to employ a non-EU citizen;
- 3 color photographs of a foreign employee, taken over the last 3 months, measuring 3.5×4.5 cm;
- a legalized copy of the Bulgarian company registration certificate;
- legalized documents confirming the education, specialty, skills, qualifications or experience of the employee (they need to be translated and taken with you to Bulgaria – this will save a lot of money and time);
- employment contract of a foreign citizen;
- other documents related to the position for which the foreign citizen is applying;
- a copy of the employee’s current passport.
If a Bulgarian company hires a foreigner for a management position, the employment agency may have additional requirements and will need relevant documents.
Obtaining a work permit is the most difficult part of the employment process. A foreigner needs to be prepared for the fact that most employers will prefer to hire someone who does not require a work permit. In this case, the European citizen does not need to collect documents, visit government agencies and incur associated financial expenses.