Unified Residence and Work Permit in Bulgaria for Non-EU Workers

Private Clients Insights, Business Immigration, Citizenship and Immigration

The Unified Residence and Work Permit is a type of permit that allows foreigners from third (non-EU) countries to reside legally in Bulgaria on the basis of an employment contract with a Bulgarian employer. Unlike the EU Blue Card, it does not require the applicant to be a high-skilled or qualified individual. 

The URWR is issued by the Ministry of Interior in Bulgaria given that certain requirements are met such as: 

• Presenting a valid employment contract; 
• Proof that the employer posted the job offer on local and national employment platforms; 
• A justification as to why the employer is not willing to hire a Bulgarian citizen instead; 

And other necessary documents for the procedure. 

The URWR is valid for up to 3 years but it can also be issued for less if the validity of the employment contract is for a shorter period of time. 

How to access the Bulgarian labour market? 

In order to access the Bulgarian labour market a foreign national from a third (non-EU) country must secure employment with a Bulgarian employer. To do this the applicant: 

• Should research job opportunities on Bulgarian employment platforms and apply for a published job offer; 
• The applicant must make sure that the job offer description aligns with their educational background (if such is required by the employer) and/or professional experience. 

This can be proven by providing legalised and translated documentation of diplomas, certificates, qualifications and relevant national documents evidencing professional experience. 

The application with the full set of required documents must first be made before the Migration Office and this is usually done either by an authorised individual or by the employer. 

The Migration Office forwards the application set to the Labour Agency where the authorities decide on a case by case basis whether the applicant has grounds to be granted access to the Bulgarian labour market. The Labour Agency collects information on the employer through the National Revenue Agency, the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Trade Registry, etc. and issues a statement to the Migration Office regarding their stance on whether the applicant meets the requirements to become a part of the workforce in Bulgaria. 

Joining the Bulgarian labour market gives applicants access to the healthcare system in Bulgaria as provided by the newest amendments to the work permit legislation. For additional information on the recent changes to the legislation please click here.

Timeline of Application

Approximately 1 month after the application has been submitted the Migration Office issues an initial approval of the applicant’s case. From the moment of receiving initial approval the applicant has a deadline of 20 days to apply for a visa D in order to be able to enter Bulgaria. 

Within 14 days of entrance into Bulgaria the applicant must appear before the Migration Office to present their visa. Additionally, within 7 days of beginning the job the employer is obliged to notify the Labour Agency regarding the applicant’s employment status. 

The entire application process should not take longer than 2 months. Only if the specific case is especially complex the Migration authorities can extend this period with an additional 2 months. 

How we can help 

At New Balkans Law Office, we have extensive experience advising clients on Bulgarian immigration and employment matters. Our team stands ready to provide strategic, end-to-end support—whether for individual applicants or corporate sponsors.

If you require assistance with the Unified Residence and Work Permit in Bulgaria, please contact us at sofia@newbalkanslawoffice.com.