How to find a job in Bulgaria: peculiarities of employment

Employment abroad is a hot topic for many Ukrainians. People are looking for jobs with good prospects and decent pay. Working in Bulgaria is a very suitable option. A large list of various vacancies is available to applicants, and the standard of living in the country is entirely acceptable. The number of seasonal and permanent workers from other countries in Bulgaria is constantly increasing, and the unemployment rate is decreasing.

Why it is profitable to find a job in Bulgaria

The country has inexpensive real estate, utilities and food. Working in Bulgaria gives certain advantages:

• low tax rate;
• affordable cost of living;
• low prices for products;
• a wide range of different vacancies;
• the possibility of a pension.

The main difficulty Ukrainians face is the language barrier. Many citizens of the country do not speak English. Therefore, it is desirable for applicants to master the Bulgarian language as well as possible.

Job search options

Geographically, Bulgaria is a small country. Bulgarians most often get a job through friends and relatives. Foreign citizens may not have such connections. At the initial stage, it is recommended to try to find a job in large cities. In how to find a job in Bulgaria, websites with vacancy headings, employment agencies, the media, as well as the web resource of the National Employment Agency help.

The Bulgarian labor market requires highly qualified specialists. Proficiency in one or more additional languages ​​is preferred. International corporations that outsource individual tasks need multilingual staff.

Who has the right to work

Citizens of different states can apply for official employment. Before finding a job in Bulgaria, you should apply for a permit and a national visa category D.

Important: foreigners are taken to vacancies if there are no candidates among applicants with Bulgarian citizenship or a passport of the EU countries.

The presence of a residence permit does not automatically give you the right to find a job. You need to obtain permission from the municipal authority of the Ministry of Labor at the request of a potential employer. Permission is not required for the following categories of applicants:

• persons with permanent residence or long-term residence permit, members of their families;
• employees of foreign companies represented in Bulgaria;
• family members of highly qualified specialists with Blue Card;
• members of supervisory boards of local companies;
• persons in refugee status;
• who arrived in Bulgaria on humanitarian or political missions.

Citizens of other countries who arrived on student or retirement visas can also work. For the first category of applicants, the working week is limited to 20 hours, for the second - due to age, a very popular specialty is needed.

How companies find employees

Employment centers and recruiting agencies operate in Bulgaria, through which enterprises recruit staff and qualified personnel. Representatives of Bulgarian companies post vacancies on special portals. The most demanded work in Bulgaria for foreigners in the following areas:

• services (cooks, bartenders, waiters, hairdressers);
• mining and processing industry;
• machine operators, locksmiths, machine builders;
• clothing, chemical, food industry.

Companies are also looking for engineers, architects, financiers, accountants, doctors, educators, highly qualified IT specialists, drivers and builders.

What is required for employment

Ukrainian applicants need to meet certain requirements in order to find a job in Bulgaria for foreigners. You can get a job if you have a contract with an employer, a national visa and a permit. Should:

1. Find a suitable job.
2. Submit a request to the employer.
3. Get an invitation and successfully pass the interview.
4. Sign contract.
5. Issue a work permit.
6. Send a package of documents to the Bulgarian representation in Ukraine.

A work permit is granted upon the employer's request. Documents and application are submitted to the National Employment Agency. Part of the papers is sent by the applicant (personal documents). The second part of the papers is prepared by the employer. It takes 15-30 days to wait for a permit. The validity period is 1 year. Seasonal workers also need to issue a permit, but the validity period is equal to the period of work.

The second fundamental point is obtaining a long-term type D visa. To do this, you need to submit to the Consulate:

• questionnaire;
• a photo;
• medical insurance;
• certificate of non-conviction;
• an extract from the bank on the availability of money in the account;
• proof of residence in Bulgaria;
• certificate of knowledge of the official language of the country (on request);
• work permit and contract with the employer.

Applicants for employment need to know the Bulgarian language. Proficiency in English is an additional advantage for the candidate. A diploma in your specialty must be confirmed, especially for doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers.