- Overview: Bulgaria
- Global HR Compliance
- Global PEO and Payroll
- Work permit for hiring expats via PEO
- Expand without a Company Set Up
- Contractor vs. employee: which is better?
Immigration support for hiring expats in Bulgaria via PEO
Global expansion is often linked with foreign hiring. This may require knowing the labor code of a foreign country, in-country incorporation peculiarities or immigration procedure in case of expats hiring.
If you are already hiring or planning to onboard expatriates for your international projects in Bulgaria, there is a range of things that you need to consider:
- HR compliance
- How to get a work permit or visa so that foreigners are eligible to work in Bulgaria
- Timelines to get a permit or visa
- How to payroll expats after the permits have been received
- Whether it makes sense to open and keep your own business entity to employ expats directly
A global PEO or Employer of Record solution with immigration support might be a viable alternative to direct hiring of expats on your own company in Bulgaria. This solution gives companies freedom from the need to keep the entity in the country while employing expats in full compliance with Bulgarian labor legislation. Immigration support is part of a PEO service that precedes the employment. As a PEO service provider, Acumen International can sponsor a work permit and then employ an expat in Bulgaria on the client’s behalf.
Note: having one provider that sponsors a work permit or visa on your behalf and then employs expats in Bulgaria, minimizes risks of visa rejection and takes the hassle associated with immigration procedure off your head.
Attention: we are not an immigration service! We do not provide a work permit and immigration support as a standalone solution to individuals willing to work overseas.
Our ‘work permit and hiring expats through a Global PEO’ solution is designed for employer companies that want to transfer selected expats to Bulgaria or individuals whose employers are ready to finance their immigration and foreign employment in the country. The service is mainly used by companies hiring highly skilled personnel and willing to retain them by offering employee status and providing employee benefits.
Unlike other global Professional Employer Organizations, Acumen International can provide extra benefits in addition to work permit and employment of expats in Bulgaria. This includes medical insurance, housing, office rent, mobile phone and car provision to meet-and-greet, dependents relocation, etc.
Focus on your primary business goals and let us take care of the work permit and immigration in Bulgaria for you. Use our all-in-one solution:
- For long-term assignments in Bulgaria, allowing to payroll and manage expats with full legal compliance without a legal entity
- As an interim solution before incorporating in the country
Solution for global mobility of expats in Bulgaria
Acumen International will guide you through a grueling immigration procedure and will help you immediately onboard and payroll expats after they have received a work permit or visa. Use our global mobility and PEO solution to staff any international assignments in Bulgaria without the pitfalls and financial risks associated with hiring expatriate personnel there.
With our expertise in expats immigration and employment, we offer a comprehensive solution to ensure that your international employees get their work permits within the standard duration of the immigration service in Bulgaria. Learn more about the timelines requirements for getting a work permit in Bulgaria below.
Estimated time for work permit issuance
Typically, the procedure of work permit issuance in Bulgaria takes from 2 to 7 months until entry to Bulgaria, and a further 2 weeks to 1 month before the entire process is completed.
Major steps to get a work permit in Bulgaria
- Labour Market Search
- Work Permit Application
- Visa Application
- Entry to Bulgaria
- Address Registration
- Employment Notification
- Residence Permit Application
Documents for work permit in Bulgaria, main applicant
| Name | Notes | Copies |
| Copy of all pages of passport valid for 3 months beyond intended date of departure | Passport must have been issued within the last ten years. | One clear copy |
| Legalised Educational Certificates | Diplomas or certificates relating to applicant’s field of expertise, legalized or Apostilled for use in Bulgaria and accompanied by a translation into Bulgarian. | One certified and translated copy; one legalized original |
| Resume/CV | Showing relevant professional experience and education. | One clear copy |
| 2 Passport Photographs 3.5cm x 4.5cm | 3.5cm x 4.5cm, in color, with a white background. Face forward, mouth closed, eyes open. | Two originals |
| D Visa Application Form | Completed and signed. Note that the example in the link is from the Bulgarian Embassy in London. | One original |
| D Visa Application Fees | May vary depending on jurisdiction and exchange rate but is approximately 90 GBP payable in cash or postal order. | One original |
| Proof of Temporary Accommodation | Confirmed hotel reservations, stating name, address and telephone number of the hotel, including confirmation number. Confirmed accommodation if not a hotel, stating name, address and telephone number of the lodging place. | One clear copy |
| Legalised Police Clearance | A police clearance certificate from the applicant’s country of residence must be submitted for the D visa application. This must also be legalized or Apostilled for use in Bulgaria and accompanied by a translation into Bulgarian. | One clear, certified and translated copy; one legalized original |
| Valid Passport | One original | |
| Lease contract for residence in host country | Signed by all parties. Copy acceptable, but original may be requested at the discretion of the authorities. | One clear copy |
| Bank statements | Bank statements for the previous year showing a credit balance. | One clear copy |
| Residence Permit Application Form | The application form is in Bulgarian and some English but must be completed in Bulgarian. | One original |
| Residence Permit Application Fees | To be paid at the bank in the immigration office. | One original |
If you need to have your expat personnel legally work for you in Bulgaria without having to set up your own business entity for that, trust us to assist you with work permit and immigration support, and then employ your expats locally on your behalf.
Contact our team to let us take up your foreign employees’ immigration matters and relieve you of the responsibility of getting work permit by working with our local partners to organize and obtain all the necessary permits, as well as provide you with a detailed update on the progress of the process.
Contact us for more details about how you can get a work permit for your expatriate staff and employ them through Acumen International in Bulgaria.
