40% of Foreign Workers Moved to Another EU Country After Obtaining a Work Permit in Bulgaria

Key Points

1. Forty percent of third-country nationals who obtained a work permit in Bulgaria have moved to other EU countries.
2. This situation has prompted Bulgarian authorities to consider implementing new measures to regulate the hiring of workers from non-EU countries.
3. Although their visa allows them to travel freely within the EU, their work permit is only valid in Bulgaria.

According to data from the Ministry of Interior, 40 percent of third-country nationals who were granted work permits in Bulgaria have relocated to other European Union countries.

This ongoing issue has led Bulgarian authorities to consider new regulations for employing third-country nationals.

A report from Fakti highlighted this problem, which became evident after the disappearance of seasonal workers from Sunny Beach. Many foreign workers who receive work visas from Bulgaria end up moving to other EU countries.

While these visas allow for free travel within the EU, the work permits are only valid in Bulgaria.

Maria Mincheva, Deputy President of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce, noted that this situation creates problems for employees, employers, and EU member states.

Over 12,000 Work Permits Issued in 2023

Data from the Employment Agency (EA) shows that from January 1 to November 17, 2023, over 12,000 non-EU nationals were granted various types of work permits in Bulgaria.

EA statistics reveal that 1,556 workers from non-EU countries received work permits in the first 11 months of the previous year.

Most of these workers were from the following countries:

- Türkiye (1,309)
- Kyrgyz Republic (75)
- Russia (43)

From January 1 to November 23 of the same year, 6,837 non-EU nationals registered for seasonal employment in Bulgaria for up to 90 days.

Most of these seasonal workers were employed in the hotel, catering, agriculture, fisheries, and forestry industries, primarily in resorts such as Sunny Beach, Albena, Golden Sands, Nessebar, Bansko, and Razlog.

Most of these seasonal workers were from:

- Kyrgyz Republic (2,033)
- Türkiye (1,364)
- Moldova (1,058)

Over 2,000 Foreigners with Long-Term Residence and Work Rights

Data from the Migration Directorate shows that in the first 11 months of last year, 2,134 third-country nationals were granted long-term residence and work rights in Bulgaria through the EU Blue Card program.

From January to November, a total of 879 third-country nationals were granted the right to permanent residence and work in Bulgaria.

To address labor shortages in several sectors, Bulgaria has established bilateral agreements with several countries, including Israel and Moldova.