Bulgaria Faces Challenges in Attracting Foreign Workers Post-Schengen Accession Due to Work Visa Delays

Key Takeaways

1. Bulgaria is facing challenges in attracting foreign workers, especially in the tourism industry.
2. Lengthy visa processing times are a major factor pushing businesses to seek workers from other countries.
3. Industry experts stress the urgent need for modernization of Bulgaria’s visa application system.

Schengen Membership Brings Benefits but Also Challenges

Bulgaria's full accession to the Schengen Zone has brought several advantages, yet it has also introduced new obstacles. One of the biggest struggles now is hiring foreign workers, particularly in the tourism sector.

According to a report by Novinite, businesses in Bulgaria are facing bureaucratic delays, outdated administrative procedures, and a lack of institutional coordination. These concerns were highlighted during a roundtable discussion on post-Schengen tourism challenges, organized by the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and SPA (BUBST).

Among the most pressing issues discussed was the prolonged processing time for work visas. Some hoteliers and recruitment agencies revealed that the excessive wait—often exceeding three months—has caused many potential workers to abandon the application process midway.

One hotelier noted that securing work permits for 80 employees required submitting over 1,000 pages of documentation, placing a heavy burden on both businesses and approval offices.

Additional Challenges for Foreign Workers

Foreign employees also face multiple hurdles when trying to start work in Bulgaria, including:

• Repeated visits to various institutions before officially beginning employment.
• Waiting up to two months to obtain a bank card.

Bulgaria mandates that companies with over 100 employees pay salaries via bank transfer. However, the delays in opening bank accounts result in postponed wages, with some employers even being fined for paying in cash.

Visa Processing Delays Due to Staffing and Budget Constraints

Officials from Bulgaria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that despite processing 2.8 million visa applications annually, budget constraints prevent the hiring of additional staff. The country operates 85 consular services worldwide but employs only 100 officials and 70 technical assistants. Efforts to secure more funding have so far been unsuccessful, exacerbating visa delays.

Calls for Visa System Modernization

Tourism industry representatives are urging Bulgaria to modernize its visa application system, including introducing electronic visa applications.

Tourism Minister Miroslav Borshosh has announced plans to form a working group to address both administrative and legislative barriers impacting businesses.

Bulgaria and Romania officially joined the Schengen Zone on January 1, 2025, for land and sea borders, marking full Schengen membership. A study from the Economic Research Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences estimates that Bulgaria’s Schengen accession could generate approximately €833.3 million in annual economic benefits.