Indian Doctors Compelled to Leave Bulgaria Due to Work Visa Denials

Indian Doctors in Bulgaria Face Deportation Due to Visa Issues

Key Points:

1. Two Indian doctors must leave Bulgaria as they lack valid work visas.
2. They had been working at a hospital in Pernik but were found to be on student visas instead of work permits.
3. The number of Indian medical professionals in the EU is expected to rise due to ongoing healthcare labor shortages.

Indian Doctors Ordered to Leave Bulgaria Over Work Visa Issues

Two Indian doctors employed at Pernik’s Rahila Angelova Multi-profile Hospital for Active Treatment must leave Bulgaria after failing to obtain work visas.

Hospital director Emil Nenkov confirmed that the two medics did not meet the legal visa requirements for foreign professionals working in the Schengen Area. A recent inspection by Bulgarian migration authorities revealed that they had entered the country on student visas but had not applied for the necessary work permits.

Doctors Given Until March to Depart Voluntarily

The two doctors, who graduated from Medical University in Pleven, have been given until the end of March to leave Bulgaria voluntarily. However, hospital management is actively working to legalize their stay and facilitate their return.

Rising Demand for Indian Medical Professionals in Europe

As European countries struggle with severe labor shortages in healthcare, the demand for Indian medical professionals is expected to grow. Nations such as France, Finland, Italy, Germany, and Ireland are anticipating an influx of Indian healthcare workers.

EU Countries Increasingly Rely on Indian Workers and Students

Amid tightening immigration policies in the UK, US, and Canada, many Indian professionals are now opting for European Union countries, where demand for skilled workers—especially in IT and healthcare—remains high.

Germany, in particular, is expanding its intake of Indian professionals. German Ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann, announced that the country will increase its annual visa grants for Indian skilled workers from 20,000 to 90,000 to address labor shortages, particularly in IT, nursing, and caregiving.

To attract more skilled workers, Germany has implemented major visa reforms, including:

• Reducing visa processing times from nine months to just two weeks
• Eliminating German language requirements for certain skilled jobs
• Lowering salary thresholds and education requirements

These measures aim to fill Germany’s 570,000+ job vacancies and meet growing labor market demands.