Last updated: 02.07.2024
Third-country citizens (outside the EU) have the right to work in Bulgaria for up to 90 days or up to 9 months. You can read more about the first type of seasonal employment – up to 90 days – here. In this article we will provide basic information about how to hire a third country citizen to work in Bulgaria for 9 months.
What is a seasonal worker?
According to Bulgarian law, a seasonal worker is a third-country citizen whose main place of residence is in a third country and resides legally and temporarily in the Republic of Bulgaria in order to perform seasonal work under one or more fixed-term employment contracts concluded with a local employer.
What are necessary documents?
In order to hire a foreigner for a period of up to 9 months, the foreigner should be issued the so-called residence and work permit type “Permit for seasonal worker”. It is issued by the Ministry of Interior. It also contains a positive written statement of employment from the Employment Agency. Our company can prepare all the necessary documents. With the latest amendments to the law from May 2024, the foreigner is no longer obliged to provide education, vocational qualification and work experience documents.
The only document your prospective employee is required to provide is a criminal record. It must be legalised and accompanied by a Bulgarian translation notarized by the Consular Relations Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
All application documents are submitted to the Migration Directorate or to the department/sector/group “Migration” at the regional directorates of the Ministry of Interior by the employer or an authorised person. The application is reviewed by several bodies, including the State Agency for National Security and the Employment Agency.
In which sectors can seasonal workers be employed?
The same as seasonal workers up to 90 days, workers up to 9 months can be employed in the following fields:
- Agriculture;
- Forestry;
- Fisheries;
- Hotel business and
- Restaurant business.
Can the issued permit be extended?
The permit is initially issued for a period of not less than 90 days and not more than 9 months within every 12 months. However, it can be extended once for another period of 9 months in case of employment contract extension with the same employer or in case of changing the employer. When the permit expires, but while the procedure for extension or renewal is in progress, the foreigner is entitled to reside in Bulgaria until a decision is made. The condition is: it must be submitted within the period of validity of the permit. Seasonal workers, who have worked at least once in Bulgaria in the last 5 years, benefit from an accelerated procedure.
What are the new moments in this procedure?
After the amendment of the law in May 2024, the obligation of the worker to provide documents for specialised knowledge, skills and professional experience was abolished. Some of the employer’s obligations have also dropped. He no longer has to prove that the total number of third-country nationals with a long-term residence permit working for him in the previous 12 months does not exceed 20 percent of the average number of employees on the employment contract, and for small and medium-sized enterprises – 35 per hundred. In the future, the employer will no longer have to prove that the working and payment conditions offered to the foreigner are not less favorable than the conditions for Bulgarian citizens for the relevant category of work. The question of whether the foreign seasonal worker can remain in Bulgaria after the expiry of the 9-month seasonal employment is also settled. Yes, if he has been granted a residence permit in the Republic of Bulgaria other than:
- Long-term residence permit for the purpose of employment as a seasonal worker;
- “Single residence and work permit”;
- “EU Blue Card” or
- Residence for the purposes of intra-corporate transfer.
If you want to hire a foreigner for seasonal employment for up to 9 months, you can contact us for legal assistance and preparation of all necessary documents. Our company strives to complete the procedure for hiring a seasonal worker as quickly and easily as possible for the client. You can reach us through our CONTACT US page.
