Skip to main content
RU
BulgariaResidence permit (qualified specialist)

EU Blue Card in Bulgaria

The EU Blue Card is a residence permit with the right to work for nationals of countries outside the European Union who are hired by a Bulgarian employer for a position requiring high qualifications. The permit combines the right to stay in the country and the right to work in a single document and confirms the status of a specialist with higher education or equivalent professional experience.

Visa term
The term of the contract plus 3 months, no longer than 4 years, renewable
Processing time
Up to 3 months by law, 1–2 months in practice
Work
Yes, for the employer, in a highly qualified position
Residence
Residence is compulsory

Source: mvr.bg — дирекция «Миграция», residence and work permits, “Синя карта на ЕС” procedure

Who can obtain it

The EU Blue Card in Bulgaria is issued by the Migration Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior to highly qualified specialists from outside the EU who have been hired by a Bulgarian employer.

Qualifications

  • Higher education obtained over no less than three academic years, evidenced by a diploma from an institution recognised in the country concerned
  • Or, for positions on the list approved by the Minister of Labour, officially confirmed professional experience at the level of higher education
  • For all other positions, at least five years of confirmed relevant experience at a level comparable to higher education

Terms of the employment contract

  • A fixed-term employment contract with a Bulgarian employer for a position requiring high qualifications
  • A contract term of no less than six months
  • A salary in the contract of at least one and a half times the average salary in Bulgaria over the 12 months before the contract is signed

Who files the application

  • The employer or a person authorised by the employer
  • The foreign national themselves, in the cases provided for by law
  • If the foreign national already lives lawfully in Bulgaria on another permit, the application can be filed without leaving the country

Documents to gather

The Migration Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior lists the documents in its Procedure for issuing the EU Blue Card and in the accompanying checklist.

  • An application in the standard form — Annex No. 3a to the Regulations implementing the ZChRB (the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act)
  • A copy of the passport or the document replacing it — the pages with the photograph and personal details
  • A criminal record certificate from the applicant's country of citizenship or country of habitual residence
  • Proof of secured accommodation
  • A written statement of reasons from the employer: why this particular foreign national is being hired and why candidates who are Bulgarian citizens or persons with equivalent rights were turned down (without attaching the job advertisements)
  • Legalised documents on education, qualifications and work experience, with a notarised or consular translation into Bulgarian
  • A declaration by the employer that the working and pay conditions for the foreign national are no worse than for Bulgarian citizens in the same position, naming the person concerned
  • A copy of the fixed-term employment contract certified by the employer, with the terms on accommodation, medical care, insurance and relocation
  • A copy of the job description, if it is not part of the text of the contract
  • A document showing that the requirements for a regulated profession are met — if the position is on the Council of Ministers list
  • Compulsory health insurance for the whole period of stay — for those not insured under the Bulgarian health insurance act
  • Any other documents required by Bulgarian law for the particular position

How the process runs

The procedure is set out in the Procedure for issuing the EU Blue Card, published by the Migration Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior for this permit.

  1. 1

    Filing the application

    The employer, an authorised representative or the foreign national files the application on paper or electronically with the Migration Directorate or its regional unit, together with the complete set of documents. If the foreign national already lives lawfully in Bulgaria or has been granted international protection, the application has to be filed no later than 60 days before the current permit expires.

  2. 2

    Checking the set of documents

    10 days

    The Migration Directorate checks the documents. If anything is missing, the applicant is given 10 days to supply it; if the deadline is missed, the proceedings on the application are terminated.

  3. 3

    Requesting opinions from the Employment Agency and the State Agency for National Security

    10 days

    The Migration Directorate forwards the application electronically to the Employment Agency and to the State Agency for National Security within 10 days of it being filed.

  4. 4

    Opinions of the agencies

    up to 10 days

    Within 10 days the Employment Agency gives a written opinion on whether there are grounds for highly qualified employment. Within the same period — or within 3 days where a visa application has already been filed — the State Agency for National Security gives its own opinion.

  5. 5

    Notifying the applicant

    3 days

    Once the positive opinions have been received, the Migration Directorate sends the applicant a message within three days confirming that the grounds for highly qualified employment have been established, and notifies the consular department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

  6. 6

    Filing the visa application

    up to 20 days

    Within 20 days of that message the foreign national has to file an application at the consulate for a long-stay visa under article 15(1) of the ZChRB.

  7. 7

    Appearing in person after entry

    7 days

    If the application was filed by the employer, the foreign national has to appear in person at the Migration Directorate or its regional unit within 7 days of entering Bulgaria on the visa and attach a copy of the passport page carrying the visa.

  8. 8

    Decision on the permit

    up to 3 months from the filing of the application

    The director of the Migration Directorate grants or refuses the EU Blue Card permit. Where the application was filed by the employer, the decision is taken within three days of the foreign national appearing in person; where the foreign national already held a residence permit in Bulgaria, within 60 days of the application being filed. The procedure as a whole may not last longer than three months, and where the case is legally and factually complex the period is extended by a further 15 days.

Who you can bring with you

The procedure separately covers moving to Bulgaria together with the family of a Blue Card holder whose card was issued by another EU state.

The spouse or partner and children of an EU Blue Card holder whose card was issued by another EU member state
They may move to Bulgaria together with the card holder for the same highly qualified employment, provided the holder has lawfully lived in the first EU country for at least 12 months. The application for the Bulgarian Blue Card is filed no later than one month after the foreign national enters Bulgaria; they may start work no later than 30 days after the application is filed.

Renewal and the grace period

The EU Blue Card permit is issued for up to five years, but for no less than 24 months. If the employment contract is shorter than 24 months, the permit is issued for the term of the contract increased by three months, but for no more than 24 months. The document can be re-issued as long as the grounds for it remain.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

EU Blue CardTrade representative officePensioners' residence permit
Visa termThe term of the contract plus 3 months, no longer than 4 years, renewableUsually 1 year, renewed annuallyUsually 1 year, renewed annually
GroundsIT and top specialistsRepresentative office of a foreign companyPensioners with sufficient means
WorkYes, for the employer, in a highly qualified positionNo; a representative office does not carry on commercial activityNo; a separate ground is needed in order to work
ResidenceResidence is compulsoryActual residence is expectedActual residence; absences break continuity

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

Counts; 5 years leads to permanent residence (periods in the EU are taken into account)

Route to citizenship

After permanent residence — the standard route

Frequently asked questions about EU Blue Card

What salary is needed for the EU Blue Card?
The salary stated in the employment contract has to be at least 1.5 times the average salary in Bulgaria according to the data for the 12 months before the contract is signed.
For how long is the EU Blue Card issued?
For up to five years, but for no less than 24 months. If the employment contract is shorter than 24 months, the permit is issued for the term of the contract plus three months, up to a maximum of 24 months.
How long does it take to review an EU Blue Card application?
The procedure as a whole may not last longer than three months from the filing of the application. Where the case is legally and factually complex, the Migration Directorate may extend the period by a further 15 days, notifying the applicant in writing.
Can I change employer once I hold an EU Blue Card?
Yes. During the first 12 months of highly qualified employment the new employer or the foreign national files a fresh application with part of the documents; the Employment Agency gives its opinion within 7 days, and the decision on the new permit is taken within 30 days of the application being filed. After the first 12 months a change of employer only requires a notification from the new employer to the Migration Directorate, without a new application.
What happens if an EU Blue Card holder loses their job?
If this happens during the first 24 months of highly qualified employment, they have three months to find and start new work, after registering with the Employment Agency within 7 working days of the employment contract ending. After the first 24 months this period is six months. Such a period of unemployment does not become a ground for withdrawing the card, provided it does not exceed those periods and occurs no more than once during the whole term of the card.
Who is not issued an EU Blue Card in Bulgaria?
It is not issued to foreign nationals who have already been granted the right to prodalzhitelno prebivavane under article 24m of the ZChRB, nor to family members of EU citizens who have exercised the right of free movement and received a residence permit under the act on the entry and residence of EU citizens in Bulgaria.
Can I move to Bulgaria on an EU Blue Card issued by another EU country?
Yes. A holder of an EU Blue Card issued by another EU member state who has lived there lawfully for at least 12 months may move to Bulgaria together with their family for the same highly qualified employment. The application is filed no later than one month after entering Bulgaria, and work may start no later than 30 days after the application is filed.

Other ways to move to Bulgaria

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Bulgaria.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 8 August 2026.