When a Bulgarian employer needs to hire a highly qualified specialist from outside the EU, the EU Blue Card is usually the best tool available. It combines residence and work rights in one document, valid for up to five years, and spares the employer two of the heaviest burdens of the ordinary single permit: advertising the job to look for local candidates first, and staying within the cap on foreign staff. A short written justification for hiring the specialist is still required.
Do you qualify?
The salary condition is the one that most often decides the matter. It is measured against official average-wage statistics for the preceding period, so it rises over time — check the current figure when the offer is made, not months earlier.
Why employers prefer it
| Single permit | EU Blue Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour market test | Job advertisements plus written justification | Written justification only |
| Cap on foreign staff (20% / 35%) | Applies | Does not apply (Art. 17(1) of the Labour Migration and Labour Mobility Act) |
| Maximum duration | Up to 3 years | Up to 5 years |
| Changing employer | New procedure needed | Simplified after 12 months |
| Salary floor | None specific | 1.5 × national average |
The procedure
Access to the labour market
The employer files the documents with the Migration Directorate, which seeks the opinions of the Employment Agency and the State Agency for National Security. With both opinions positive, access to the labour market is granted.
Type D visa
The specialist attends an interview at a Bulgarian consulate and receives a long-stay visa.
The card
After arrival — with the NACID certificate recognising a foreign degree, where one is relied on — the Migration Directorate decides within three days, and the card is then produced.
What the card gives
- Residence and work in one document, for up to five years.
- Easier job changes — after the first 12 months of highly qualified employment, the holder can move to a new employer through a simplified procedure.
- Family — spouses and children can join under favourable reunification rules and receive permits for the duration of the card.
- Mobility in the EU — Blue Card holders benefit from simplified rules on moving to another member state after a period of residence.
We recently obtained three Blue Cards for specialist engineers joining a defence-industry manufacturer — a good example of how the route lets employers fill critical roles without job advertising or a quota calculation.
Questions clients ask
Our candidate has no degree but long experience. Can they still qualify?
Possibly. At least five years of professional experience in a job that requires higher education can replace the degree — three years within the last seven for ICT managers and specialists. The evidence — references, contracts, descriptions of past roles — needs to be strong and specific.
Can the family come at the same time?
Blue Card holders benefit from more favourable family reunification rules than ordinary permit holders. We usually prepare the family’s documents in parallel so they can follow quickly.
What happens if the salary falls below the threshold later?
The salary condition must continue to be met for the card to remain valid and be renewed. Any planned change in pay or hours should be checked first.
This guide is general information about Bulgarian law as it stood on the date of publication. It is not legal advice for your specific case.
