Radio Bulgaria, as a program of the BNR published in 11 languages, has an audience spread over six continents. Part of it has a special attitude towards our country and wants to learn more about its history, culture, traditions and present-day life, and another wants to get acquainted with a different and completely unknown culture for them. Some of these people, driven by their desire to get to know Bulgaria more closely, decide not only to visit it as tourists but also to take advantage of the opportunities for work. Therefore, in a series of publications, we tell you about the documents giving foreign citizens the right to work in Bulgaria. Some of these documents are issued by the Ministry of the Interior with a positive opinion from the director of the Employment Agency, others are issued by the head of the Employment Agency, and based on them the Ministry of Interior issues a residence permit.

The first of these documents, which we present, is the Blue Card of the European Union, which is a permit for long-term residence and work in EU countries for citizens of third countries.

                                                          Who issues the Blue Card?

It is issued by the Ministry of the Interior with the permission of the director of the Employment Agency for access to the Bulgarian labor market.

                                             For what type of employment is it issued?

For highly qualified employment of third-country nationals with a local employer. It is a residence permit for the purpose of work.

                                                        How is qualification verified?

• High professional qualification - certified by a document of higher education acquired after no less than three academic years, or

• High degree of professional skills - an official document certifying professional experience at a level comparable to an acquired higher education, or at least five years of professional experience related to the position or sector specified in the employment agreement.

                                                          What is the period of validity?

For a period of up to 5 years, but not shorter than 24 months.

Other terms:

• It is not required that the foreigner with permitted right of long-term residence in the country, when initially applying for a Blue Card, be outside the territory of Bulgaria.

• It is issued for positions for which Bulgarian citizenship is not required by law.

• The term of the employment contract should not be shorter than 6 months.

• The gross salary specified in the foreigner's employment agreement must be at least 1.5 times higher than the average salary in Bulgaria for the last 12 months prior to the conclusion of the employment contract.

                                                       Where is the application submitted?

An application for the issuance of a permit is submitted on paper or electronically to the Migration Directorate or to the regional directorates of the Ministry of the Interior by the employer or a person authorized by him or by the foreigner. When the foreigner has a long-term residence permit, or has been granted international protection, the deadline for submitting the application is up to 60 days before the expiration of the residence permit.

Important! If the "Migration" Directorate finds there is a document missing, it is required from the applicant. If the applicant does not submit the required document within 10 days, the procedure for issuing a "Blue Card" is terminated.

                                             More specific documents for issuing EU Blue Card:

• Certificate of criminal record - from the country of which the foreigner is a citizen, or from the country of their habitual residence;

• Evidence of housing;

• Justification of the request - the employer indicates the circumstances necessitating the employment of a citizen from a third country instead of Bulgarian citizens or foreigners with equivalent rights.

How long does the procedure for issuing an EU Blue Card long-term residence and work permit take?

No more than three months.

See also:

• Conditions for employment of foreigners in Bulgaria

• Thousands of workers from abroad come to fill in the job vacancies in Bulgaria

Compiled by: Miglena Ivanova

Publication in English: Al. Markov

Photos: Freepik.com, pixabay, library