Work in Burgas for Russians. Work in Bulgaria for Russians. Work visa process

Back in 2008, I went to an English course in Moscow for a while, and our group had a young teacher from Bulgaria named Vanya. Today I understand perfectly well that she knew Russian well, but then she skillfully disguised herself, speaking exclusively in English and pretending that she did not understand Russian in principle. I went to the courses for about half a year, and I remembered Vanya at the end of 2010, when my family (wife, daughter and cat) and I moved to Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. A slight irony of fate.

Hello to all readers!

I wanted to go to live abroad for a long time, ever since I graduated from university. Unlike many emigrants, I did not have any dislike for my native country, because of which “I urgently need to start the tractor.” No, I was just driven by curiosity, the very opportunity to live and work in a different country, among a different culture, people. A kind of feeling of a traveler, which makes you break away from your habitable places in search of new unexplored territories.

I considered various options: Australia, USA, Canada. Bulgaria did not appear on this list in any way, until a friend advised me to pay attention to this country. I figured out business options that could be organized there (I no longer planned to work for hire, besides, the opportunity to build my own business also occupied my thoughts for a long time), issued a tourist visa and went on exploration to the capital of Bulgaria - Sofia.

To be honest, I was not very impressed with Sofia on my first visit. A poor city, with destroyed sidewalks and graffiti-painted walls of houses, gray buildings everywhere, some abandoned industrial zones ... In general, I had the feeling that I found myself in Bratislava from the Eurotour movie. In addition, immediately upon arrival I was cheated by an unscrupulous taxi driver for 40 euros (although an official taxi to the city center will cost no more than 8-10 euros). The room in the famous Pliska Hotel, where the travel agent checked me in, was shabby, in addition, at night I woke up from the rustle of cockroaches in the shower. Breakfast at the hotel was disgusting, wi-fi worked with great difficulty. In general, then another place for 30 euros (by the way, this hotel was finally closed for reconstruction soon).

After a couple of days of getting to know the city, my opinion began to change little by little, which further confirmed in me the idea that one should not trust only first impressions: something pleasantly surprising can be hidden behind an unsightly facade.

The first thing that struck me after Moscow was the people. Smiling, polite, unhurried, sociable. They always suggested the way, while trying to almost go with me to the place. Taxi drivers turned out to be cheerful talkers, asking all the way about Russia and Moscow, while managing to tell their long life stories and along the way scolding their own government (“sold out to the Americans”). Upon returning to Moscow, I caught myself thinking: during the whole time of my trip, not a single Bulgarian complained about his own life.

The second thing that pleased me was the mild climate. My first trip was at the end of September, it was very warm during the day (although after sunset it became noticeably colder), and very dry. At the same time, there was no dust on the streets at all, I don’t know why this happens, because no one washes the roads here, unlike in Moscow. The roads, by the way, although not as smooth as in Moscow, are quite tolerable, and better in quality than in the same native Ryazan.

Sofia is located almost in the center of the Balkans at the foot of Vitosha Mountain in a kind of pit, surrounded on all sides by mountains. For this reason, it is almost never windy in Sofia, which I personally really like. It is by no means tropics here, there is a change of seasons, but the alignment of summer / autumn / winter / spring here is completely different than in central Russia. From about April to mid-October, there is a hot and dry summer with occasional heavy rains and noisy thunderstorms. Then there is a brief autumn until December, which is not much different from summer, just not as hot. And then winter comes with terrible frosts right up to -10 degrees (it happens several times during the whole winter). On average, the temperature in winter here is about zero, snow can fall only a couple of times throughout the winter, and usually in mid-February, winter is already over, and a warm spring sets in, which, with its frequent light rains, helps local farmers to grow an excellent crop.

Sofia is also notable for the fact that it is enough to drive 50 kilometers from the city, and you find yourself in the kingdom of the most beautiful mountain passes, where you can explore wild caves.

The city inherited a lot from the Soviet era, but over the past decades, the architecture of the city has changed a lot. And typical Bulgarian houses today look something like this:

The city has a lot of greenery, flowers (roses are especially beautiful in spring). Apricot trees and pears grow everywhere, whose fruits fill everything in the district in autumn.

A scattering of small restaurants throughout the city allow you to have a bite to eat or a hearty lunch at any time. For this reason, by the way, Bulgarians do not bother with cooking homemade food, preferring to go to a cafe nearby with their family after work to have a full dinner in the fresh air. Prices are quite democratic: a full three-course dinner will cost about 10 euros per person with beer and wine. The most curious thing is that prices in restaurants are almost identical throughout the city, I did not observe a spread with rare exceptions like some Greek restaurant with VIP service.

Since I mentioned prices, it's worth going over the entire, so to speak, consumer basket. Prices will be announced in euros, although the native Bulgarian currency is the lev, but it is rigidly pegged to the euro as 2 to 1 (2 levs for 1 euro). So, briefly:

Renting a luxury three-room apartment with a complete renovation and furniture in relative proximity to the city center - 350-500 euros. The rental process is not much different from Russia: the search is mainly through an agent (takes an average of 50% commission), an agreement is drawn up, and a deposit in the amount of a monthly payment is made when hiring. Everything is standard, everything is transparent. Analogue of the local CYANA - https://www.imot.bg

Utility bills will vary greatly depending on whether you have a CHP (central heating) in your house, or electric boilers. There is no gas in Sofia, so cooking is carried out only with electric stoves. In the summer, my bill came out to about 25 euros for electricity and water, while in winter the bills reached 150 euros (I don’t like it when it’s cold at home).

Food prices are noticeably lower (approximately 1.5 times) than in Moscow stores. And here they don’t suffer from such cunning marketing moves, when milk is sold in a 900 ml package instead of a liter, and beer began to be bottled in 0.4 liter cans instead of the classic 0.5 liter. Fruit is noticeably cheaper: cherries at 1 euro per kilogram per season.

To summarize by prices, I’ll say that for a budget of 1500-2000 euros for a family of three, you can live happily ever after without denying yourself anything (including a paid kindergarten, for which we paid 250 euros a month).

By the way, about salaries. The average salary for a programmer with a minimum experience of 1-2 years here is around 1000 euros, the salaries of experienced specialists reach 1500-2000 euros. It would seem that there is no comparison with Moscow, but, again, this money is quite enough for a quality life with the ability to save some of it in a piggy bank. In Bulgaria, unemployment is quite high, on the other hand, they are looking for good specialists here in the afternoon with fire. Experienced programmers often go to Germany / England, or work remotely for customers from other countries. The analogue of the local hh is https://www.jobs.bg . There are also recruitment agencies, but they are kind of stupid in my opinion, it is better to look for work directly.

Vacancies in IT are diverse, they are looking for PHP, C++, Java, and other languages/technologies. There is also a classic website development, there is also a complex backend. In Sofia there are both large representative offices of well-known companies: Microsoft, VMWare, EPAM, as well as offers from small local companies. Later I will tell you more about the features of employment in Bulgaria, now I will mention only one important point: good English is required. For local Bulgarians, this is not a problem, because. Young people here know English without fail, this language is already being taught in kindergartens, and the teaching is very high quality.

I also want to briefly talk about what ways there are to officially obtain a residence permit in this country. Bulgaria is a member of the European Union (at the same time, they don’t want to let Schengen in), so many laws (including migration laws) are similar to the laws of the rest of the EU. You can officially obtain a residence permit in several ways, quite standard for all European countries:

1. Be a representative of a foreign company. A fairly common method, but has its own characteristics. I used this method.
2. Get married / marry a Bulgarian / Bulgarian.
3. Make an investment in the Bulgarian economy in the amount of 500,000 euros. I think that if you have such finances, then you can manage them in the best way.
4. To be a unique figure who has made a cultural and other contribution to the development of Bulgaria. We also dismiss this method if you are not Philip Kirkorov.
5. Open your own company in Bulgaria, where you need to hire at least 10 Bulgarian citizens (with the payment of salaries and taxes, of course). The method is quite realistic if you have certain finances and you really want to open your company here.
6. Retire:-) There is an agreement between the Russian Federation and Bulgaria on the “exchange of pensioners”. If you have a pension (the size is not important), then you can get a residence permit on this basis. At the same time, you can receive a pension from the Russian Federation already in Bulgaria.

Previously, there was another way - these were the so-called "small investments": it is enough to buy an apartment in Bulgaria (you can even on the seashore) for 20-30,000 euros, and then the lawyer draws up this transaction as a small investment, and you received a residence permit. But in 2013 (or the 14th, I don’t remember, to be honest) this item was removed from the law, and everyone who had a residence permit on this basis was given about a month to either change their argument to be on the territory of Bulgaria, or leave the country .

“But what about a work visa?” - you ask. But no way. It is very difficult to get, almost impossible. The employer is made such requirements for hiring foreigners that it is much easier for him to find among his own, or to work with a foreign employee remotely. Of the conditions, we can mention the requirement to place a vacancy on the labor exchange and prove that for a certain time they could not find the right employee among the Bulgarian citizens (this is the so-called clause “a foreign worker must have unique knowledge or specialty”), high “white” wages, mandatory essay on higher education. In general, my lawyer initially advised not to waste time trying to get this visa, but to go through the registration of a representative office.
(upd) - today it became easier, I'll tell you more later

The procedure for obtaining a residence permit is quite transparent. You draw up a reason (a representative office of a company, a marriage document, etc.), go to the Bulgarian embassy (in Moscow it is located on Mosfilmovskaya street), and apply for a D visa (immigrant visa). The processing time for this visa is approximately 2 months. And already with this visa you arrive in Bulgaria, where you go to the police (Directorate of Migration, an analogue of our FMS), where you already apply for a residence permit.
A residence permit is issued for a period of six months to 1 year, this fact depends on the city in which you apply and which employee will consider it. Further, the visa is extended, and so on up to 5 years. After that, you can already apply for a long-term residence permit (long-term residence permit) or permanent residence (permanent residence). These visas have already been valid for 5 years and are also being extended. The difference between these visas is minimal. Citizenship can be obtained after 10 years of residence in Bulgaria, and then - with a number of requirements.

There are quite a few nuances, and I would not advise you to deal with all the paperwork on your own. It is much easier to transfer these cases to a Bulgarian lawyer, who will do everything for you on a turn-key basis for 1000 euros (I can give you the contact of a lawyer whom I personally trust, and who prepared the documents for me and many of my friends).

That's all for now, I won't bore the readers. In the next part, I will tell you more about my move, about what I decided to do in this country, how my family and I settled here, and why Bulgaria is an ideal place for family freelancers with children.

P.S. Bulgaria is watching you:

UPD. In a few days I will publish the second part, where I will definitely mention important changes in the field of migration: since July, official explanations have been issued to the Migration Directorate, where the rules for obtaining a residence permit through representative offices have been tightened. From now on, it is not possible to issue a representative office for a “zero” company, we need an office and so on, I’ll tell you in more detail.
On the other hand, there is good news for IT people: since the spring of this year, an official list of specialties especially needed by the country has been published in Bulgaria, which includes programmers / system administrators. A working visa (Blue Card) can now be issued much easier and faster. Wait for news)

Bulgaria, as a country of interest for employment, began to be noticed by immigrants from the moment of joining the European Union. Those wishing to find work abroad saw Bulgaria as one of the profitable regions, where in the future high earnings and prestigious vacancies would be provided. However, the real state of affairs turned out to be different. Nevertheless, hopes for progress still remain. The statistics of immigration to Bulgaria on work visas remains at the level of previous years.

The economic situation in Bulgaria and the unemployment rate

After 2000, the efforts of the Bulgarian authorities to ensure economic growth were crowned with success. For several years in a row, there has been a positive shift with growth rates of about 6% annually. However, as a result of the global crisis in 2008, the economic recovery in the country stopped. Then a recession followed.

In 2018, the economic picture in Bulgaria is optimistic: a record low unemployment rate over the past 9 years (5.3%) has already been recorded.

Entrepreneurs, for their part, complain that there is no one to fill their announced job vacancies, while the country's economy is recording an annual GDP growth of approximately 4% with the prospect of further growth.

http://bnr.bg/ru/post/100924082

Ways to find a job in Bulgaria

Foreigners find jobs and vacancies on their own, with the help of employment agencies, through appeals to the labor exchange. Independent search is usually aimed at studying offers in newspapers, viewing thematic sites, bulletin boards. However, in this case, you need to know the Bulgarian language well. A lot of relevant information in the form of ads is provided, for example, on portals:

• worka.bg ,
• CeeVee,
• Talent.bg.

There are many employment agencies in the country, which also solve employment issues. Among such structures there are state and private ones. The State Employment Agency of Bulgaria is one of the productive ways to find a job according to your interests and specialty.

Bulgarian labor exchanges are now actively moving into the interactive space. Therefore, a significant part of the vacancies in Bulgaria can be quickly found on the Internet. It makes sense to refer to the resources:

• Zaplata.Bg ,
• New People Ltd.,
• Buljob,
• job agents,
• Jobs.bg.

Various consulting companies also operate on the labor market in Bulgaria. True, these intermediary structures offer more and more complex solutions for business. Nevertheless, the selection of workers and maintenance personnel is part of their activities. So, it makes sense to search in this information space. The most notable are "Synthetics Consult" and "Polykontakt".

... I, as the spouse of a citizen of Bulgaria, who has the status of a residence permit, also cannot work, because they do not accept, referring to the fact that I do not have the right to work with the status of a residence permit. It remains only to organize something of your own ...

http://peopleandcountries.com/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=917&pid=9337

List of in-demand professions in 2018

In the Bulgarian labor market, professions for industries remain in demand:

• agriculture, forestry, fishing,
• mining industry,
• production of electricity, thermal energy,
• car and motorcycle repair,
• construction, transport, warehouse service,
• hotel and restaurant business,
• health and social activities,
• textile production.

Average and minimum salary in the country

The level of remuneration differs somewhat depending on the field of activity and the area of ​​employment. So, for Sofia and suburbs, the average monthly salary varies from 950 to 1300 BGN (36,000 - 50,000 rubles). However, in the same Southwestern region, in the city of Blagoevgrad, workers receive no more than 630 BGN (24,000 rubles) per month. At the enterprises of the mining industry, electric power industry, financiers, you can earn an average of 1,500 BGN (57,000 rubles) per month. The highest monthly salary is 2,100 BGN (80,000 rubles) for IT specialists, and the lowest is 580 BGN (22,000 rubles) in the hotel and restaurant business.

…If they are interested in you as a specialist, they will do everything.
We have a Russian enterprise here. Muscovites work there. Especially in order to officially arrange them, the labor exchange starts up an application that an employee is required. This information is not widely distributed. Then they take confirmation from there that the worker was not found among the Bulgarians ...

http://peopleandcountries.com/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=917&pid=14809

Stage of official employment

Official employment in Bulgaria, of course, must be preceded by the procedure for obtaining permission to stay in this country temporarily or permanently. In turn, you can visit the country and stay there for some time only after obtaining the appropriate visa. But even before the start of processing an entry document, each potential immigrant must understand for himself that legal employment in Bulgaria becomes possible, as a rule, in three cases:

• the foreigner has an official invitation from the employer,
• a foreign citizen opens his own business,
• a foreigner has a unique and highly demanded profession in Bulgaria.

The first and last points are actually interconnected. In 99 cases out of 100, it is possible to get an invitation from an employer only if there is a profession in demand. Uninvited immigrants who try to find work on their own, without high qualifications, are rarely successful. Such is the specificity of the current Bulgarian labor market, where there is a lack of work for the local population, where there is a high level of competition even for low-skilled vacancies.

After joining the EU, the Bulgarian government amended the Law on Education. According to these changes, only certificates, certificates, diplomas of the European standard are recognized in the country. This moment exacerbated the already difficult situation on the Bulgarian labor market for immigrants. Now highly qualified specialists from Eastern Europe, including Russia, need to confirm their qualifications for compliance with European standards.

... I have been living in BG for more than a year. Obtaining a work permit for a foreigner from the relevant department is rare. I faced such a precedent only once - this is a doctor. He's been pushing for this for a long time. On the same basis, and is in the country - "private practice". This is an isolated case...

a guest

http://www.bglife.ru/threads/1199/page-6#post-231736

The subtleties of obtaining a work visa to Bulgaria

Official employment opportunities in Bulgaria are directly related to the residence permit. If an immigrant (Russian, Ukrainian, Kazakhstani) has received a temporary residence permit in the country and has lived in this status for at least 5 years, the authorities open access to permanent residence in Bulgaria (permanent residence). In turn, permanent residence is the receipt of a personal immigrant card and permission for official employment without restrictions.

Therefore, for those immigrants who go to Bulgaria for the purpose of work, an immigrant visa is best suited. A document of the "D" series, which is issued to foreign citizens who are counting on a long-term stay in the country. Bulgarian visa "D" is issued for 180 days and has no entry / exit restrictions.

The issuance of such documents is carried out by the diplomatic / consular missions of Bulgaria located on the territory of other countries. It is possible to apply for and obtain a “D” visa only if there are grounds for entry into Bulgaria. Such grounds may be:

• getting an education,
• business creation,
• reunion with relatives
• work under an employment contract,
• investment in the country's economy.

The package of documents that the consulate requests for a “D” visa:

• completed application form from the applicant,
• two photos 35x45 mm, color, on a white background,
• international passport,
• copies of important pages of the civil passport,
• a document confirming the presence of a temporary place of residence in Bulgaria,
• a document confirming the availability of the necessary funds,
• certificate from the police about the absence of a criminal record,
• medical insurance,
• a check for payment of decoration services for €100.

The entire package of documents for obtaining a visa requires translation into Bulgarian. It may also be necessary to confirm the authenticity of some papers by a notary.

A temporary residence permit in Bulgaria is issued for 1 year. Two weeks before the expiration of the residence permit, immigrants need to renew their status. The renewal procedure consists in updating the documents submitted during the initial registration - medical insurance, a certificate of financial security, an immigrant's personal card and others.

... Unfortunately, it is so difficult to find employment here that I'm afraid it will be almost impossible for even the best specialist to get a job - there are enough of their own (even if often unskilled) ...

http://rufamilyinbg.ru/about/

Work permit for foreigners, including Russians

The Decree of the Ministry of Employment of Bulgaria No. 77 of 2002 states that foreigners receive work permits on the basis of an employment contract. In addition, a permit may be issued within the framework of business trips, the duration of which is more than 3 months. Permits are issued by the State Employment Agency. The document is issued for up to 1 year with the right to extend. To obtain a permit, the employer must provide a package of documents:

• declaration of the established form,
• justification for filing the declaration,
• documents confirming the qualifications and education of a foreign worker,
• a copy of the employee's foreign passport,
• three photographs of the job applicant,
• copies of the registration of the company in the BCCI (Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry),
• declaration on the number of employees of the enterprise (Bulgarians/foreigners),
• an employment contract concluded between the employee and the employer, which will enter into force immediately after the issuance of the permit,
• a statement of the state of affairs of the company.

The permit for foreigners does not give them the right to apply for positions where there are requirements for applicants to have Bulgarian citizenship. The Bulgarian authorities recommend employers to hire immigrants based on the current state of the economy and the level of development of the national labor market. Employers should also take into account the interests of the Bulgarian society in the first place when deciding on employment issues.

Thus, for the Bulgarian employer, the process of hiring foreign workers is accompanied by the solution of difficult tasks. Therefore, firms in Bulgaria are reluctant to deal with immigrants, even if job applicants are qualified professionals.

Another thing - immigrants who managed to obtain the status of permanent residence in Bulgaria. In this case, foreigners do not need to obtain a work permit. There is also no need to obtain permission for immigrants working under international programs and agreements. Remarkably, the displaced people, whom the authorities considered refugees, also do not need work permits.

It is not allowed to hire foreigners if:

• their number in the company will exceed 10% of the total number of employees,
• the working conditions of immigrants are worse and their wages are lower than those established for Bulgarian citizens,
• monetary remuneration is less than the established minimum wage.

Consequences for trying to illegally get a job in Bulgaria

A five-year term for obtaining a permanent place of residence is a fairly long period of life when immigrants are forced to look for illegal ways of employment. After all, only with permanent residence in Bulgaria can you get official permission to work. A temporary residence permit does not provide such opportunities.

Immigrants, of course, are employed illegally. However, this situation is fraught with consequences. So, for the first violation, the Bulgarian authorities fine from 500 to 5,000 leva (20,000 - 200,000 rubles). For a repeated violation, the amount doubles to 1000 - 10,000 leva (30,000 - 380,000 rubles). At the same time, the employer is also punished, where the penalties are more significant - from 20,000 to 40,000 leva (760,000 - 1,500,000 rubles).

Internship Opportunities

Opportunities for internships in Bulgaria exist. True, the bulk of such proposals is addressed, as a rule, to university students. Internships in Bulgaria can be conditionally divided into two groups - paid by the trainee himself and paid at the expense of the host country.

The paid choice for interns is good because it covers many different in-demand professions. For example, in the field of computer technology, engineering, banking. Here, the trainee is not provided with a salary or scholarship, accommodation and meals are not paid at the expense of the host. But at the end of the internship, a professional certificate is issued, thanks to which completely different prospects for professional activity open up.

Internship at the expense of the host country is usually associated with activities such as tourism and hospitality. In this case, the receiving party pays all costs, including transport. Interns are paid a stipend of at least €130 per month. This option is characterized by a short-term practice - usually lasting no more than 3 months. Upon completion, a certificate of a specialist in the tourism industry and hotel business is issued.

To apply for an internship, you must:

• send an application for participation in the internship program,
• prepare the required package of documents,
• to pass an interview at the Embassy of Bulgaria,
• apply for a visa for a temporary visit to the country,
• pay duties and other fees,
• pay for an internship (for a paid option).

Documents for the internship:

• international passport,
• two photos (one for a visa 35x45 mm, the other full-length 90x120 mm),
• health certificate,
• certificate from the administration of the university,
• copy of account book,
• application for an internship program
• completed application form for the consulate.

…Tomorrow I will go on an internship at the clinical diagnostic laboratory of the local hospital. Today I went to look at my new place of work, talked with colleagues, with superiors. At first glance, I liked everything, the devices are almost the same as those of the laboratory where I worked in Russia ...

Galina

http://peopleandcountries.com/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=917&pid=118051

Business immigration as a way to move to Bulgaria

One of the easiest and most promising options for immigration to Bulgaria is a business. Like other Eastern European countries that have recently joined the EU, Bulgaria is extremely interested in investments. On this basis, business immigration is only welcome. Accordingly, immigrants who decide to invest, establish and develop a business are given maximum freedom.

For example, if a foreigner is ready to invest more than 500 thousand euros in the Bulgarian economy, then permanent residence is granted immediately. There is an alternative option - to create a company in the country and employ at least 10 Bulgarian citizens. In other cases, in order to obtain a permanent residence (permanent residence), you must first obtain a temporary residence permit and live in the country in this status for at least 5 years.

You can also invest in Bulgarian real estate. If the amount of such investments reaches 300 thousand euros or more, the investor is immediately granted a temporary residence permit. However, this option does not allow obtaining permanent residence in Bulgaria after 5 years.

Bulgaria is certainly an interesting and attractive country, primarily in terms of recreation and tourism. But to find a job on comfortable European conditions here, unfortunately, is not so simple.

Bulgaria is far from being the richest state in the EU. The standard of living there is much lower than in other countries of the former Eastern bloc, and there are enough unemployed people. Nevertheless, Bulgaria is quite suitable for starting a new life here. How can Russians and representatives of other nationalities find work in Bulgaria and what difficulties will they face?

Economic situation in Bulgaria

Judging by the pessimistic forecasts of the country's government, the illusions about a quick recovery of the economy will have to be forgotten. Bulgaria is in the TOP-3 EU countries with the lowest per capita income, and in the next few years the situation will not change dramatically.

According to the latest data, the unemployment rate is gradually decreasing, but it is still too high. The equipment of most enterprises is worn out, there is no money for its modernization and expansion of production, so new jobs are practically not created, competition for employment is huge. Perhaps after 2017, when the country will switch to the euro currency and will be able to count on the inflow of foreign investment, the situation will change for the better.

Legal job search methods

There are many ways to find a job in Bulgaria. It depends on the desired position, salary level, profession, knowledge of foreign languages.

Independently through relatives, friends or acquaintances

Among Russian-speaking citizens, this method is especially popular due to its simplicity and accessibility. Former compatriots will help you adapt to new conditions. So you can get a job as a cook, nanny, tutor, driver, seller.

Among the obvious disadvantages are the inability to find work for representatives of rare specialties, low wages, a closed language environment that prevents rapid assimilation.

Through dedicated websites

The most popular headhunting resource for Russian-speaking applicants is the EuRabota.com portal. Judging by its pages, working specialties, office and service personnel are most in demand today. Good jobs in Bulgaria can be found here: https://eurabota.com/in/bulgaria/hiring/.

Jobs.bg and rabota.bg have a lot more interesting offers: from jobs in the financial sector to industrial specialties. But if you do not know Bulgarian well, you will have to get a dictionary to search.

Through employment agencies

Here everything is the same as in Russia. The main thing, when concluding a contract for the provision of relevant services, is to study the reputation of the agency. Today, many scammers have divorced, specializing in extorting money from gullible citizens who are going to work in Bulgaria. In addition, the applicant will have to pay for the services of an intermediary and the preparation of documents necessary for employment.

You can search for a job in Bulgaria in many ways: from selecting vacancies on the website to calling on advertisements in the newspaper

Paradise on the Black Sea: who is expected here

Bulgaria is a country specializing in tourism and agriculture, so the work is usually seasonal. Today in demand:

• drivers;
• builders of different qualifications;
• qualified turners, millers;
• cooks, bartenders;
• maids, housekeepers;
• massage therapists, junior medical staff;
• sales managers;
• secretaries, assistant directors.

Among the highly qualified personnel, lawyers with a good knowledge of international law, IT specialists in software development firms, system administrators, web content developers, and multimedia developers are in demand. The main requirements for them are excellent knowledge in their field and English at a high level.

Average salary

Salaries in Bulgaria are noticeably lower than the EU average. Today, the minimum wage in the country is 380 leva (about 200 euros). During 2016, it is expected to grow by about 10%, which does not look very comforting. Workers and office staff receive approximately 400-500 euros per month. The average salary in the country is about 700 euros, and in Sofia it is almost 1.5 times higher than in Varna, Gabrovo or Burgas.

Stages of official employment

Work in Bulgaria for residents of non-EU countries is practically inaccessible. Before looking for it, according to local law, you must obtain the status of permanent residence. To do this, you will have to live in Bulgaria for at least 5 years, and you can leave the country for no more than 6 months within 1 year and no more than 10 months in total for 5 years.

In other words, in order to get a legal job in Bulgaria, you will have to emigrate for permanent residence. Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians cannot work during these 5 years. An exception is made only for spouses of Bulgarian citizens. Such tough laws are designed to protect the domestic labor market from the influx of migrants. However, there are still ways to get a job officially.

Work permit for foreigners

Residents of Russia and other non-EU countries will be officially hired in the following cases:

• if the employee was invited and hired by a company that needs specialized services;
• if the immigrant plans to run his own business here.

Previously, an employer could employ a foreigner only if he managed to prove that it was unrealistic to find a specialist of the appropriate qualification among fellow citizens. In April 2016, the Bulgarian deputies ratified a document abolishing this requirement. Now employers can hire highly qualified foreigners with the so-called "blue card", which gives the right to live and work in Bulgaria. Citizens with a diploma of higher education or 5 years of work experience in their specialty can receive a "blue card".

The subtleties of obtaining a work visa

It must be remembered that documents for issuing a long-term visa can only be submitted at the embassy or consulate of Bulgaria. To officially find a job, you need to submit the following documents:

• international passport;
• a certificate confirming knowledge of the Bulgarian language;
• a document confirming the presence of a residence permit or a residence permit;
• work permit or documents confirming the intention to open your own business.

Previously, a special work permit had to be issued within six months, now this period has been reduced to 2 months. All necessary documents are submitted to the Ministry of Economy of the country, where the "one window" principle operates. This is very convenient, since there is no need to seek help from various government agencies.

A work visa is issued for 1 year, it can be extended three times. Then you have to collect a new package of documents and get another permit.

Penalties for attempting illegal employment

Punitive measures for attempting illegal employment are among the toughest in Europe. An employer who violates the law on employment and unofficially employs an employee will have to pay a decent fine. Repeated violation is punishable by prosecution. Therefore, serious companies prefer to process immigrants in accordance with all the rules.

Penalties for illegal employment in Bulgaria are much higher than in other EU countries

Internship in Bulgaria

Students who decide to do an internship in Bulgaria should take into account that it is almost impossible to find a part-time job without knowledge of the Bulgarian language. All you can count on is washing dishes in a cafe or cleaning toilets. Therefore, it is better to accumulate the funds necessary to pay for the accommodation in advance and focus on gaining knowledge.

Business immigration

Today, business immigration is the most realistic way to move to Bulgaria. There are practically no administrative barriers preventing this. It is possible to register your company within 1-2 weeks.

It is best to create a business related to real estate, construction, tourism or services. The competition in these areas is high, but the income will be quite good. If the starting capital is small, it is worth opening a grocery store, a cigar kiosk, a hairdresser, or organizing a taxi company.

Many immigrants dream of opening a small cafe

What job can be found in a few days

Job advertisements for Russians appear regularly in newspapers and specialized websites. It is clear that getting a job as the head of a large financial corporation or the director of a plant in this way will not work. You will also have to compete for the position of a bank clerk or a nurse. However, specialists in some professions are lucky: they always have a wide selection of real vacancies at their service. Among these lucky ones:

1. Administrators at the hotel. The main condition here is an impeccable knowledge of the English language. Over 5 years of experience and experience in the largest Russian hotels will allow you to make a choice in your favor.
2. Sales consultants. The main requirements for applicants are communication skills, personable appearance, sociability, impeccable command of Russian and English.
3. Office managers. Preference is given to candidates with high computer literacy and knowledge of document management features.

Working in Bulgaria: where to start

You can often find the opinion that Ukrainians live better in Bulgaria than other immigrants. Where this beautiful legend came from is hard to say. But it remains a legend - the law is the same for all foreigners, if they are not members of the European Union, respectively, and the living conditions for all are approximately the same. This applies both to obtaining a visa/residence permit and to the specifics of residence, such as the need to annually renew the status of a residence permit or a ban on work.

Are there jobs for Ukrainians in Bulgaria?

Workers are always required at a construction site, but employers rarely bother with their legalization. It is difficult to answer general questions. But this question is asked so often that it still needs to be answered. The situation with work in Bulgaria, to put it mildly, is so-so. It is no coincidence that Bulgarians leave for Germany or England - they pay many times more for the same activity as in their homeland. And at home, working for a penny is unprofitable.
On the other hand, when Bulgarians leave, their jobs are freed up. That is, vacancies appear periodically. Another thing is that these vacancies are for their own. For the most part, foreigners with a residence permit do not have the right to work. That is, theoretically, you can get a job - we wrote about how this happens in. But for the employer, this process is so dreary and costly that most prefer not to get involved. Well, except that you are a very, very cool and necessary specialist.
The resorts were looking for foreign workers this year, modestly silent about the legality of such work and payment. We emphasize that neither citizens of Russia, nor Ukraine, nor Kazakhstan, nor Israel, nor all other holders of residence permit status are legally allowed to work. The ability to work depends on the status, and not on the country of citizenship.
At the same time, in the news a month ago, we came across information that they could not find Bulgarian workers. Well, the Bulgarians do not want to work for that kind of money. Therefore, they are waiting for citizens of Ukraine, Russia and Moldova to work. True, the note did not say a word about how legal such work would be. Yes, and the size of the salary delicately kept silent. And she, the salary, is small. For a month of unskilled work in the kitchen (in front of a hot stove, without air conditioning), you can earn about 400 levs. Those. less than the minimum wage. Skilled workers receive, of course, more. Let's say 400-500 euros. Is it a lot or a little for hard work with the risk of deportation if the check comes up?

Who can work

Bulmetal in Gurkovo is happy to hire ethnic Bulgarians from Ukraine Bulgarians from Ukraine. Indeed, Bulgarians who are citizens of Ukraine are welcomed there with open arms. The rest are also invited for an interview, but they are in no hurry to issue a work permit.
Ethnic Bulgarians (that is, those who had at least one ancestor of Bulgarian nationality, and there is evidence of this) almost immediately receive permanent residence and the right to work, the procedure for obtaining citizenship for them is also greatly simplified. And in "Bulmetal" at first they gave free housing, and lifting, and some other goodies. Now, however, this has slowly come to naught, conditions have worsened. But still a very good option for those who have the right to work. And the rest is left to wait for obtaining permanent residence status, which gives the necessary rights, or look for some loopholes in the law. And what loopholes these can be, we will certainly write in other articles.

Bulgaria has the highest unemployment rate among the EU countries - 13% was recorded in 2017. However, foreigners are trying to find work in Bulgaria. There are more Ukrainians, Russians and Belarusians in the country than visitors from other countries.

The state, first of all, is interested in the employment of its citizens, in order to reduce the unemployment rate. Foreigners can get a job in Bulgaria in 2018 year in the following ways:

• you must be invited to the country by a relative or employer;
• apply to the labor exchange (works in 5 cases out of 100);
• become a private entrepreneur (the state is interested in replenishing the treasury at the expense of small businesses, so in this case it is easier to get documents).

Only one invitation is not enough to immigrate to the country and legally find a job in Bulgaria. Work visa required. To obtain it, you need a work permit and a signed contract with the company. To obtain a permit, the employer must contact:

• Ministry of Labor, to make sure that Bulgarians are not interested in its vacancy;
• The National Employment Agency, which issues the permit (a copy of the employee's passport and diploma and 3 photographs are required).

Documents are issued within 30 days. The employer then sends the permit and contract to the applicant, and the applicant can apply for a work visa. Obtaining a visa can take up to 4 months. With a permit, a worker can stay in the country for 12 months.

Though fresh vacancies in Bulgaria Bulgarians are engaged faster than the offer goes to recruiting companies or job search sites, there are chances for a foreigner in employment, especially in Sofia (the highest salary in the country), Stara Zagora, Vratsa and Varna. In these cities, the salary is higher than in others, and there are more job offers in Bulgaria for women, students, seasonal workers from direct employers.

salary levels for different vacancies and jobs in Bulgaria for 2018:

• content manager/SMM - 1000 euros;
• programmer - 900-1000 euros;
• insurer - 800 euros;
• chef - 600 euros;
• doctor - 600 euros;
• chief accountant - 500 euros;
• nurse - 500 euros;
• social worker - 450 euros;
• babysitter for a small child - 400 euros;
• waiter - 400 euros;
• maid - 300 euros;
• agricultural worker - 300 euros.

In resort towns, employees in the service sector in the hotel and restaurant business are in demand. There is also an option for seasonal work in Bulgaria - women can get a job in families as a nanny, housekeeper or cook, men - at construction sites or in agriculture. By the way, seasonal work is also in demand among students.

You should not try to get a job illegally, as employers are severely fined in Bulgaria. Moreover, with a work permit, you will be sure to receive a salary, keep your job and receive a social package.

We recommend that you first properly prepare your resume, determine the scope of activity, find out what vacancies and resumes in Bulgaria are paid better, view the offers available on our portal, contact the company, check it on the black list, on the Internet, conduct an interview in advance, and only then apply for a visa and move.