Last updated 22/11/2022
When can I work?
If you are an asylum-seeker, you can work 3 months after the date you submitted your application for international protection.
If you are a refugee, hold temporary protection or have a humanitarian status, you have the right to legal work in Bulgaria under the same conditions as Bulgarian citizens. You can learn more on:
Work permit
If you are a refugee, hold temporary protection or have a humanitarian status in Bulgaria, you do not need any specific permission from the Employment Agency to start working.
If you are an asylum-seeker, request that the State Agency for Refugees issues a special certificate to you at the end of the third month, after you file your application for international protection.
This certificate:
- Verifies the date you submitted your application
- Confirms that your procedure is still ongoing and that you have the right to access to the Bulgarian labor market
- Is not permission to work — it only serves as proof of your right to work in Bulgaria
Other documents
If you are an asylum-seeker, you must submit the below documents to your employer prior to starting employment:
- Any ID document
- Your SAR registration card
Generally, but not always, employers can also ask you to submit:
- A medical certificate from your general practitioner
- A document proving your specific professional/educational qualifications or capacity (diploma, certificate, etc.)
- A criminal record
To find out how to obtain a criminal record certificate please click here:
Bank account
Most employers in Bulgaria pay their employees’ salaries directly into their Bulgarian bank accounts once every month.
If you already have refugee or humanitarian status, you can open a bank account under the terms and the conditions applicable for Bulgarian citizens. However, in practice, sometimes applicants may face some challenges in doing so.
If you are an asylum-seeker and your procedure is still ongoing, whether you can open a bank account depends on whether you have your national passport with you.
If you came to Bulgaria with a valid national passport, you most likely already submitted it to SAR. If so, you can submit a request to them to return your passport for a short period of time to open a bank account.
Additional information on opening a bank account you can find here:
ACCESS TO A PAYMENT ACCOUNT WITH BASIC FEATURES
If you do not have a valid national passport in Bulgaria, speak to your potential employer and agree on an alternative way for receiving your monthly salary. You can also seek aid from legal organizations. Learn more on:
Employment in Bulgaria
Bulgaria has a high unemployment rate. You may face difficulties when looking for a job. Sofia, however, has the lowest unemployment rate in the country.
Recent surveys and official data show that refugees, humanitarian status-holders and asylum-seekers most often work in the following 6 economic sectors:
- Food and gastronomy
- Trade
- Manufacture
- Beauty, tourism, and social care
- Construction
- IT and call centers