Republic of Bulgaria · work sponsored · Leads to settlement

Single Permit for Residence and Work

By · Last reviewed:

Source check: all 1 official citation reconfirmed 13 September 2026

If you are a non-EU national with a Bulgarian job offer, this is the main route - one document that lets you both live and work in Bulgaria.

Requires sponsorshipLeads to permanent residencyUsually granted for one to three years and renewable while you keep the qualifying job - confirm current validity on the official page.
Processing time
Indicative only - the Migration Directorate works to published timelines that can be extended where a case is complex; confirm current processing on the official page.
Government fees
Indicative only - state fees apply on both the work and residence sides and are re-set in euro from 2026; confirm current amounts on the official page.
Typical duration
Usually granted for one to three years and renewable while you keep the qualifying job - confirm current validity on the official page.
Sponsorship required
Yes
Leads to permanent residency
Yes

In short

As of 10 July 2026, the Single Permit for Residence and Work for Republic of Bulgaria is a sponsor-led Bulgaria immigration route. Sources: official Republic of Bulgaria government pages, reviewed 10 July 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/bulgaria/single-permit#answer

What is the Single Permit for Residence and Work in Republic of Bulgaria?

Single Permit for Residence and Work is a sponsor-led Bulgaria route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only - state fees apply on both the work and residence sides and are re-set in euro from 2026; confirm current amounts on the official page; indicative processing time is Indicative only - the Migration Directorate works to published timelines that can be extended where a case is complex; confirm current processing on the official page; typical duration is Usually granted for one to three years and renewable while you keep the qualifying job - confirm current validity on the official page. This route can lead to permanent residence.

Verified against Migration Directorate, Ministry of Interior (Bulgaria) on 1 June 2026.

Overview

The single permit for residence and work combines your residence right and your work authorisation into one document, so you do not need a separate work permit. Your Bulgarian employer drives most of the process, normally after a labour-market check, and the Migration Directorate of the Ministry of Interior decides the residence side. It is the standard sponsored-employment route for most non-EU workers, and lawful time on it counts toward long-term and then permanent residence. Bulgaria joined the Schengen area in 2025 and adopted the euro on 1 January 2026, so confirm current amounts in euro on the official page.

Recent changes to this route

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Check the route fit

    Confirm you have a genuine Bulgarian job offer and that your employer can complete any labour-market check the role needs.

  2. Build the evidence pack

    Gather your passport, the employment contract, and proof of accommodation, health insurance and means of support.

  3. Submit through the official channel

    Have your employer file with the Migration Directorate or a regional Migration office, then collect the long-stay (type D) visa where required and pay the fees.

  4. After approval

    Collect your residence card, renew before it expires, and track your time toward long-term and then permanent residence.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Single Permit for Residence and Work, use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Agree the lawful start date and onboarding with the employer or sponsor. Check whether the permission names an employer, role or activity before changing the arrangement.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Bulgaria. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant + sponsor
    Use official Single Permit for Residence and Work route page ↗

    Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Single Permit for Residence and Work.

    Migration Directorate, Ministry of Interior (Bulgaria) · verified

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need a separate work permit as well?+

No - the single permit combines your work authorisation and residence right in one document, so you do not apply for a separate work permit. Confirm the current process on the official Migration Directorate page.

Does time on this permit count toward settlement?+

Yes - lawful time on the single permit counts toward long-term residence and then permanent residence after the required continuous period. Confirm the current rule on the official page.

Can I move to Bulgaria on the single permit before I have a job offer?+

No - the single permit requires a genuine job offer from an employer registered in Bulgaria, and having no genuine Bulgarian employer behind the application is a common blocker. Because your employer files or co-signs the application, you need the offer first. Confirm the current process on the official Migration Directorate page.

Who submits the single permit application - me or my employer?+

Your Bulgarian employer drives most of the process and files, or co-signs, the application to the Migration Directorate or a regional Migration office, normally after a labour-market check. Confirm the current process on the official page.

Is there a labour-market test before my single permit is approved?+

Usually yes - the role must meet any labour-market check the employer has to satisfy before the permit is issued, and the role failing that check with no exemption applying is a common blocker. Confirm the current rules on the official page.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

Find a regulated advisor in Bulgaria

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Migration Directorate, Ministry of Interior (Bulgaria)

Last checked: 1 June 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology