Key national laws and EU Directives
Labour Migration and Labour Mobility Act (LMLMA)
This law regulates the way foreign nationals may enter and work in Bulgaria. It transposes provisions from the European law, specifically Directives of the European Parliament and of the Council of the EU aimed at facilitating the free movement of workers and labour migration. These are:
- Directive 2014/54/EU – facilitates workers’ rights in the context of free movement;
- Directive 2014/36/EU – conditions of entry and stay of third-country nationals for seasonal emplyment;
- Directive 2014/66/EU – entry and residence of third-country nationals in the framework of an intra-corporate transfer; it concerns the process by which multinational companies transfer their employees from one country to another by granting them special residence permits for this purpose;
- Directive 2009/50/EC – entry of third-country nationals for highly qualified employment;
- Directive 2009/52/EC – sanctions and measures against employers of illegally staying third-country nationals;
- Directive 2011/98/EU – a single application procedure for residence and work permits in the territory of the EU and a common set of rights for legally residing third-country workers;
The LMLMA furthermore unifies labour migration provisions that were previously scattered across various Bulgarian laws.
Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act (FRBA)
Regulates the residence of all foreign nationals in Bulgaria, regardless of whether they intend to study, work, or reside in the country. The FRBA Implementing Rules lay down detailed procedures for the application of the law and incorporate requirements from recent EU Directives:
- Directive (EU) 2021/1883 – governs the conditions of residence of highly qualified workers from third countries, repealing an older 2009 Directive;
- Regulation 2019/1157/EU – concerns the identity documents of foreign nationals residing in Bulgaria and the procedure for their issuance;
EU citizens and members of their families entry and residence in and departure from the Republic of Bulgaria Act
Regulates the rights and conditions for the entry, residence, and departure of EU citizens and their family members. It is aligned with the common EU rules on free movement of persons.
Ordinance on the conditions and procedures for issuing visas and identification of the visa regime
It describes the process by which the Republic of Bulgaria issues visas to foreigners who wish to enter and reside in the country. It also lays down the conditions for transit through Bulgaria.
What does legal framework for legal migration mean?
Migration in Bulgaria is governed by various legal acts that apply to the nationals of different countries: both EU countries and third-country (non-EU) nationals. These acts are established at both EU and national level. They set out the terms and conditions for how foreign nationals may enter, reside, and work in Bulgaria, while ensuring compliance with the applicable European and Bulgarian rules.
Bulgaria also has special agreements with some non-EU countries that regulate the migration of workers:
Agreement with Moldova
Signed in 2018, it regulates labour migration between Bulgaria and Moldova and also the way to admit illegally residing persons in Bulgaria.
Agreement with Georgia
A similar agreement has been signed with Georgia and it regulates both labour migration and the conditions for readmission of individuals who have entered Bulgaria without permission.
All these laws and EU Directives establish rules that regulate migration in Bulgaria. They make it possible for people from different countries (e.g. Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine, etc.) to work and live in Bulgaria, while ensuring that migration takes place in a legal and fair way, and in line with the EU requirements.
For example, if a non-EU (third country) national wants to work, study or volunteer in Bulgaria, they will need to go through the various steps to obtain a work permit, residence permit and visa.