Blue Card in Bulgaria
What is an EU Blue Card?
An EU Blue Card in Bulgaria is both a residence permit and a work permit. A Blue Card can be obtained by highly qualified citizens of non-EU countries who plan to work in EU countries. In Bulgaria, specialists in any professional field can obtain a Blue Card. The EU Blue Card allows you to live and work in Bulgaria for up to 5 years.
Advantages of the EU Blue Card
- The card is issued in a simplified manner. EU law requires that the application be processed within 60 days. In reality, in Bulgaria it usually takes 1-1.5 months.
- With the Blue Card, you have the right to reside in the country for its entire period of validity (up to 5 years), to work, and to travel to EU countries without a visa.
- Your family members (spouse and minor children) also receive a residence permit based on your residence permit and work permit - Blue Card.
- You can change employers after the first year. After termination of the employment contract, you are given 3 months to find a new job.
- Possibility of obtaining a long-term residence permit for up to 5 years, with the possibility of obtaining a permanent residence permit in Bulgaria (PRP) or a long-term residence permit in the European Union (LTRP) after the end of this period.
- Access to health insurance on an equal footing with Bulgarian citizens and the possibility of obtaining a European Health Insurance Card, which gives access to emergency medical care in any EU country.
- Possibility of obtaining a D visa under an accelerated program (~20 days)
- After 12 months of working in Bulgaria with an EU Blue Card, you can obtain an EU Blue Card in another EU country in a simplified manner by adding up the period of residence in Bulgaria for subsequent obtaining of a permanent residence permit.
Disadvantages of the EU Blue Card
- One of the main requirements is to have a contract with an employer in an EU country for a minimum period of 1 year. Finding such an employer can be difficult.
- The applicant must have a higher education degree corresponding to the position held.
- You can only change employers after one year—if you want to terminate the contract earlier, the requirements will be violated and the Blue Card will be canceled.
- The salary in the host country must exceed the average salary by 1.2–1.5 times (depending on the profession).
- Certification for work in your field may be required.
- During the first 12 months, you can only work in the field for which you were issued an EU Blue Card and only on the territory of Bulgaria.
Assistance in obtaining an EU Blue Card in Bulgaria
Legex Consulting will help you through all the stages of obtaining an EU Blue Card, starting with the submission of documents and continuing through the receipt of a "D" visa to the receipt of the permit itself in Bulgaria. Contact us in the most convenient way for you.
