Bulgaria Single Residence and Work Permit in 2026

Third-country nationals hired by Bulgarian employers commonly use the Single Residence and Work Permit.

Current official guidance describes one coordinated procedure: the application is lodged through the Migration Directorate or regional Migration unit, the Employment Agency reviews labour-market access, and the Ministry of Interior issues the combined permit when the conditions are met.

Duration

The Ministry of Labour currently states that the permit can be issued for up to three years, or for the shorter duration of the employment contract.

The authorization remains connected to the approved employment basis.

Visa D

A long-stay Visa D can be part of the entry/residence sequence where required. Visa D is not the final combined permit.

Compared with other Bulgaria routes

A person employed by a Bulgarian company should not use the digital-nomad route as a substitute for the local employment framework.

A genuinely independent professional should compare the freelancer/self-employment route.

For long-term planning, see permanent residence.

Return to the Bulgaria hub, browse visa types, explore Europe, review the methodology, and read the legal disclaimer.

Official and supporting sources

Related routes in Bulgaria