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Bulgaria seasonal work visa and seasonal worker permit

Seasonal work: registration up to 90 days and seasonal worker permit for 90 days to 9 months (Art. 24k and 24l Foreigners Act)

In short

Bulgaria has two seasonal schemes. For up to 90 days the employer registers the work with the Employment Agency and the worker uses a short-stay visa issued for seasonal work. For 90 days to 9 months in any 12 months, the worker needs a seasonal worker residence permit and a D visa. Both schemes cover sectors approved as seasonal, which the EU Immigration Portal names as tourism and hospitality and agriculture.

checked 24 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
Up to 90 days (registration) or 90 days to 9 months within any 12 months (permit).
Validity
The permit covers the contract, minimum 90 days, maximum 9 months; it can be extended once within the 9 months with the same employer.
Fee
€90EUR 90 for the short-stay visa used for work up to 90 days; EUR 100 for the D visa used for the seasonal permit (MFA fee page checked 2026-10-24).
Work
Yes, for the registered or permitted employer; a change of employer needs Employment Agency permission.
Where to apply
From outside Bulgaria: the employer applies in Bulgaria and the worker obtains the visa at a Bulgarian mission.

Which scheme applies

Seasonal work of up to 90 days without interruption in any 12-month period does not need a work permit. The employer submits a declaration and the Employment Agency registers the employment; the worker needs a valid short-stay visa issued for seasonal work where a visa is required. Since 2025 the registration follows a fast-track procedure for foreigners who have done such seasonal work in Bulgaria at least once in the previous five years.

Seasonal work of 90 days to 9 months in any 12-month period needs a long-stay residence permit as a seasonal worker, decided by the Ministry of Interior after a positive opinion of the Employment Agency. The applicant must be outside Bulgaria when applying, and the permit is also issued under an accelerated procedure for those who worked in Bulgaria as seasonal workers in the last five years.

Employer obligations

For the longer scheme the EU Immigration Portal states that the employer pays the worker’s travel from the place of origin to the workplace and back, and provides suitable housing that meets health and safety standards for the whole contract. Travel, accommodation and health insurance are covered by the employer, and the worker must have means of at least the national minimum monthly wage for the stay. The Employment Agency publishes model contracts for seasonal work of up to 90 days and of 90 days to 9 months.

Procedure for the seasonal permit

The employer applies for approval of the seasonal worker permit; the Employment Agency’s central administration checks the application and informs the Migration Directorate. Once the stay is authorised, the worker applies, where needed, for a D visa at the Bulgarian mission, travels to Bulgaria and obtains the residence document from the Migration Directorate. The address must be notified within five days of arrival.

  1. Find an employer in a sector approved for seasonal work and agree the contract.
  2. Up to 90 days: the employer files the declaration with the Employment Agency; you apply for a short-stay visa for seasonal work.
  3. 90 days to 9 months: the employer applies for the seasonal worker permit while you are outside Bulgaria.
  4. After approval, apply for the D visa at the Bulgarian mission.
  5. Travel, register your address within five days and collect the residence document.

Forms

Extension and change of employer

The permit can be extended once within the 9-month maximum if the contract with the same employer continues. If the permit expires while an extension or renewal is pending, the worker may stay until the decision provided the application was lodged in time. A seasonal worker can change employer with the Employment Agency’s permission without leaving Bulgaria.

Appeals

Decisions on seasonal residence permits can be challenged before the local administrative court within 14 days.

Documents

Required documents

Identity

  • Valid passport and photos for the visa application.

Money

  • Proof of means of at least the minimum monthly wage for the stay.

Work

  • Seasonal employment contract with a Bulgarian employer in an approved seasonal sector.
  • Education documents or evidence of professional qualifications and experience required for the job.

Other

  • Employer’s confirmation of housing, travel costs and health insurance.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a work permit for a summer job of two months?

No. Seasonal work of up to 90 days is registered by the Employment Agency on the employer’s declaration; you need a short-stay visa for seasonal work if you are a visa national.

Which sectors are seasonal?

Sectors approved in the official list of seasonal economic activities; the EU Immigration Portal names tourism and hospitality and agriculture.

Can I come back next season?

Yes. Foreigners who did seasonal work in Bulgaria in the last five years benefit from accelerated procedures for both registration and the seasonal permit.

Who pays travel and housing?

For the 90-day to 9-month scheme the EU Immigration Portal states that the employer pays return travel and provides suitable housing for the contract.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for Bulgaria

Visits and short stays

  • Tourist visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Business and self-employment

Study and training

  • Student visa Maximum stay: Residence permit for up to one year, renewable; 18 months for the final year of studies.
  • Researcher visa Maximum stay: Permit for the length of the hosting agreement, up to one year at a time, renewable.

Work

  • Work visa Maximum stay: Three years, or the duration of the employment contract if shorter.
  • EU Blue Card Maximum stay: Up to 5 years, at least 24 months; for contracts shorter than 24 months, the contract length plus three months.
  • Intra-company transfer visa Maximum stay: 3 years for managers and specialists, 1 year for trainees.
  • Digital nomad visa Maximum stay: One year, extendable once by one more year.

Family

Residence

  • Golden visa and residence by investment Maximum stay: Long-stay residence: up to one year at a time, renewable while the investment is maintained. Permanent residence: indefinite.
  • Retirement visa Maximum stay: Up to one year at a time, renewable.
  • Permanent residence Maximum stay: Indefinite. The EU long-term residence card is valid for 5 years and renewed on application.

Protection

Bulgaria visa guide