Наемане на чужденци: промени от юли 2026 г.

Electronic submission of documents, a new requirement for seasonal employment and a greater role for electronic communication with institutions

As of 21 July 2026, important changes apply in Bulgaria to the procedures for hiring third-country nationals. They were introduced by Decree No. 85 of 16 July 2026, promulgated in the State Gazette, issue No. 66 of 21 July 2026.

The main change is the transition to electronic submission of applications and declarations under a number of procedures for access to the Bulgarian labour market. The new rules directly affect employers, foreign workers and the institutions that review the documents.

The most important points in brief:

Documents under some of the main procedures are now submitted electronically.
The employer or the authorised person must have a qualified electronic signature (QES).

For seasonal employment of up to 90 days, medical insurance valid in Bulgaria for at least three months is also required.

What changes for employers?

Before the change, a large part of the documents was submitted in paper form. As of 21 July 2026, applications and declarations under the main procedures are now submitted electronically.

Electronic submission covers, among others, the procedures for:

issuing and extending a work permit;
hiring third-country nationals under an employment relationship;
work by posted or seconded employees;
carrying out freelance activity;
employment of researchers, students and trainees;
registration and declaration of certain types of employment for which a work permit is not required.

Under the above procedures, the Employment Agency no longer accepts documents in paper form. Therefore, employers must organise the electronic signing and submission of the documents in advance.

Where are the documents submitted?

The specific method of submission depends on the relevant procedure. Documents may be sent through:

the Secure Electronic Delivery System;
the e-Government Portal;
the interface for automated data exchange of the Employment Agency.

For seasonal employment of up to 90 days, an additional electronic platform is also provided through which applications may be submitted.

Change in the signing of documents

The documents must be signed with a QES by the employer or by a person authorised by the employer.

Where the documents are submitted through a proxy, the respective power of attorney must also be attached to them. The templates of the applications and declarations have also been updated so as to reflect the use of a QES and a qualified electronic seal.

The possibility for the decision to be received by post by an authorised person is also removed. Communication and receipt of the certified documents are carried out electronically.

New requirement for seasonal employment of up to 90 days

One of the important changes concerns employers who hire seasonal workers for a period of up to 90 days.

A scanned copy of mandatory medical insurance must now be attached to the declaration. It must be valid on the territory of Bulgaria and have a term of at least three months.

The new requirement applies to applications submitted from 21 July 2026. For applications submitted before that date and still pending, the proceedings continue under the previous rules, without requiring such insurance.

What do the changes mean for employers?

The transition to electronic submission may save visits to institutions and the exchange of paper documents. However, this does not mean that the procedures become automatic or that the employer may allow the worker to start work immediately after submitting the documents.

Work may start only after receiving the necessary permit or after completing the required registration. Therefore, it is important that the documents are prepared in advance, signed correctly and submitted through the appropriate electronic system.

With the changes, the need for some documents to be presented by the applicant is removed. In certain cases, the Employment Agency now performs checks ex officio or requests the necessary information directly from the Ministry of Interior.

What changes for the institutions?

The Employment Agency now confirms certain registrations with a qualified electronic signature and sends the applicant an electronically certified copy bearing a qualified electronic seal.

No general rule is introduced for the automatic rearrangement of already issued permits, and no free right to change employer or place of work is created. Employers and foreign workers should assess each case according to the specific regime.

In practice, the reform is above all a digitalisation of the administrative process and a refinement of the exchange of information between institutions. It may reduce paper documentation, but it requires better prior preparation and strict compliance with the electronic requirements.

How can the team of KGK Law Firm assist?

The team of KGK Law Firm has significant experience in the field of labour migration and the procedures for access of third-country nationals to the Bulgarian labour market.

We assist employers and foreign workers in determining the applicable regime, preparing and submitting the documents, communicating with the competent institutions and resolving issues arising in the course of the procedure.

For questions regarding the new electronic requirements or if you need assistance with a specific procedure, contact the team of KGK Law Firm.