Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Over 108,000 workers from 64 non-EU countries have come to Bulgaria in 6 years

Photo: BTA

The import of manpower from non-EU countries is record high, but does not cover the needs of the business sector. Since the beginning of the year, 4,202 third-country nationals have been registered for seasonal employment alone. This is 40% of the registered seasonal employment for the entire year of 2024. The data was provided by the Minister of Social Affairs Borislav Gutsanov in response to a parliamentary question.

Over 108,000 foreigners from 65 countries have come to Bulgaria for work in 6 years. In total, 34,720 foreigners were employed in the country under the 9 admission regimes in 2024. 

The highest number - 13,131, used the single residence and work permit, which gives 3-year access to the Bulgarian labour market. In second place in popularity is the simplified procedure for seasonal employment of up to 90 days used for 2024 by 10,403 foreigners.

The largest number of workers are from Uzbekistan - 10,514 from 2019 to 2024, and they work mainly as seasonal workers, in construction and in the processing industry. 

In second place are workers from Turkiye - 10,441 people, as they come as seconded specialists, engineering and technical personnel, and middle-technical personnel, and work mainly in construction and as seasonal workers.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Parliament sets up ad-hoc committee to investigate Soros’ activities in Bulgaria

With 111 votes for, 51 against and 43 abstained, the National Assembly approved the establishment of an ad-hoc committee to investigate the activities of George Soros and his son Alexander Soros and their foundations in this country financing..

published on 11/5/25 3:15 PM
Representatives of businesses explaining their boycott

Businesses boycott discussion of budget 2026, describe it as “leftist”

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev cancelled the meeting, scheduled for today, of the National Tripartite Council on the draft budget for 2006 after, in an unprecedented move, businesses decided not to take..

published on 11/5/25 2:46 PM

EC puts forward plan for developing high-speed rail Bucharest-Sofia-Athens

The European Commission has presented a proposal for developing high-speed railway lines within the EU until 2040, linking the capitals in the EU, among them a direct link Bucharest-Sofia-Athens. According to the plan, using the trans-European..

published on 11/5/25 1:20 PM