Resources for employers in Bulgaria
Resources for employers in Bulgaria
We use "refugees" to encompass forcibly displaced people with different legal statuses, such as refugees, subsidiary protection holders, temporary protection holders, asylum seekers, and others needing international protection.
In cases where differentiating information relating to each status is essential (i.e. regarding the right to work), this is clearly indicated.
Iryna from Ukraine, who fled to Bulgaria, graduated from the Baking Academy of Lesaffre Bulgaria – a UNHCR partner. Today, Iryna works as a baker at a local cafe in Sofia.
Why hire refugees and stateless people in Bulgaria?
Bulgaria is currently hosting a considerable number of refugees from countries such as Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The country offers a favourable legal framework, where refugees and temporary protection holders, including asylum seekers, have full access to the labour market after just 3 months. In addition, the private sector in Bulgaria has shown great solidarity with the arrival of Ukrainian refugees. However, more efforts are required to guarantee the successful labour inclusion of all forcibly displaced and stateless people in the Bulgarian job market and the unlocking of their full potential.
Bulgarian companies play an essential role by opening their doors to refugee and stateless talent and creating refugee and stateless-friendly recruitment and onboarding processes. This friendly onboarding process would benefit refugees, stateless people and their employers since they can use the diverse skills, experiences, and talents that refugees and stateless people bring. In addition, it has been demonstrated that hiring refugees improves retention ratesLink is external, strengthens recruitment pipelines, creates more appealing socially responsible brandsLink is external, and helps businesses become more international and diverse thanks to refugees' language skills and backgrounds.
A restaurant chain with two facilities hired two women from Ukraine with the help of UNHCR partner Caritas Bulgaria. Caritas supported the business in connecting with suitable job seekers. They maintained continuous interaction and rapport with the company during the process. The employer was so satisfied with their work that they employed two more women from Ukraine and one from Iran. The restaurant owner has shared: “I am finally happy”, as he felt confident in their staff and could focus more on their business. The business further expanded its cooperation with Caritas to facilitate a barista professional course as part of the capacity-building training of the NGO.
How many refugees and stateless people are there in Bulgaria?
As of mid-2024, Bulgaria hosted 94 545 refugees, primarily from Ukraine (61 070) and Syria (31 004).
In 2024, 12 250 people, mainly from Syria and Afghanistan, requested asylum in Bulgaria (State Agency for Refugees).
There were approximately 1,010 recorded stateless people and people of undetermined nationality in Bulgaria.
Visit the Refugee Data Finder to learn more
How many of them are working?
In 2023, 579 asylum seekersLink is external received certificates for their right to work from the State Agency for Refugees. Of these, only two registered as unemployed in the Employment Agency, while the rest sought work independently. Seventeen beneficiaries of international protection (refugees and humanitarian status holders) are unemployed. However, there is no data on the number of employed individuals. Among temporary protection holders from Ukraine, 1,484 are registered as unemployed, and more than 5,600 are employedLink is external as of 2022. It is unclear how many stateless people and people of undetermined nationality are currently employed.
According to the Refugee LightLink is external employment platform, refugees most often work in the following six economic sectors: 1) Food and gastronomy, 2) Trade, 3) Manufacturing, 4) Beauty, tourism, and social care, 5) Construction, and 6) IT and call centres.
View more information on the Refugee Light Employment PlatformLink is external
What are the main challenges?
Some of the challenges faced by refugees in their access to the labour market include: 1) the language barrier in Bulgarian and English, or the ability to speak but not write in Bulgarian specifically for Bessarabian Bulgarians coming from Ukraine, 2) the high national rates of unemployment, especially outside of Sofia, 3) the difficulties with finding childcare, especially in the case of single parents, 4) the complicated process of validation of professional qualifications obtained in the country of origin and the lack of specialized provisions for refugees, 5) the lack of permanent housing, 6) the long process of signing a contract, which requires the issuing of documents, medical certificates, criminal record certificates, as well as a medical book for those in the catering industry.
With regards to stateless people, the main challenges revolve around the legal obstacles to their right to work. Bulgaria has a statelessness determination procedure, but recognized stateless persons do not have the right to work. The only way a stateless person can obtain the right to work is by applying for international protection, which would give them the same rights as asylum seekers (access to the labor market in 3 months). Read hereLink is external the stories of five stateless people in Bulgaria, compiled by the Foundation for Access to Rights.
Read more in the Asylum Information Database country report for BulgariaLink is external
Did you know?
Doctors and nurses who wish to practice medicine in Bulgaria must take an exam in Bulgarian language and professional terminology and pass an examination to acquire the respective medical profession in Bulgaria, which includes the state exam. While they are in the process of obtaining the right to practice their profession in Bulgaria, individuals can be employed as health assistants (or other similar positions) in any medical institution. More information can be found hereLink is external (in Bulgarian).
| Status | Who it applies to | Right to work? |
| Asylum seeker | Individuals who have applied for international protection but still have not received a decision on their application. | Asylum seekers who have not yet received a decision on their application have the right to work in Bulgaria three months after filing for international protection. |
| Refugee | Individuals with a well-founded fear of being persecuted for race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. | Refugees have the right to work without restrictions. They can register and receive advice and assistance finding employment at the Labour Bureaus of the Employment Agency. |
| Humanitarian status holder | Individuals who do not qualify for refugee status but who are unable to return to their home country because it would mean they face capital punishment, torture or inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment. | Humanitarian status holders have the right to work without restrictions. They can register at the Labour Bureaus of the Employment Agency and receive advice and assistance with finding employment. |
| Temporary protection holder | Residents of Ukraine and their family members who were forced to leave their country due to the current war. | Temporary protection holders have the right to work in Bulgaria. |
| Stateless person | A stateless person is someone who is not considered as a citizen by any country (whether recognized as such or not). | If stateless people apply for international, humanitarian, or temporary protection, they have access to the labour market: 1) upon being granted status, or 2) as asylum seekers 3 months after submitting their application for international protection. |
Bear in mind
Employers must inform the Employment AgencyLink is external that they have hired an asylum seeker by 7 days after hiring. They need to attach a document from the State Agency for Refugees certifying that the asylum seeker is allowed to work.
In addition, employers must inform the General Labour Inspectorate that they have hired third-country nationals (including asylum seekers, refugees, humanitarian status holders, and temporary protection holders) within 7 days after hiring. The form can be submitted onlineLink is external on the Labor Inspectorate's e-portal page.
Employers may sign contracts until the individual's residence permit expires. Once the individual renews their permit, a new agreement must be signed.
How do I connect with refugee and stateless talent?
Companies can contact several NGOs that offer career counselling services for refugees and have access to a vast network of beneficiaries. For example, Caritas BulgariaLink is external has career centres for refugees in different cities, such as Sofia, Burgas, Plovdiv, Ruse and Varna. Employers can contact career centres to announce their vacancies and receive referrals to qualified candidates. Caritas offers additional services for refugees, such as Bulgarian language courses, training for professional qualifications and upgrading work skills. Other NGOs in the field include the Bulgarian Red CrossLink is external and the Council of Refugee Women in Bulgaria.Link is external Finally, employers can contact recruitment agencies like CATROLink is external, which has experience recruiting refugees, and BalkaninvestLink is external, HorizonsLink is external, Correct ConsultLink is external, and ManpowerLink is external. With regards to employment of stateless people, companies can contact UNHCR or the Foundation Access to Rights which provides free legal assistance and advice to stateless persons in Bulgaria.
What can I do to support refugee and stateless employees?
Businesses can take several steps to create a more refugee and stateless-friendly recruitment and onboarding process. The steps include, for example, 1) revising the Bulgarian language requirements in job vacancies to allow for individuals with minimum language skills to apply where possible, 2) cooperating with the NGO sector to help employees sign up for language classes, 3) offering internships or on-the-job training to help refugees who do not have enough previous experience, 4) assisting new hires with finding permanent accommodation and childcare solutions, where available, 5) organizing mentorship or buddy programs internally to help refugee hires integrate successfully in their new teams.
Useful resources
Governmental support
Employers can contact the National Employment AgencyLink is external through the local Labor BureausLink is external to receive support with recruitment. Companies may also benefit from subsidized programs for their employees, such as the National Program for Refugee Employment and TrainingLink is external or a subsidy for the costs of a babysitterLink is external for working parents.
Job boards
The Foundation for Access to Rights (FAR), in partnership with UNHCR, has launched the RefugeeLight Refugee Employment PlatformLink is external in Bulgaria. This platform offers specialized information and professional mediation for hiring refugees. In addition, the Bulgaria For UkraineLink is external platform features a job board specifically for job opportunities available for Ukrainian refugees.
Job fairs
UNHCR and partners such as the Bulgarian Red Cross and the National Employment Agency organize job fairs for refugees and asylum seekers several times per year in Sofia and on the Black Sea coast. Some sectors represented include the tourism and hospitality industry, commerce and trade, industry and manufacturing, IT, and education.
“Skills for Employment” toolkit prepared by IKEA with best practices on how employers can open employment pathways for refugees
A report by the TENT partnership for refugees on “How Hiring Refugees Helps Brands: Europe (2023)”
Statelessness.bg platform with information and resources on statelessness in Bulgaria