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

The only wooden church in Bulgaria marks its holiday

The Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Borovets - the only wooden church in Bulgaria, marked its holiday today. A liturgy was served by Bishop Gerasim of Melnik. The Speaker of the National Assembly, Natalia Kiselova, was among the official..

published on 8/6/25 7:46 PM

Weather to stay warm with local mountain showers

On Thursday, minimum temperatures will range from 14 to 22°C, reaching a low of 14°C in Sofia. It will be mostly sunny during the day , with temporary cloud cover and brief showers in the mountains. There will be light to moderate winds in the east of..

published on 8/6/25 7:05 PM

"We Continue the Change" start petition "Bulgaria is not for sale"

"We Continue the Change" (PP) is starting a petition against the sale of over 4,400 state properties by the government, the party's press center reports, quoted by BTA. The petition is under the motto "Bulgaria is not for sale!". The party points out..

published on 8/6/25 6:50 PM