Background information

To address labour shortages and promote legal labour mobility, Bulgaria has signed bilateral labour migration agreements with Moldova, Armenia, Georgia, and Israel. These agreements facilitate the temporary and seasonal employment of third-country nationals in Bulgaria while safeguarding workers’ rights and ensuring legal recruitment channels.

They typically allow foreign nationals to work in Bulgaria without a separate work permit, provided they hold a valid employment contract and residence permit. The agreements also provide for coordination between national employment services. Legal references include: Agreement with Moldova, Agreement with Armenia, Agreement with Georgia, Agreement with Israel.

Content of measure

These bilateral agreements cover temporary and seasonal employment for nationals of Moldova, Armenia, Georgia, and Israel. The agreements are aimed at easing access to Bulgaria’s labour market in sectors facing worker shortages, such as agriculture, construction, and services. Eligible applicants must be nationals of the partner country and must have a valid job offer from a Bulgarian employer. Employment is typically permitted for up to 1 year, extendable to 3 years; or for seasonal work: up to 9 months per year. Recruitment is coordinated through the respective national employment agencies, ensuring transparency and legal protection. The agreements stipulate that workers receive equal treatment under Bulgarian labour law, including wages, working conditions, and social protection. There is no direct monetary support from the Bulgarian state under these agreements.

Use of measure

In 2023, over 23,000 third-country nationals received permits to work in Bulgaria, with a portion of these individuals arriving through bilateral agreements with countries such as Moldova, Armenia, Georgia, and Israel. Exact figures per agreement are not published, but uptake is particularly in sectors with acute labour shortages, such as agriculture, construction, and tourism.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Applies to all workers	Applies to all businesses	Applies to all citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Trade unions Employers' organisations Company / Companies Public employment service Social insurance	No special funding required

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Consulted	Consulted
Form	Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies	Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Social partners jointly
• Main level of involvement: Unknown

Involvement

Social partners were consulted through Bulgaria’s tripartite framework. CITUB, Podkrepa, and employer organisations provided input on worker protections, recruitment needs, and labour standards. Though not involved in drafting, they contribute by advising, monitoring, and supporting implementation of the agreements.

Views and reactions

Social partners are generally supportive of the measure. Employer organisations view it as essential for addressing labour shortages. Trade unions are more cautious but agree with the principle, emphasising the need for strong safeguards to ensure fair treatment, equal pay, and protection against worker exploitation.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 31 December 2011: agreement-Izrael-Bulgaria-labour-migration.pd (www.az.government.bg)
• 18 June 2018: Agreement between Bulgaria and Moldova for the regulation of labour migratio (www.az.government.bg)
• 09 October 2018: agreement-Armenia - Bulgaria-labour-migratio (www.mlsp.government.bg)
• 05 November 2019: Agreement between Bulgaria and Georgia for the regulation of labour migratio (migrant-integration.ec.europa.eu)