Compliance & Legal

# Full Legal & Compliance Framework

Cross-border employment law is complex. Personela absorbs that complexity so your business stays protected, audit-ready, and 100% compliant with the Bulgarian Labour Code and EU regulations.

Legal Framework

## Built on Bulgarian Labour Code & EU Framework

Our compliance team specialises in the Bulgarian Labour Code, Employment Promotion Act, and EU regulations that govern third-country worker placement in Bulgaria.

### Bulgarian Labour Code & Employment Promotion Act

Full compliance with Bulgarian labour law, minimum wage rules, and working conditions.

### Bulgarian Single Permit (Type "D" + Residence)

Combined work and residence permit processed via the Bulgarian Employment Agency and Migration Directorate.

### EU Single Permit Directive (2011/98/EU)

Bulgaria's national implementation of the EU framework for non-EU worker authorization.

### GDPR Compliance

Candidate data handled per Regulation (EU) 2016/679 with documented consent and retention policies.

![Bulgarian employment law documents](/assets/images/photos/photo-1450101499163-c8848c66ca85.webp)

Paperwork We Handle

## Every Document, Every Filing

### Work Permits

Application, employer sponsorship, renewal management.

### Visas & Residency

Long-stay D visas, residence permits, biometric appointments.

### Employment Contracts

Compliant with host-country labour codes in candidate's native language.

### Tax Registration

Local tax ID, withholding setup, year-end reporting.

### Social Insurance

National insurance registration, contribution filings, A1 certificates.

### GDPR Data Handling

Consent records, data processing agreements, retention compliance.

Where We Operate

## 12+ Bulgarian Cities

Active placements and legal capacity across Bulgaria.

Sofia Pernik Vratsa Pleven Ruse Veliko Tarnovo Plovdiv Stara Zagora Sliven Burgas Varna Blagoevgrad

Certifications

## Licensed & Accredited

### POEA License

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration-licensed recruitment agency.

### ISO 9001:2015

Quality management system certified for recruitment operations.

### Bulgarian Employment Agency License

Registered with the Bulgarian Employment Agency for foreign worker placement.

### Ethical Recruitment

Signatory of the IOM IRIS ethical recruitment framework.

Our Promise

## Transparency Without Exception

### No Hidden Fees

Every cost detailed upfront. No surprise charges, no margin tricks.

### Audit-Ready Records

Complete documentation trail for every placement, every permit, every payment.

### Worker Protections

Zero recruitment fees charged to workers. Fair contracts, fair wages, dignity always.

Terms explained

## What the paperwork actually means

**Labour-market access**
: The decision by the Employment Agency of Bulgaria that allows a specific employer to hire a specific non-EU worker for a specific role. It is the gate everything else depends on, and it usually takes 30 to 45 days.

**Type D visa**
: A Bulgarian long-stay visa. The worker applies for it at the Bulgarian embassy in their home country once labour-market access is granted; it is what lets them enter the country to take up the job. Typically 35 to 60 days.

**Single residence and work permit**
: One document combining the right to live and the right to work in Bulgaria, issued by the Migration Directorate after arrival. It replaces the type D visa as the worker's standing permission and is Bulgaria's implementation of EU Directive 2011/98.

**Third-country national**
: Anyone who is not a citizen of an EU or EEA member state or Switzerland. Workers from the Philippines, Nepal and Thailand fall in this category, which is why the permit process applies to them.

## Official sources

The rules Personela works under are public. These are the primary sources for the obligations described on this page.

- [Employment Agency of Bulgaria](https://www.az.government.bg/) — the authority that decides labour-market access for third-country nationals.
- [Migration Directorate, Bulgarian Ministry of Interior](https://www.mvr.bg/migration) — issues the single residence-and-work permit.
- [Directive 2011/98/EU (EU Single Permit Directive)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32011L0098) — the EU framework Bulgaria implements.
- [Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj) — governs how candidate and client data is handled.
- [Commission for Personal Data Protection (CPDP)](https://cpdp.bg/en/) — the Bulgarian supervisory authority.

This page summarises legal requirements for orientation. It is not legal advice. See our [ten-stage process](/en/process/) for how each filing fits the timeline.

## Compliance Questions?

Our legal team is available for compliance briefings, due diligence calls, and audit support.

Book Compliance Call [Contact Legal Team](/en/contact/)