HIRE-FROM-ANYWHERE
EOR
Contractor

Hire employees and contractors in Bulgaria

Outstaffer’s guide to employing in Bulgaria.
Bulgaria employee facts

Facts & stats

Bulgaria is a country in Southeast Europe with Romania, Serbia and North Macedonia, Greece, and Turkey as its bordering countries. Its capital and largest city is Sofia while other major cities include Plovdiv, Varna, and Burgas.

Bulgaria is a founding state of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and is a member of NATO, the European Union, and the Council of Europe. The country's economy revolves around services industries, in addition to mining and agriculture. Even though Bulgaria has the lowest GDP per capita and joint-lowest Human Development Index in the European Union, it is a developing country with an upper-middle-income economy.

Capital city
Sofia
Currency
Bulgarian lev (лв., BGN)
Official Languages
Bulgarian
Population size

6,912,730 (Mar 7 2021)

Ease of doing business

Easy

Cost of living index

$$ (91 of 139 nations)

Payroll frequency

Monthly

VAT - standard rate

20%

GDP - real growth rate

3.7% (2019)

Tech talent

Tech Talent in Bulgaria

Bulgaria is emerging as a notable destination for tech talent in Eastern Europe. The country boasts a strong and growing pool of skilled software developers, engineers, and IT professionals. Bulgarian universities produce graduates with a solid foundation in computer science and technology, while the lower cost of living and business-friendly environment make it an attractive location for tech companies and startups. Sofia, Bulgaria's capital, has become a thriving tech hub, fostering innovation and collaboration within the industry. Bulgarian tech talent is gaining recognition for its expertise and versatility, contributing to the country's growing presence in the global tech sector.

This is some text inside of a div block.
Top Skills

What’s a Rich Text element?

The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.

Static and dynamic content editing

A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!

How to customize formatting for each rich text

Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.

Top Industries

What’s a Rich Text element?

The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.

Static and dynamic content editing

A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!

How to customize formatting for each rich text

Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.

Average Market Salary

What’s a Rich Text element?

The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.

Static and dynamic content editing

A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!

How to customize formatting for each rich text

Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.

Diversity

What’s a Rich Text element?

The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.

Static and dynamic content editing

A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!

How to customize formatting for each rich text

Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.

Years of Experience

What’s a Rich Text element?

The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.

Static and dynamic content editing

A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!

How to customize formatting for each rich text

Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.

Years in Current Company

What’s a Rich Text element?

The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.

Static and dynamic content editing

A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!

How to customize formatting for each rich text

Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.

hire from Bulgaria

Grow your team in Bulgaria with Outstaffer

Looking to employ workers in Bulgaria? Companies hiring in Bulgaria must either own a legal entity in the country or work with a global employment solutions provider, usually one that provides employer of record services.

Outstaffer can employ your team in Argentina on your behalf through our local legal entity in the country and handle payroll, benefits, taxes, and compliance for your Argentina team. You can also pay contractors now in Argentina with Outstaffer.

#hire from Bulgaria

Grow your team in Bulgaria with Outstaffer

Looking to employ workers in Australia? Companies hiring in Australia must either own a legal entity in the country or work with a global employment solutions provider, usually one that provides employer of record services.

Outstaffer makes it easy for companies of all sizes to employ workers in Australia using our employer of record solution. We can help employ your Australian team using our local Australian entity, as well as handle your payroll, benefits, taxes, and local legal compliance.

Public holidays

Below are national public holidays applicable for all regions in this country

No items found.

Jan 2

New Year Holiday - observed (Нова година)

Apr 17

Orthodox Easter Monday (Великден)

Sep 22

Independence Day (Ден на Независимостта на България)

Mar 3

Liberation Day (Ден на Освобождението на България от османско иго - национален празник)

May 1

Labour Day (Ден на труда и на международната работническа солидарност)

Dec 25

Christmas Day (Рождество Христово)

Apr 14

Orthodox Good Friday (Великден)

May 8

Saint George’s Day - observed (Гергьовден, Ден на храбростта и Българската армия)

Dec 26

Second Day of Christmas (Рождество Христово)

Apr 15

Orthodox Holy Saturday (Великден)

May 24

Culture and Literacy Day (Ден на светите братя Кирил и Методий, на българската азбука, просвета и култура и на славянската книжовност)

Dec 27

Christmas Eve - observed (Бъдни вечер)

Apr 16

Orthodox Easter Sunday (Великден)

Sep 6

Unification Day (Ден на Съединението)

Minimum Wage

From January 2021, the minimum working salary and monthly social security income were increased from BGN 610 to BGN 650. The maximum monthly social security income remains at BGN 3,000.


Overtime Pay

From January 2021, the minimum working salary and monthly social security income were increased from BGN 610 to BGN 650. The maximum monthly social security income remains at BGN 3,000.


Payroll Cycle

Salaries in Bulgaria are paid mid-month for the previous month. For example, salaries for April are paid in mid-May.


Onboarding Time

Start working with your new Bulgarian employee right away with our streamlined onboarding process.
Our team reduces time-to-start while offering an exceptional and engaging employee onboarding experience. We handle the compliance and onboarding woes so you can get started fast.
Once the employee submits the required information onto our platform, the actual onboarding time depends on registration with local authorities, the Right to Work assessment (if applicable) and payroll cut-off dates.
On average, Outstaffer.com onboards new Bulgarian talent in under 14 days.

13th Month Salary

attract & retain talent

Competitive benefits package
in Bulgaria

Outstaffer supports our clients by offering competitive benefits packages that will help you attract and retain the best talent across the globe! Our benefits specialists have done the research on norms and requirements in each local market and have crafted packages that will allow your employees to thrive, no matter what country they live in.Our benefits packages in Bulgaria are tailored to fulfil the local needs of your employees. Typically, our packages contain some or all of the following benefits:

Supplemental screening & vaccine insurance
Supplemental maternity insurance
Employee engagement funds
Flexible work schedule
Additional paid holidays
Supplementary vision insurance
Supplemental dental insurance
Private health insurance
Learn More About Benefit Packages
subtitle

Taxes in the Bulgaria

Learn how employment taxes and statutory fees affect your payroll and your employees’ paychecks in Bulgaria.
Employer
  • 10.92% - State Social Insurance contributions (disability, disease, maternity, old age pension)
  • 2.80% - Supplementary Compulsory Pension Insurance
  • 4.80% - Healthcare contributions (mandatory medical insurance)
  • 0.4-1.1% - Accident at Work and Occupational Diseases Fund
  • The contributions to the State Insurance System are based on the gross salary of the employee, but the total is limited to a monthly maximum of BGN 3,000 as of 2020.

Employee Payroll taxes
  • 8.38% - State Social Insurance contributions (disability, disease, maternity, old age pension)
  • 2.20% - Supplementary Compulsory Pension Insurance
  • 3.20% - Healthcare contributions (mandatory medical insurance)
  • Employee Income tax


    10%
    flat rate (personal income tax is taken from the gross salary minus all contributions)

    Leave

    Types of leave

    Statutory leave

    In Bulgaria, four weeks of leave is granted every year. It is also interesting to note that in the scenario where a public holiday falls on a weekend, the following Monday becomes a paid holiday.


    Pregnancy and maternity leave

    Expecting mothers are entitled to 58 weeks at 90% of the maximum social security income (capped at 3,000 BGN in 2021, raised to 3,400 BGN in April 2022). This income is paid by the government, not the employer. Forty-five days of maternity leave are usually taken before the birth of a child. With the mother's consent, when the child reaches six months, the leave can be transferred to the father for the rest of the period.


    Paid parental and maternity leave

    Salaried employees in Australia are entitled to four weeks of paid annual leave each year. Shift workers receive an additional week of paid leave, for a total of five weeks per year.

    Partner/Paternity leave

    In Bulgaria, paternity leave is for 2 weeks with 90% pay.


    Parental leave

    The parental leave is for 104 weeks out of which there will be a flat-rate of income fixed for 52 weeks while the remaining period will be unpaid leave.


    Other leave

    The employer pays 70% of the basic income for the first three days of illness or general injury. Social Security provides 80% of the basic income from the fourth day of sickness until full recovery.

    The employee needs to provide a sickness leave document from a medical practitioner within 2 days of issue and the employer must register this document to the authorities. The doctor is also responsible for sending a separate document to the authorities.

    According to the Bulgarian legislation the employer has an obligation to maintain a sick leave register and keep the sick leave documents presented by employees for a period of three years. The documents have to be kept in their original form. This data must be submitted to the National Social Security Institute (NSSI) and the deadline for this reporting is the 10th date of the following month after the sick leave documents are presented by the employee.


    subtitle

    Employment termination

    Termination process

    In Bulgaria, there are various laws to be followed by both employers and employees in the case of a termination. For example, if there is a mutual agreement between the parties to terminate the employment contract, it is easily dealt with, by communicating it in writing. However, if the employee is part of a union, then the employer will have to take permission from the union before terminating the employee.

    Employers face significant complexity managing any form of termination, as there are so many specific types of terminations specifically outlined in the labour code and other employment laws.

    Potential reasons for terminations:

    • closing the enterprise, in which the individual is employed, or of a part of the enterprise
    • reduction of the number of working positions
    • decrease of workload
    • discontinuation of work by the employing enterprise for more than 15 business days
    • lack of capacity of the employee for effective performance of his/her labour duties
    • lack of professional qualification or required educational background, necessary for effective performance of the labour duties
    • refusal of the employee to relocate to another town or location together with the enterprise, in which the employee works
    • change of the requirements for performance of the labour duties inherent to the position, provided that the employee fails to meet these requirements
    • the employee has become entitled to retire on old age pension; or upon attainment of the age of 65 in the case of professors, associate professors or persons holding a doctoral degree (with some exceptions)
    • if the employee has been granted a pension for contributory service and retirement age in a reduced amount in accordance with the Social Insurance Code
    • if the employment relationship has arisen after the employee has acquired and exercised his right to old age pension
    • if the employment relationship has arisen after the employee has been granted a contributory service and retirement age pension in a reduced amount in accordance with the Social Insurance Code
    • objective impossibility for performance by the employee
    • if the position has to be vacated for an employee who was reinstated in the position after having been unlawfully dismissed
    • execution of an agreement for assignment of management with registered directors of the employing entity (in the latter case an employer is entitled to terminate employment agreements only with managerial personnel; this right lapses upon the expiry of nine months from the commencement of the agreement for assignment of management).
    Notice period

    In Bulgaria, the length of the notice period depends on whether it’s an open ended (permanent) contract or a fixed term contract.

    Notice period for an open ended contract: a minimum of one (1) month of notice period

    Fixed term contract: A minimum of three (3) months of notice period

    Severance pay

    Severance pay for unilateral termination

    There is no statutory severance pay unless in the following scenarios:

    • Termination of employment due to an illness: In this case, for an employee with at least 5 years of service, 2 months' gross remuneration must be paid as severance
    • Termination after the employee is eligible for a pension: In this case, 2 months of pay as severance (or) 6 months of pay for a job tenure of >= 10 years
    • Termination because of downsizing or closing down the company: One month of severance must be paid

    Severance pay for termination by mutual agreement

    When the employer wants to terminate through a mutual agreement (both parties agree to terminate the contract), there is a minimum requirement of four (4months) of severance (bonus) to be paid to the employee. However, the parties can agree on a higher amount of the compensation.

    Probation periods

    In Bulgaria, the probation period cannot exceed 6 months.

    Automated SaaS Global WORKFORCE Platform

    Outstaffer makes it amazingly simple to find, hire, equip and pay staff compliantly across APAC. Ready to get started?