Bulgaria has swallowed an unprecedented wave of foreign labour – nearly 25 000 third‑country nationals entered the market in 2025, a scale that dwarfs the 10 000‑plus recorded just four years earlier. The influx has already reshaped the nation’s employment picture, prompting a fierce debate over wages, job security and the country’s long‑term migration strategy.
The Migration and Labour Ministry’s 2025 figures break down the permits as follows:
| Permit type | Quantity | Principal source countries |
|————-|———-|—————————-|
| Seasonal (up to 90 days) | 19 057 | Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey |
| Short‑term (up to 90 days) | 4 211 | Turkey, North Macedonia, India |
| Standard work permits | 1 295 | Turkey, North Macedonia, India |
| Self‑employed & Bulgarian‑origin | 79 | Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, others |
Hospitality and restaurants, agriculture‑forestry‑fishing and construction‑related support services gobble up the largest shares of this foreign workforce, with kitchen staff, waiters, pickers and bricklayers forming the bulk of new hires. Beyond these pillars, migrants are also filling roles in health‑care, trade, transport, industry and creative sectors, underscoring the government’s reliance on flexible, short‑term labour to plug chronic low‑skill shortages.
Wage data released by the National Statistical Institute at the end of 2024 show divergent trends in the sectors most saturated by migrants.
| Sector | Avg. gross monthly wage (BGN) | Month‑on‑month change |
|——–|——————————|———————–|
| Accommodation & Food Service | 1 557 | ↑ from 1 484 |
| Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing | 1 652 | ↓ from 1 675 |
| Administrative & Support Services (incl. construction) | 2 015 | ↑ from 1 940 |
Hospitality and construction‑related support services have posted all‑time highs, suggesting that after a period of acute shortage employers are now offering higher pay to retain both domestic and foreign staff. In contrast, agricultural wages have slipped modestly, indicating that the surge of seasonal workers has eased upward pressure on pay in that field. While the data stop short of proving causality, the timing of the wage peaks aligns closely with the peak of migrant recruitment.
The social‑cohesion picture is equally mixed. Economist Georgi Vuldzhev’s study links the surge to perceived job losses among younger, less‑educated Bulgarians, noting that labour imports have more than tripled since 2021 and that the domestic labour‑market deficit has risen by over 25 %. Yet a review of news coverage from late 2025 to early 2026 finds no large‑scale protests directly targeting migrant workers; public unrest has focused on broader political issues such as budget disputes and anti‑corruption rallies. The government has therefore begun drafting integration programmes aimed at older migrants, though concrete participation figures remain unpublished.
Policy makers are moving quickly to reshape the legal framework. At the close of 2025 the cabinet approved a draft amendment to the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, introducing a digital‑nomad residence permit and new 10‑year identity cards – a clear bid to attract high‑skill, remote‑work talent while the country continues to depend on seasonal low‑skill labour. Early 2026 saw the launch of the “Residence Permit for Remote Work” visa, marketed as a catalyst for innovation and economic development. Simultaneously, analysts have called for tighter quotas, proposing that foreign hires be limited to positions offering salaries at least 50 % above the sectoral average – a safeguard intended to protect domestic workers without choking the flow of needed seasonal staff. A draft amendment to the Labour Migration and Labour Mobility Act is also under public consultation, promising stricter permit criteria, enhanced employer monitoring and expanded integration support for long‑term migrants.
The 2025 migration wave has already altered Bulgaria’s labour market, lifted wages in some sectors and sparked a nuanced debate over social cohesion and policy direction. Continued monitoring of sectoral wage trends, domestic employment rates and the impact of integration initiatives will be essential to gauge whether the current model can sustain the country’s economic needs while maintaining public support. The outcome of the pending legislative reforms will likely determine whether Bulgaria can balance its reliance on seasonal foreign labour with the political pressure to safeguard jobs for its own workforce.
Image Source: foregale.co.uk
