Workers from third countries for your company
We select professionals for your position, with priority for people with families. You will see exactly what experience each candidate has before you hire them.
Licence No. 2724 (Ministry of Labour) · You pay after choosing the candidates
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18+ years of team experience in recruitment · 130+ client companies · candidates from 20+ countries · 20,000+ candidates in our database
Hiring workers from abroad — we handle the whole procedure
You tell us how many people you need and what kind — we take care of the rest.
Hiring a citizen of a country outside the European Union involves several institutions — the Migration Directorate of the Ministry of Interior, the Employment Agency, the State Agency for National Security (DANS), the Bulgarian embassy in the worker's country and the Labour Inspectorate. Each step has its own documents and requirements, and a single mistake sends the process back to the start.
The Wave is a consultancy for recruitment and relocation of staff. We hold licence No. 2724 issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and take care of the whole journey from the first interview to the first working day, so your team can focus on its work instead of paperwork.
- Thorough selectionProfessionals with experience in exactly this job — with priority for people with families back home, who stay long-term. You interview the finalists and choose.
- Documents and legalisationWe collect, translate and legalise the documents and advise you on every legal requirement.
- Work permit and visaSingle permit for residence and work, type D visa and residence card.
- Travel and insuranceLogistics and travel to Bulgaria, medical insurance and life insurance.
- AccommodationWe find suitable housing close to the workplace — before the people arrive.
- AdaptationAirport pick-up, Bulgarian language training and a 30-day retention plan for the new staff.
Worker selection — professionals chosen specifically for the position
We provide both general staff and skilled specialists. Every candidate goes through a thorough screening, so you get a person who can do the job and wants to stay with you.
We find responsible, serious, motivated and loyal candidates for you.
We give priority to people who have families in their home country. A worker who supports a family back home comes with a clear goal: a stable job and a regular salary for years ahead. Such people don't change jobs at the first difficulty — they stay long-term in the chosen position and become part of your team.
- Job profileWe start from your requirements: experience, skills, shifts and working conditions.
- Experience and skills checkWe look for professionals with experience in exactly this work — a cook for a kitchen, a bricklayer for a site, a tailor for a workshop.
- Motivation and familyWe understand why the candidate is leaving home and whether they have a reason to stay long — with priority for people with families.
- Demonstration and interview with youBefore you choose a candidate, they demonstrate exactly how they work and what they can do. You hold the interview and decide.
Guarantees when hiring workers from abroad
You pay after choosing the candidates.
You don't pay for promises. First you see the people, interview them and approve the ones you want in your team. Terms and price are written in the contract from day one — no surprises along the way.
- Quality guaranteeIt is set out in the contract — you know in advance what follows if a hired worker does not stay or does not cope.
- 30-day retention planThe first month decides whether a person stays. We follow the adaptation together with you.
- Peace of mind with the authoritiesWe send you the form for the notification to the General Labour Inspectorate and check the 20% / 30% quota.
- Checklist for your HR departmentYou receive a list of all legal requirements covered — for a calm inspection at any time.
- Real positions onlyWe advertise a position only after a signed contract and a confirmed hiring need.
Why more and more companies in Bulgaria hire workers from third countries
Hotels, construction companies, workshops and farms spend months looking for people for the same positions. The workforce in the country is shrinking and peak seasons don't wait. Hiring staff from outside the EU is no longer an experiment — it is a normal way for a business to run at full capacity.
According to Migration Directorate data cited by the Institute for Market Economics, about 15,600 work permits were issued in 2025, and according to the Employment Agency the number exceeds 25,000. Despite the growth, workers from third countries are still under 1.5% of everyone employed in Bulgaria — demand is much higher than supply.
Working with an agency saves the three most expensive things in this process:
- TimeYou don't lose months researching procedures and waiting on incorrectly filed documents.
- RiskWork without a permit brings penalties for the company and closes its access to new foreign workers for 2 years.
- The wrong hireCandidates go through pre-selection, and you choose only from approved people.
How to hire workers from third countries — 5 steps
Here is what happens and who does what — from the first conversation to the first working day.
Consultation and request
Within 24 hours of your enquiry
We agree on the number of people, the positions, the salary, the start date and the accommodation. We check whether your company meets the conditions for labour market access — the quota, no debts to the state, and working conditions no less favourable than for Bulgarian workers.
Screening and interviews
Candidates matching your profile
We present carefully selected professionals with experience in exactly this position — with priority for candidates with families back home. You personally make sure what experience they have and how exactly they do the job you need them for — and only then do you hire them. You pay only after the choice is made.
Documents and work permit
We file the documents for you
We prepare and file the application for a single permit for residence and work with the Migration Directorate, which requests an opinion from the Employment Agency.
Type D visa and travel
We prepare the candidate
After the positive decision the worker applies for a long-stay type D visa at the Bulgarian embassy. We prepare them for the interview, buy the ticket and arrange the medical insurance.
Arrival and first working day
We meet and settle them in
We meet the people at the airport and settle them in. The worker appears in person at the Migration Directorate for the residence card, you sign the employment contract, and we send you the form for the notification to the Labour Inspectorate.
How many workers from third countries can you hire?
The law allows workers from outside the EU to make up to 30% of the staff in companies with up to 249 people, and up to 20% in larger ones. Answer two questions and see how many people you can hire.
Average over the last 12 months, under employment contracts
If none, leave 0
The rule: a company with up to 249 employees may have up to 30% workers from outside the EU, a larger company — up to 20%.
You can hire another
6workers
Your company's limit is 6 people (30% of 20 employees). You already have 0.
You are at the limit right now. Call us and we will check your options.
Get an exact calculationIndicative calculation under the Labour Migration and Labour Mobility Act — for companies with up to 249 people and turnover up to €50 million. We do the exact calculation free of charge during the consultation.
Which countries our workers come from
We work with countries where wages are lower than in Bulgaria. This lets us offer motivated and qualified people on competitive terms. Looking for another country or a specific qualification? Tell us and we will arrange it.
Sectors and positions we recruit for
We specialise in hard-to-fill positions — where local candidates are almost non-existent and the work cannot wait.
Staff for hotels, restaurants and resorts
Year-round and seasonal teams — from the kitchen to guest service. For the season, the law allows a seasonal worker permit for up to 9 months within 12 months; for year-round work — a single permit for up to 3 years.
- Cooks
- Assistant cooks
- Kitchen helpers
- Waiters
- Bartenders
- Housekeepers
- Cleaners
- Massage therapists
- Supervisors
Construction workers
People with on-site experience — for structural work, finishing and installations. We check practical skills during the interview, so you don't discover the gaps on site.
- General workers
- Bricklayers
- Plasterers
- Drywall finishers
- Tilers
- Finishing specialists
- Welders
- Electricians
- Plumbers
Manufacturing staff
Operators and workers for production lines, workshops and warehouses. Suitable for shift work and for periods with more orders.
- Machine operators
- Production line operators
- General workers
- Quality control
- Shift supervisors
Tailors and textile workers
Experienced tailors and workers for textile and leather products — a sector where the shortage of staff in Bulgaria is especially acute.
- Tailors
- Leather goods workers
- Cutters
- Support staff
Drivers, mechanics and tyre fitters
Staff for transport and service companies. For drivers we also check the licensing requirements and the recognition of documents before starting the procedure.
- Drivers
- Car mechanics
- Tyre fitters
- Car service workers
Agricultural workers
People for farms, livestock and gardens — year-round or for the season. Agriculture is one of the sectors where seasonal employment of third-country nationals is possible.
- Farm workers
- Livestock breeders
- Gardeners
- Seasonal workers
Reviews from employers who hire with The Wave
Hotels, restaurants, courier and manufacturing companies — here is what they say about working with us. Reviews translated from Bulgarian.
We are happy to partner with The Wave. Their team is professional and fair, and thanks to them SPEEDY now employs 60 motivated people. We recommend them!
The Wave supported us in finding quality foreign staff for the restaurant, and the results have always been excellent. Thanks to them we rely on a team that works willingly and cares about our guests.
We rely on and trust The Wave for quality recruitment for our team. Their work is precise, reliable and fully aligned with the needs of our business. Thanks to them we attract motivated, reliable and well-prepared specialists who fit perfectly into our company.
We recommend The Wave as a reliable partner in recruiting foreign staff. Thanks to their professionalism and careful selection, we receive motivated and well-prepared employees who meet our high standards.
We fully trust The Wave with the recruitment of foreign staff. Thanks to their professional approach, we get motivated, quality employees who raise the level of service for our guests.
Mon Ami Apartments works with The Wave to recruit foreign staff, and we always receive a professional attitude and well-prepared candidates. Their approach helps us maintain a high level of service for our guests.
We can confirm that The Wave is a reliable partner in recruiting foreign staff for hospitality and tourism businesses. Thanks to their professionalism and precise selection, we get motivated and competent employees ready to serve guests at an international level.
Videos: how we help employers
Short clips about the most common problems employers bring to us — and how we solve them. The videos are in Bulgarian.
The price of hiring a worker from abroad — what it depends on
The price is set individually and written into the contract before the procedure starts. There are no hidden fees popping up along the way, and we don't take money before you have chosen the candidates. The final price depends on:
- the number of workers you need;
- the country they come from — embassy, document legalisation and travel costs differ;
- the position and the requirements for experience and qualification;
- the type of employment — seasonal or year-round;
- accommodation — whether you need us to find it.
Apart from the service price, the employer pays the worker's salary and social security contributions. Pay cannot be lower than for Bulgarian employees in the same position, nor below the minimum wage — €620.20 from 1 January 2026.
To prepare the most suitable offer for you, please fill in the form. The consultation is free and does not commit you to anything.
The Wave — a recruitment and relocation consultancy
Our mission is simple: to help your business find the right people, on time.
Everywhere in nature and in the economy we see the wave — a symbol of constant change that drives and creates. That is why we are called The Wave. Before we look for candidates, we get to know the company and its culture: the right person is not only the one with the skills, but also the one who will stay. That is why we give priority to people with families back home — they come with a clear goal and stay long-term.
We work with employers in small and large towns across the country — from seaside hotels to manufacturers inland. Candidates come from more than 20 countries in Asia and Africa.
- Human attitudeTowards the employer and towards every candidate who travels thousands of kilometres for a new job.
- IntegrityWe promise only terms we can deliver.
- TransparencyYou always know which stage the procedure is at and what comes next.
- Value for the clientLong-term partnerships, not one-off deals.
Frequently asked questions about hiring foreigners in Bulgaria
How do you select the workers?
Every candidate goes through a thorough selection based on the profile of the specific position: we check their experience, skills and motivation. We present only professionals chosen specifically for the position, and you hold the final interview.
Why do you give priority to candidates with families?
Because people who support a family back home come with a clear goal — a stable job for years ahead. They don't change jobs at the first difficulty and stay long-term in the chosen position.
When do I pay the agency?
After you have chosen the candidates. The amount and payment stages are written in the contract before we start.
What happens if the worker leaves or doesn't cope?
We give a quality guarantee, which is set out in the contract.
How many foreigners can my company employ?
Third-country nationals with a single permit can be up to 20% of the average number of employees over the last 12 months, and up to 30% for small and medium-sized enterprises. Calculate your quota with the calculator.
Do I have to provide accommodation for the workers?
By law, every foreigner must have secured accommodation in order to come to Bulgaria. If you cannot provide it, we will provide it for you.
What salary must the worker receive?
No less than Bulgarian employees in the same position and not below the minimum wage — €620.20 from 1 January 2026.
For how long is the work permit issued?
The single permit for residence and work is issued for the term of the employment contract, but for no longer than 3 years, and can be renewed.
Do the workers speak Bulgarian or English?
It depends on the country — many candidates speak basic English or Russian, which we check during the interview. We also provide Bulgarian language training.
What documents does my company need?
Company and staff data, a draft employment contract and a job description. The company must have no established debts to the state. You receive the full list after the consultation.
Which towns do you work in?
We work with employers in small and large towns across the country.
Is the agency licensed?
Yes. The Wave operates under licence No. 2724 issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy.
More than 130 clients already trust us
- We have already found more than 100 candidates for Speedy.
- We put together a team for a restaurant business such as Bato Trade.
- We selected production staff for Zaramak.
Free consultation on hiring workers from abroad
Tell us how many people you need and for what job. Within 24 hours a consultant will call you back with concrete steps and a price for your case.