Employment law
Employing Staff in Bulgaria
The Labour Code sets most of the rules, and they are firm but clear: a written contract registered with the tax agency, a 40-hour week, at least 20 days of paid leave, and notice and compensation fixed by law.
Hiring
- The contract must be in writing and signed before work starts.
- The employer registers it with the National Revenue Agency within three days, and any termination within seven days.
- Contracts are open-ended or fixed-term; a fixed term is normally up to three years.
- Pay in contracts signed since 1 January 2026 must be stated only in euro.
- Probation: up to six months on an open-ended contract, one month on a fixed-term contract shorter than a year.
Source: Chambers and Partners: Employment 2026, Bulgaria, trends and developments1
Working time
| Normal hours | 8 a day, 40 a week |
|---|---|
| Night work | Up to 35 hours a week on a five-day week |
| Rest | 12 hours a day; 48 hours in a row each week |
| Overtime | Up to 150 hours a year, or 300 under a collective agreement |
| Hours averaged over a period | One to four months, or up to 12 under a collective agreement |
Source: Chambers and Partners: Employment 2026, Bulgaria, trends and developments1
Leave and sick pay
- Annual leave: at least 20 working days, more for some jobs. It can only be paid out when employment ends.
- Sick leave: the employer pays the first days at 70% of pay; the National Social Security Institute then pays 80%, or 90% after an accident at work.
- Maternity: 410 days per child at 90% of pay; after six months the father or a grandparent can take the rest.
- Paternity: 15 days at 90% of pay.
Source: Chambers and Partners: Employment 2026, Bulgaria, trends and developments; Eurofound: Bulgaria, individual employment relations1,2
Ending employment
| Notice, open-ended contract | 30 days, or up to 3 months if agreed |
|---|---|
| Notice, fixed-term contract | 3 months, but no longer than the rest of the term |
| Mutual agreement | No notice or compensation needed |
| Employer’s offer to end the contract | At least 4 months’ gross pay if the employee accepts |
| Closure, downsizing or less work | Pay for time out of work, up to 1 month |
| Wrongful dismissal | Pay for time out of work, up to 6 months |
Source: Chambers and Partners: Employment 2026, Bulgaria, trends and developments1
Either side can end employment early by paying the other the wage for the notice not given.1
Collective dismissals
| Workforce | Collective if within 30 days |
|---|---|
| 21 to 99 staff | 10 or more dismissals |
| 100 to 299 staff | 10% or more of staff |
| 300 or more staff | 30 or more dismissals |
Source: Chambers and Partners: Employment 2026, Bulgaria, trends and developments1
The employer must consult employee representatives and unions at least 45 days before, and inform the Employment Agency.1
New in 2026
- Bulgaria joined the euro on 1 January 2026; existing pay in leva was converted at BGN 1.95583 = €1.
- The EU pay transparency directive was due in national law by 7 June 2026. A draft law was put out for consultation in May 2026; check its progress before setting pay policy.
- The minimum wage is €620.20 a month.
Source: Chambers and Partners: Employment 2026, Bulgaria, trends and developments; National Assembly: Social security budget for 20261,3
Step by step
How to employ staff in Bulgaria
Follow these steps to choose, sign and register an employment contract in Bulgaria.
-
Choose the contract type
Employment contracts can be open-ended or fixed-term. A fixed term is normally up to three years.
-
Set the pay currency
For contracts signed since 1 January 2026, pay must be stated only in euro.
-
Sign the contract
The contract must be in writing and signed before work starts.
-
Register the contract
The employer registers the contract with the National Revenue Agency within three days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the standard working hours in Bulgaria?
The standard working week in Bulgaria is 40 hours, with normal working hours of 8 a day. Night work is limited to 35 hours a week on a five-day week, and overtime is capped at 150 hours a year or 300 hours under a collective agreement.
How much paid annual leave do employees get in Bulgaria?
Employees in Bulgaria are entitled to at least 20 working days of paid annual leave, with more leave for some jobs. Annual leave can only be paid out when employment ends.
What notice period applies when ending an employment contract in Bulgaria?
For an open-ended contract in Bulgaria, the standard notice period is 30 days, or up to 3 months if agreed. For a fixed-term contract, notice is 3 months but cannot exceed the time remaining on the contract. Either side can end employment early by paying the wage for the notice period not given.
What is the minimum wage in Bulgaria in 2026?
Bulgaria’s minimum wage is €620.20 a month in 2026, following the country’s adoption of the euro on 1 January 2026.
How much maternity and paternity leave do employees get in Bulgaria?
Maternity leave in Bulgaria is 410 days per child at 90% of pay. After six months, the father or a grandparent can take the remaining leave. Paternity leave is 15 days at 90% of pay.
How soon must an employer register a new employee in Bulgaria?
An employer must register a written employment contract with Bulgaria’s National Revenue Agency within three days. The employer must register a termination within seven days.
Sources
- Chambers and Partners: Employment 2026, Bulgaria, trends and developments
- Eurofound: Bulgaria, individual employment relations
- National Assembly: Social security budget for 2026
Figures checked 13 October 2026. Prepared by InvestBulgaria for general information. It is not investment, tax or legal advice; please confirm details with a qualified adviser before acting.
