Doing Business in Varna
The Varna Economy
Varna is the largest city in north-eastern Bulgaria, on the Black Sea coast and Varna Lake. Its province produces 5.4% of Bulgaria’s gross domestic product, and the city’s most developed sectors are tourism, maritime industry, port services, trade, outsourcing and IT.5
Source: Institute for Market Economics: Varna–Devnya economic centre6
The Institute for Market Economics treats Varna and the nearby industrial town of Devnya as one economic centre. It produced BGN 12.4 billion of output in 2021, and Varna municipality generated 80% of its value added.6
Industry, Port and Shipbuilding
Industrial companies in Varna municipality produce about BGN 1 billion of output a year, more than BGN 220 million of it in shipbuilding. At least 100 companies build, repair and maintain ships, including the country’s largest ship-repair yard, and more than 14,000 people work in manufacturing.7
Inland, the municipalities of Devnya and Aksakovo produce more than BGN 1.5 billion of industrial output and are home to Bulgaria’s largest chemical companies. The fertiliser maker Agropolychim in Devnya was the economic centre’s largest company by revenue, with BGN 730 million.7,6
The Port of Varna handles cargo at two terminals, Varna East and Varna West. The state-owned National Company Industrial Zones runs the Varna West Industrial Zone for investors.13,11
IT, Outsourcing and Services
Varna Municipality counts outsourcing and IT among the city’s most developed sectors. Pay in the sector is well above the local average: an ICT services employee in Varna earned BGN 2,535 a month in 2021, against BGN 1,393 across the economic centre.5,6
The city has a growing technology community of IT service firms, start-ups, coworking spaces and incubators, such as Innovator, Wollow and Switch.12
The software companies, coworking spaces and office buildings listed in Varna are shown further down this page.
Workforce, Salaries and Universities
- 143,000 people were in work in Varna municipality, and unemployment was 2.1% in 2022.
- 37.4% of residents aged 7 and over have a university degree.
- The average gross salary in Varna Province was €1,284 a month at the end of 2025, one of the highest outside the capital.
- The city gained people from migration in 2025: 12,123 moved to Varna and 6,693 left.
Source: Institute for Market Economics: Varna–Devnya economic centre; BNR: Salaries by region, end of 2025; NSI via Varnafix: Population of the city of Varna at 31 December 20256,3,1
Varna has six universities: the University of Economics, the Technical University, the Medical University Prof. Dr. Paraskev Stoyanov, the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy, Varna Free University Chernorizets Hrabar and the Higher School of Management. There are also colleges of tourism, medicine and technology.5
Airport, Roads and Rail
Varna Airport served more than 1.8 million passengers in 2025, with 40 airlines flying to 61 destinations. The busiest routes are Sofia, London, Vienna, Istanbul and Frankfurt, and Wizz Air has two aircraft based there.4
Pan-European Transport Corridor 8, European road E87 and the A2 Hemus and A5 Black Sea motorways pass through Varna. The city’s railway station is the end of Bulgaria’s first railway line, and the city also has a marina.5
Foreign Investment and Large Employers
Foreign direct investment in the Varna–Devnya economic centre reached €1.47 billion by the end of 2021: €740 million in Devnya and most of the remaining €714 million in Varna. By sector, 55% went into industry, 19% into real estate and 13% into trade, transport and tourism.6
| Employer | Activity | Employees |
|---|---|---|
| St. Marina University Hospital | Healthcare | 1,800 |
| Electrodistribution North | Electricity distribution | 1,700 |
| Discordia | Transport | 1,400 |
| PPD Bulgaria | Clinical research | 1,300 |
Source: Institute for Market Economics: Varna–Devnya economic centre6
Registering a Company in Varna
Bulgaria has one national Commercial Register, so a company based in Varna can be filed online from anywhere with a qualified electronic signature, or on paper at the Registry Agency’s Varna office. After registration, the company deals with the Varna office of the National Revenue Agency for tax and VAT, and with Varna Municipality for local taxes and fees.8,9
| Office | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Registry Agency, Commercial Register | 54 Osmi Primorski Polk Blvd., 9002 Varna | 0700 121 07 |
| National Revenue Agency, Varna office | 128 Osmi Primorski Polk Blvd., 9002 Varna | (052) 360 888 |
| Varna Municipality | 43 Osmi Primorski Polk Blvd., 9000 Varna | |
| Varna Chamber of Commerce and Industry | 135 Primorski Blvd., 9000 Varna | (052) 61 21 73 |
Source: Registry Agency: Commercial Register contacts; Council of Ministers IISDA: National Revenue Agency offices; Varna Municipality: Characteristics of Varna; Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Regional chambers8,9,5,10
The full steps, documents, fees and timings are in the guide to registering a company in Bulgaria.
Step by step
How to register a company in Varna
Register an EOOD or OOD based in Varna: choose the details, arrange a Varna address, prepare and notarise the documents, pay in the capital, file with the Commercial Register and register with the Varna tax office.
-
Choose the company details
Choose an EOOD or OOD, select the business activity by NACE code and set the capital. The legal minimum capital is €1.
-
Arrange a Varna address
Provide a registered address in Varna, supported by a lease, title deed or serviced-office contract.
-
Prepare and notarise the documents
Prepare passport copies, the founding act or articles of association, proof of the address and a declaration of beneficial owners. The manager’s consent and specimen signature must be notarised.
-
Pay in the capital
Pay the capital into a capital account and obtain the bank’s certificate that it has been paid in.
-
File with the Commercial Register
File online with a qualified electronic signature, or on paper at the Registry Agency office at 54 Osmi Primorski Polk Blvd., Varna.
-
Register with the Varna tax office
Register employees, and VAT when required, with the National Revenue Agency office at 128 Osmi Primorski Polk Blvd., Varna.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Varna a good place to set up a business in Bulgaria?
Varna is Bulgaria’s third-largest city, with 322,683 residents, a major Black Sea port, an airport with 61 destinations and six universities. Tourism, maritime industry, port services, trade, outsourcing and IT are its most developed sectors, and average pay in the province is among the highest outside Sofia.
How do I register a company in Varna?
A Varna company is registered in the national Commercial Register, online with a qualified electronic signature or on paper at the Registry Agency office at 54 Osmi Primorski Polk Blvd. The online state fee is €28.12, and the company number usually follows in 3–7 working days. Tax and VAT matters are then handled by the National Revenue Agency office at 128 Osmi Primorski Polk Blvd.
Where can I rent office space in Varna?
Office buildings in Varna include Varna Towers, Landmark Centre Varna, Black Sea Center Offices, Business Center Nikulitsel and Business Park Varna. Coworking spaces include Innovator, Wollow and SWITCH. All of them are listed on this page with their contact details.
What is the average salary in Varna?
The average gross monthly salary in Varna Province was €1,284 in December 2025, one of the highest outside the capital. Pay in IT is well above the local average.
How do I get to Varna?
Varna Airport has 40 airlines flying to 61 destinations, including Sofia, London, Vienna, Istanbul and Frankfurt. The A2 Hemus and A5 Black Sea motorways pass through the city.
Sources
- NSI via Varnafix: Population of the city of Varna at 31 December 2025
- NSI via Moreto: Population of Varna Province and municipality, 2025
- BNR: Salaries by region, end of 2025
- Fraport Bulgaria: Burgas and Varna airports in 2025
- Varna Municipality: Characteristics of Varna
- Institute for Market Economics: Varna–Devnya economic centre
- Manager.bg: Industrial output in Varna
- Registry Agency: Commercial Register contacts
- Council of Ministers IISDA: National Revenue Agency offices
- Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Regional chambers
- Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Varna West Industrial Zone
- Interreg Europe: Varna regional report, 2025
- Port of Varna: Cargo at Varna East and Varna West
Figures checked 15 October 2026. Prepared by InvestBulgaria for general information. Figures come from the sources listed; check addresses and opening hours with each office before you visit.
