
Sofia, Bulgaria – The full integration of Bulgaria into the Schengen Area has exacerbated existing challenges in hiring foreign workers, particularly in the tourism sector, industry experts warned during a roundtable discussion organized by the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and SPA Tourism (BUBST).
The event, which focused on post-Schengen tourism challenges, brought together hoteliers, labor recruitment agencies, and government officials.
The primary concern raised was the excessive bureaucracy and administrative delays that hinder the hiring process for seasonal foreign workers.
Businesses report that prolonged visa processing times—often exceeding three months—have led many applicants to abandon the process, opting instead for employment in countries with faster, more efficient systems.
One hotelier noted that processing documentation for 80 workers resulted in a staggering 1,000 pages of paperwork, placing a significant burden on businesses and government institutions alike.
Employers lamented that inefficiencies in Bulgaria’s onboarding process continue even after workers’ arrival, with additional delays in administrative approvals preventing them from starting work immediately.
Another major issue is the difficulty foreign workers face in opening bank accounts, often waiting up to two months to receive a banking card.
Since Bulgarian labor regulations require companies with over 100 employees to pay salaries via bank transfer, businesses are forced to either delay wages or risk fines for resorting to cash payments.
Beyond the private sector’s concerns, government institutions also struggle with limited staffing and excessive workloads.
Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that Bulgaria processes an estimated 2.8 million visa applications annually but operates only 85 consular services worldwide with just 100 employees and 70 technical assistants.
Budget constraints have prevented the hiring of additional staff, resulting in further delays for visa applicants.
Security concerns add another layer of complexity. Officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Agency for National Security (SANS) warned of fraudulent applications, particularly from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, including falsified criminal records and human trafficking cases.
They also raised concerns about temporary work visas being misused, with some workers entering Bulgaria for short-term employment but later traveling freely within the Schengen area instead of returning home.
Representatives from Bulgaria’s tourism industry are calling for urgent modernization of the country’s visa application system. They argue that the lack of digitalization deters both potential workers and tourists.
Turkish visitors, for example, have shown increasing interest in Bulgaria’s winter tourism offerings, but lengthy visa processing times discourage many from booking trips.
In response, Tourism Minister Miroslav Borshosh announced plans to establish a working group to tackle the administrative and legislative hurdles affecting the sector.
He emphasized the importance of cooperation between ministries and parliamentary committees to develop effective solutions, stressing that the focus should be on future reforms rather than assigning blame for past inefficiencies.
As Bulgaria seeks to strengthen its tourism sector post-Schengen, businesses and government institutions alike face mounting pressure to streamline bureaucratic processes, improve digitalization, and address labor shortages to maintain the country’s competitive edge in the European market.
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