12,000 foreign workers approved for Bulgaria’s tourism sector in Q1

A total of 12,000 permits for third-country workers in the tourism sector were issued in the first quarter of this year, caretaker Tourism Minister Irena Georgieva told BNT. She noted that 24,000 permits were granted in 2025 as a whole.

Ms Georgieva said staffing needs are largely met through recruitment agencies sourcing workers from Asia. The main countries of origin are India and Uzbekistan, where measures have been taken to speed up visa processing. Applicants from Indonesia, the Philippines and Kyrgyzstan have also come this year.

However, the minister added that this is not a sustainable solution to labour shortages and that efforts should focus on retaining trained tourism workers in Bulgaria.

Editor: Miglena Ivanova