EU Blue card: required documents

Obtaining an EU Blue Card in the EU and specifically in Bulgaria involves gathering specific documents and following certain legal procedures. Here's a detailed breakdown of the required documents that you'll need during the whole process and the legalization process:

Required Documents from the candidate:

1. Employment Contract:

• A binding job offer or employment contract with a duration of at least 6 months and up to 5 years from a Bulgarian company. The salary must be at least 1.5 times the average gross annual salary for the respective year.

1. Proof of Professional Qualification:

• Diplomas, certificates, or other documents proving the required higher professional qualifications or relevant work experience of at least five years in the respective field.

1. Passport:

• A valid passport with copies of all pages containing important information.

1. Application Form:

• A completed EU Blue Card application form, which is available from the Bulgarian Migration Directorate or their website

1. Health Insurance:

• Proof of health insurance coverage valid in Bulgaria, which covers all risks for the duration of the visa until the issuance of the ID card

1. Accommodation Proof:

• Documents showing you have a place to stay in Bulgaria, such as a rental contract or proof of property ownership or a declaration from your landlord

1. Two Recent Passport-Sized Photos:

• Photos should meet the Bulgarian visa photo requirements - for the purposes of the visa issuance

1. Criminal Record Certificate:

• A certificate from your home country or the country where you have resided for the last five years, proving you have no criminal record.

Required Documents from the company:

1. Declaration forms

2. Justification for hiring a non- EU national

3. Power of attorney if submitted by an authorized person

4. Documents for the office which will be the workplace

Legalization Process

The legalization process is essential for ensuring that your foreign documents are recognized by Bulgarian authorities. This typically involves:

1. Apostille:

• For documents issued by countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention, you need an apostille. This is a simplified certification that verifies the authenticity of the document. The apostille is obtained from the competent authority in the country where the document was issued.

1. Consular Legalization:

• For documents issued by countries not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, consular legalization is required. This process involves several steps:

• Certification by the foreign ministry of the country where the document was issued.

• Certification by the Bulgarian embassy or consulate in that country.

• Translation into Bulgarian by a certified translator, followed by certification of the translation by a Bulgarian notary.

1. Translation and Certification:
   

• All documents in a foreign language must be translated into Bulgarian by a certified translator. The translation must be certified by a Bulgarian notary public.

By ensuring all your documents are properly prepared and legalized, you can facilitate a smoother application process for the EU Blue Card in Bulgaria.