1. Living and Working in Bulgaria Cyprus - European Job Days Nicosia, 22 - 23 November 2013 Nicosia, 22 - 23 November 2013

2. Bulgaria  Area (sq. km) 110 994  Population 7 204 687  Capital Sofia  Official language Bulgarian  Government type Parliamentary republic  National currency Bulgarian lev (BGN)  Exchange rate BGN / € - 1.95 / 1  Time zone GTM +  Flag

3. Registration procedures up to 3 months - stay only with an ID card/passport up to 3 months - stay only with an ID card/passport up to 5 years – a long term residence certificate up to 5 years – a long term residence certificate If they If they - work / are self-employed - are enrolled in an education course (incl. vocational training) - prove that they have enough funds for living - prove that they have enough funds for living after a 5-year period – a permanent residence certificate after a 5-year period – a permanent residence certificate The residence certificates are issued by the Regional Directorate of Interior Affairs (Migration Directorate) www.mfa.government.bg

4. Accommodation How to find accommodation? National and regional daily newspapersNational and regional daily newspapers InternetInternetwww.imot.bgwww.accommodation-bg.comwww.nami.bg.com Real Estate AgenciesReal Estate Agencies The rent of an apartment per month /without heating/: from € 300 - € 600 in Sofia from € 150 - € 300 in small towns. Rental contracts /a deposit for rent is common/

5. Cost of living BGN EUR Bread 1kg 1.50 0.77 Milk 1L 2.00 1.02 Butter 250 g 1.50 0.77 Cheese 1kg 16.008.00 Beef 1kg 12.006.13 Flour 1kg 1.200.61 Beer 0.33 1.200.61 Cola 1.5L 1.900.97 Coffee 250 g 2.50 1.28 Bus/tram ticket 1.000.51 Petrol 1L 2.80 1.43

6. Health system A personal medical specialist - GP A personal medical specialist - GP Medical professionals and medical institutions that have sighed contracts with the National Health Insurance Fund /www.nhif.bg/ Medical professionals and medical institutions that have sighed contracts with the National Health Insurance Fund /www.nhif.bg/ A visit tax - BGN 2.90 or EUR 1.38 A visit tax - BGN 2.90 or EUR 1.38 A bed tax in a hospital - BGN 5.80 for each day (for the first 10 days annually) A bed tax in a hospital - BGN 5.80 for each day (for the first 10 days annually) Persons without due health insurances pay the taxes and the full cost of the medical services they received Persons without due health insurances pay the taxes and the full cost of the medical services they received Private hospitals Private hospitals

7. Childcare and Education Kindergartens Kindergartens Education - obligatory for children from 7 to 16 years old Education - obligatory for children from 7 to 16 years old The state school education is free for: The state school education is free for: - Bulgarian citizens - permanent residents of Bulgaria - children of EU/EEA and Switzerland nationals working in Bulgaria The education system in Bulgaria includes: The education system in Bulgaria includes: secondary education secondary education -basic education - from 1 st to 4 th grade -pre-high school - from 5 th to 8 th grade -high school - from 8 th to 12 th grade higher (university) education higher (university) education Ministry of Education- www.minedu.government.bg Recognition of Diplomas - http://regprof.nacid.bg

8. Labour Market Unemployment rate – approx. 11-12% Surpluses:  People without qualification  People with outdated qualifications

9. Labour Market Surpluses:  Registered in Labour Offices in January – June of 2013 - unemployed staff/workers from: in January – June of 2013 - unemployed staff/workers from: –processing industries –trade –construction –real estate brokers/operations –transport –hotels and restaurants (hospitality sector) –agriculture, woods, fishery

10. Labour Market Shortages :  IT sector  Staff with foreign languages  Registered in Labour Offices in January – June of 2013: staff/workers in: in January – June of 2013: staff/workers in: –hotels and restaurants –processing industries –shop assistants and sales persons –agriculture, woods, fishery, gardening, cattle breeding –workers in tailoring and textile enterprises –administrative and office staff –construction –security –drivers

11. How to find a job The EU/EEA citizens may look for a job: -via the Local Labour Office Directorates (register as job seekers) -through the NEA website www.az.government.bg -via private recruitment agencies -through newspapers (regional and national) -through Internet -www.rabota.bg www.jobs.bg www.jobtiger.bg www.job.com

12. How to apply for a job Required documents (in Bulgarian): CV – a standard European template CV – a standard European template Letter of application Letter of application Diplomas Diplomas Documents proving vocational training Documents proving vocational training Documents proving length of service Documents proving length of service

13. Working in Bulgaria - When applying for work, formal education is important. - Recognition of foreign diplomas www.nacid.bg Regulated professions – NARIC www.nacid.bg - Professionalism and experience are appreciated.

14. Labour legislation - The official minimum age - 16 years - Working hours – full time, 8h per day /40h per week/ - Lunch break – min 0.5h per day - Labour contract; 6 months trial - Terminating a contract by giving a written notice /a notice period - 30 days/ /a notice period - 30 days/ - Foreigners have to register in the National Revenue Agency and get an identification number for foreigners.

15. Labour legislation - Annual leave – minimum 20 working days - Illness leave – 80% of the average daily gross remuneration - Maternity leave – 410 days - 90% of the average daily remuneration; a paid leave until the child is 2 years old (the sum received is fixed annually in the State Budget).

16. Taxation The tax on income is 10% from wages for labour. The tax on income is 10% from wages for labour. The income tax - monthly deducted from the salary and paid in the NRA by the employer. The income tax - monthly deducted from the salary and paid in the NRA by the employer. Tax declaration : Tax declaration : - If the salary is the only source of an employee’s income – no need to be filled in - If there are other sources of income - should be filled in and submitted to the NRA National Revenue Agency www.nap.bg National Revenue Agency www.nap.bg

17. Social security Social insurances cover: Social insurances cover:  pension insurance  general sickness and maternity insurance  work injury and occupational sickness insurance (at the expense of the employer)  unemployment insurance National Social Security Institute - www.noi.bg National Social Security Institute - www.noi.bg

18. Social security Social security contributions (in 2013): - For the persons born before 1 January 1960 Labour category 3: 22.3% of gross salary (9.7% by the employee; 12.6% by the employer) Labour categories 1 and 2: 25.3% (9.7% by the employee; 15.6% by the employer) - For the persons born after 1 January 1960 Labour category 3: 17.3% of gross salary (7.5% by the employee; 9.8% by the employer) Labour categories 1 and 2: 20.3% (7.5% by the employee;12.8% by the employer)

19. Social security Health contributions (in 2013): 8% of gross salary 8% of gross salary 3,2% - by the employee 3,2% - by the employee 4,8% - by the employer 4,8% - by the employer Maximum monthly income on which contributions are made: BGN 2200 National Revenue Agency www.nap.bg National Health Insurance Fund www.nhif.bg

20. Thank you! Welcome to Bulgaria! Аnelia Ninova, Uliana Nikolova EURES Advisers A.Ninova@az.government.bg U.Nikolova@az.government.bg