Bulgaria needs more doctors and recruits international medical graduates (IMGs), but medicine is a regulated profession there, so before you can work you must have your medical degree recognised and hold a licence from the Bulgarian Medical Association, with the Ministry of Health. How you get there depends on where you trained.

In short: if you trained in the EU or EEA, your medical degree is recognised largely automatically; if you trained elsewhere, you need recognition (often with an examination), skills in Bulgarian, registration with the Bulgarian Medical Association, with the Ministry of Health, a job offer, and a single permit and a type D visa.

Is Your Medical Degree Recognised in Bulgaria?

Doctors who trained in the EU, the EEA, or Switzerland benefit from automatic recognition of the basic medical qualification under Directive 2005/36/EC, because medicine is a sectoral profession. If you trained outside those countries, your degree is assessed individually and you usually must pass an examination or complete supervised practice before you can register. Non-EU doctors sit a recognition exam.

Step by Step

• Recognition: apply to have your degree recognised, with your diploma, transcripts, and proof of training and experience in certified translation.
• Language: reach the required level of Bulgarian, since safe practice and registration depend on it.
• Registration: register with the Bulgarian Medical Association, with the Ministry of Health to obtain the licence to practise.
• Job and visa: with a job offer, obtain a single permit and a type D visa.

The Work Route

Once you are recognised and registered, with a job offer the usual immigration route is a single permit and a type D visa. The professional steps and the immigration steps run in parallel, so plan both early.

Salary, Specialisation, and Demand

Doctors' pay in Bulgaria follows national or collective agreements and varies by grade, region, and experience, and specialists earn more than junior doctors. You specialise through structured postgraduate training after full registration. Demand for doctors is strong across much of Europe, so confirm the salary, hours, and contract in writing before accepting a post.

Avoiding Scams

Use official regulators and ethical recruiters only. Legitimate employers and agencies never charge a doctor upfront placement fees; if anyone asks you to pay to be placed, treat it as a likely scam and verify the employer and the Bulgarian Medical Association, with the Ministry of Health through official channels.

Official Sources

Confirm current rules with the Bulgarian Medical Association, with the Ministry of Health and the Bulgaria immigration authority, as procedures, exams, language levels, and fees can change.