🇧🇬 Bulgaria: Transition to the EUR Zone

Bulgaria is moving forward with its transition to the Euro (EUR), with key changes taking effect on January 1, 2026. To support a smooth transition, the Bulgarian Council of Ministers has announced adjustments to public holidays, minimum wage levels, and upcoming payroll-related changes.

Below is a summary of what’s confirmed so far and what employers should be aware of.

EUR Adoption & Non-Working Days

To ensure an orderly transition to the euro, the Council of Ministers has declared the following non-working days:

• December 31, 2025

• January 2, 2026

These dates are intended to support administrative, banking, and payroll adjustments related to the EUR rollout, effective January 1, 2026.

New Minimum Wage (Effective January 1, 2026)

As part of the transition, Bulgaria has confirmed new minimum wage amounts, expressed in both EUR and BGN.

Minimum wage levels

• Minimum monthly wage: EUR 620.20 (BGN 1,213) - Applies to a full working month

• Minimum hourly wage: EUR 3.74 (BGN 7.31) - Based on a standard schedule of 8 hours per day, 5 days per week

These rates will apply to all employees working under standard labor contracts.

Payroll & Social Security: What’s Next

Additional changes are expected as part of the EUR transition, including:

• A new maximum social security base

• Updated social security contribution rates, including the Pension Fund

However, these updates have not yet been formally adopted. We will share further guidance as soon as official confirmation becomes available.

Employee Action Required: Bank Details

With salaries transitioning to EUR, employees will need to provide bank accounts that support EUR payments.

• Our team has already reached out to Bulgarian employees with instructions to update their bank details

• Employees should ensure a EUR-denominated account is added to the platform

• We recommend completing this update as early as possible to avoid any payment delays once the EUR transition takes effect

Need Help or Have Questions?

If you have questions about:

• The EUR transition timeline

• Wage or payroll impacts

• Required employee actions

Our Support Team is happy to help and will continue to share updates as more information becomes available.