17.09.2025 23:23
In Bulgaria, which is struggling with the issue of rapid population decline, the government has launched a campaign to bring back its citizens living abroad. As part of the campaign, those who decide to return to the country will receive support for moving expenses of up to 5,000 Euros, job placement consulting, and a monthly rent assistance of 200 Euros. Additionally, a salary supplement will be provided for a duration of one year.
The Bulgarian government, which is struggling with population decline, announced that it has launched a campaign to bring its citizens living abroad back to the country.
CAMPAIGN FOR CITIZENS LIVING ABROAD TO RETURN TO THE COUNTRY Bulgarian Minister of Labor and Social Policy Borislav Gutsanov stated in a press release after the regular meeting of the Cabinet, "The Bulgarian government has launched a program called 'I Choose Bulgaria' to encourage Bulgarian citizens living abroad to return to the country."
Bulgarian Minister of Labor and Social Policy Borislav Gutsanov 13 MILLION EURO BUDGET ALLOCATED Providing information about the campaign to be conducted under the auspices of the government-affiliated Employment Agency, Gutsanov announced that a budget of 13 million Euros has been allocated from the treasury for the program aimed at citizens who maintain Bulgarian citizenship awareness abroad. Minister Gutsanov noted that citizens with a sense of citizenship, living across borders, can participate in the approved program.
GETTING A JOB IS A MUST Gutsanov explained that citizens can apply online through the Employment Agency's website to benefit from the program, stating, "There has already been tremendous interest in this program. However, our people who will benefit from this opportunity will definitely have to get a job in Bulgaria."
5 THOUSAND EURO MOVING SUPPORT, 200 EURO RENT SUPPORT Gutsanov indicated that those choosing to return to the country will receive moving support of up to 5 thousand Euros from the Bulgarian state, as well as job placement consultancy and a monthly rent support of 200 Euros, stating, "In order for applicants to benefit from all these, they must find a job and work."
ONE YEAR SALARY SUPPORT Gutsanov mentioned that language courses will be provided for those who do not speak Bulgarian and their family members, and that employees can also receive salary support for approximately one year after a 6-month "labor internship." The Bulgarian Minister noted that facilities will be provided for citizens returning with their families to find daycare and nursery services for their children, and announced that the program will be open for applications starting tomorrow.
DEMOGRAPHIC CRISIS IN BULGARIA Struggling with the problem of rapid population decline, Bulgaria's population was over 8 million in 1990, but according to data from the State National Statistical Institute, this number dropped to 6 million 437 thousand at the beginning of 2025.
In the country, where women make up 52% of the population, the average life expectancy is 75.6 years. After the collapse of the communist regime in 1989 and especially after Bulgaria's accession to the European Union (EU) in 2007, a portion of young and working-age citizens moved to various European countries.
Bulgarian governments, which have been fighting against population decline for the last 35 years, have not achieved visible success in this regard.