The Electronic Employment Record (ЕЕТЗ) has been live since June 1, 2025. For the private sector in Bulgaria, the paper employment booklet has been replaced by a centralised digital register maintained by the National Revenue Agency. The obligation to notify the NRA about new employment contracts, amendments, and terminations now happens through this system — not by mailing the old paper notification form.
The transition period: what still needs to happen
From June 1, 2025 through June 1, 2026, employers have a 12-month window to finalise and return all paper employment booklets. This means:
- Recording the employee's total length of service to date (in words and figures)
- Signing the booklet and applying the company stamp
- Returning it to the employee in person (against a written receipt) or by registered post
After June 1, 2026, the paper booklet loses its legal significance as a document proving future service. It remains valid only for service accrued before the electronic system took effect.
Who is not yet in scope
Civil servants are not yet covered by the ЕЕТЗ. That changes on June 1, 2026, when the system extends to the public sector. Civil service employment booklets will also need to be finalised and returned.
Penalties for non-compliance
Employers who fail to return the booklet by the deadline face a fine of EUR 767 to EUR 7,669 under Art. 414 of the Labour Code. Employees who cannot start new work because their booklet has not been returned can claim compensation under Art. 226(2).
Source: Innovires Legal, Employment Law Bulgaria 2026 (published March 2026)
The transition to electronic employment records is not a one-time event. It requires ongoing attention: every new hire, every contract amendment, every termination must now go through an electronic process. Companies that build solid workflows now will find compliance becomes routine rather than a recurring crisis. Those that delay will face an increasingly difficult catch-up.
