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Hello again, for those who were wondering about what I had said in this post, just to confirm, I spoke to a couple of lawyers concerning this, and they said although what I am saying is correct is it translated from Bulgarian(legislation law) to a foreign language, and is incorrect in translation to english.

You DO need a work permit and then you apply for a visa, for a foreginer (outside of EU). It's sad that our doors(as Canadians) are far easier to access than the Bulgarian one. Figured would be equally given.

So just to recap if I lost you. You can't enter without a work permit even though it misleads you abit in the legislation. So I was correct on my understanding, but incorrect in terms of the law. They follow no matter what their bulgarian version, and everything is wrong if there is an error.

Only way is to get a work permit before then apply for a visa after. My god did I have to bleed to get this information out of them... over 60 hours on phone calls to figure a solution...)

This topic is done.

As anyone here has found out, everything is upside down or back to front and like any country weighed down by uninterested government employees no one really knows or cares so whatever you try to find out takes a long time.

I can't agree that they fail at it. Let's be completely honest here, the objective of most governments is to keep their nationals in the country, paying taxes, doing what they are told. Governments don't really like strangers and the governments of EU countries like them less than most. The complex legislation and labyrinthine systems are not designed to protect our security or our jobs they are designed to maximize the need for government jobs.

The main reason why it is expensive for Western Europeans to travel outside the EU is that countries work on a tit for tat basis. A few years ago I bought a visa to enter Mauritania in Morocco and paid about £7 for it. On the way north I tried to do the same in Senegal but was told by the consul that it would cost £42 because the British government charge so much for Visas to enter the UK. Now why was I not told that on the way south, well, the consul in Morocco was a nice chap who gave us coffee and enjoyed our company for a while in what is for him a fairly boring post.

The solution is simple. Accept first of all that the really bad guys who the system is meant to keep out will get in i they really want to, All the system achieves is to make life difficult for the honest people who follow the law. When you get over the idea that these laws protect you it becomes clear that open borders and a welcoming attitude are productive.

The most efficient airport system I have seen in a lifetime of travel is in Thailand and they basically welcome anyone with money. They process you quickly and efficiently and make you feel welcome. I feel intimidated by the British Border Force and I was born in the UK. In favour of Bulgaria, however, I will say I have encountered nothing but helpfulness, courtesy and a genuine welcome from Bulgarian Border Police. We entered at a border we did not know one night after midnight. Not only was it open but we were able to purchase a vignette for the car and get excellent directions from multi-lingual officers who actually smiled.

What was the point of my reply, just to say that Bulgaria is not nearly as inefficient and backward as many posts on here suggest.