Code 95 for drivers from Asia
We supply qualified international category C+E drivers and \u2013 together with driver training centres \u2013 guide the employer through the whole path: from sourcing through employment legalisation to the driving licence and Code 95 here in Bulgaria.
- C+E drivers with international experience
- Code 95 training coordinated at a licensed centre
- Driving licence recognition or exchange
- Single permit for residence and work
- Positions
- C+E, C, D drivers
- Source markets
- Philippines, India, Nepal, Uzbekistan
- Lead time
- Candidates within 1–3 months
- Qualification
- Code 95 in Bulgaria
- Guarantee
- Replacement search
What Code 95 is and why it is mandatory
Code 95 certifies a driver's professional qualification for commercial transport in the European Union. It is marked in the driving licence or in a separate driver qualification card. Without it, a carrier cannot legally assign the driver to a trip.
Initial qualification
For drivers entering the profession – obtained through training and an examination.
Periodic qualification
Refresher training that keeps the code valid for the next period.
Driver card
The document the driver carries and presents at roadside checks together with the licence.
Who it applies to
The requirement covers goods transport above 3.5 tonnes and passenger transport \u2013 in practice almost every driver in international haulage, distribution and construction logistics.
Drivers with real experience
Category C+E candidates from the Philippines, India, Nepal and Uzbekistan with international long-haul records.
Training coordination
Enrolment at a licensed centre and scheduling aligned with the carrier's operations.
Documents and translations
Sworn translations, legalisation and full document packs for authorities and training centres.
Employment legalisation
Single permit for residence and work, registrations and post-arrival steps.
Accommodation
Housing near the base, with terms and payment model agreed up front.
Recruitment guarantee
Free replacement search within the agreed guarantee period.
Six stages \u2013 from brief to first trip
- 01
Role profile
3–5 daysRoutes, tonnage, cargo type, schedule and language expectations. We source candidates with matching experience.
- 02
Sourcing and verification
1–2 weeksWe verify professional record, licence, tachograph practice and references, then present a shortlist with optional video interviews.
- 03
Residence and work
in parallelWe prepare the single permit documentation and coordinate the visa stage at the consulate.
- 04
Arrival and housing
1 weekTravel, pick-up, address registration and accommodation close to the carrier's base.
- 05
Licence recognition
case by caseWe accompany the driver through exchange or recognition of the driving licence under the applicable rules.
- 06
Code 95 qualification
per scheduleEnrolment at a partner training centre, scheduling and paperwork up to the driver qualification card.
Training and licensed centres
Initial and periodic qualification training is delivered by centres licensed by the Executive Agency \u201eAutomobile Administration\u201d. We are not a training centre \u2013 we work with partner centres and take over the organisation so the carrier does not lose time in administration.
Enrolment and scheduling
Dates aligned with your operations so the driver can start as early as possible.
Documents for the centre
Translations, medical and professional documents prepared to the centre's requirements.
Language support
Interpretation and communication support during training where needed.
Follow-through
We track the process until the driver qualification card is issued.
Driving licence recognition
Before Code 95 the driver needs a licence valid for professional work in Bulgaria. The route depends on the issuing country and the document type, so we check it for each candidate individually.
Details on exchange and recognition of Asian licences are on a dedicated page \u2013 driving licence recognition. Driver profiles and positions are on truck drivers from Asia C+E.
How long it really takes
Candidates realistically arrive within 1–3 months of signing the contract. The exact timeline depends on the capacity of public authorities, consular services, embassies and the visa system.
Candidates within 1–3 months
From brief to the driver's arrival
1–2 wks
Sourcing and shortlist
parallel
Licence and Code 95 planned alongside paperwork
Frequently asked questions
What does Code 95 in a driving licence mean?
Code 95 certifies that the driver holds a valid initial or periodic professional qualification for the commercial carriage of goods or passengers. Without it, a driver with category C, C+E, D or D+E cannot legally be used for commercial transport in the European Union, even with a valid driving licence.
Do drivers from Asia already hold Code 95 when they arrive?
No. Code 95 is a European requirement, so it is obtained in an EU member state. We select drivers with genuine long-haul experience and a valid professional licence from their home country, and the Code 95 qualification is completed in Bulgaria together with driver training centres.
Who delivers the Code 95 training?
Training is delivered by centres licensed by the Executive Agency „Automobile Administration”. We are not a training centre – we work with partner centres and organise enrolment, scheduling and paperwork, while the driver qualification card is issued by the competent authority after successful completion.
Can a driver from Asia drive in Bulgaria on a foreign licence?
Professional work requires a Bulgarian driving licence or recognition under the applicable rules. That is why every process includes a licence recognition or exchange step, with Code 95 completed afterwards. The exact route depends on the issuing country and the individual driver's documents, so we verify it case by case.
How long does it take until the first trip?
Candidates realistically arrive within 1–3 months of signing the contract. The exact timeline depends on the capacity of public authorities, consular services, embassies and the visa system. Licence recognition and Code 95 are scheduled in parallel with the residence and work procedure so no weeks are lost.
What stays on the employer's side?
The workplace, the vehicle, the employment contract and the salary. Everything else – sourcing, experience verification, paperwork, coordination with the training centre and accommodation – is organised by us.
Is there a guarantee if the driver leaves?
Yes. Within the agreed guarantee period we run a free replacement search for the same position.