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Moving to : Bulgaria

There are a number of things you will need to research or do before moving to Bulgaria, these include:

• Local Culture 
• Residence Permits/Visa Requirements/Fees 
• How to search for work if you do not already have a job 
• The importance of your Contract of Employment 
• Self Employed? Starting a new business 
• Studying in Bulgaria 
• School/Childcare - admissions, childcare, registration 
• Retiring to Bulgaria 
• Accommodation, property search 
• Removal Companies and Personal Effects 
• Public Healthcare 
• Registering with a Doctor/Dentist 
• Medication 
• Private Medical Insurance, Healthcare and Hospitals 
• Banking 
• Setting up TV, Telephone and Internet 
• Registering for a mobile phone 
• Taking your car 
• Moving your pets 
• Make sure your passport is valid 
• Tickets for your move, hotel bookings and car rental 
• UK Voter Registration 
• Final Checklists 
• Final Notifications 

Bulgarian culture is defined in many ways. From their beautiful beaches to their archaeological discoveries.  Clicking on the links below will help you understand the country and its unique appeal.

Bulgarian Property - Bulgarian Culture 
Bulgarian Dreams - History and Culture
Invest Bulgaria - Culture and Traditions 

Each area of Bulgaria will also have its own history and culture. Don't forget to run a search specifically on the area of Bulgaria you are looking at moving to. We recommend Google for all searches and the easiest way of searching for local culture is to put "culture" + the area of Bulgaria you are investigating.

Since Bulgaria is new to the EU, the rules differ from longer standing members of the EU community.

As a British national, if you plan on staying in Bulgaria for 90 days or less, you do not need a visa unless planning on working.  However, if you plan to stay longer (or to work), you will need a "Lichna Cartas".  To obtain either a long term visiting visa or a work permit, you must contact the Bulgarian Embassy or Consulate.  Visas are only issued to those people who's passports show validity extending 3 months beyond the date they plan to leave, and also contain blank pages.  Make sure your passport meets these critera prior to applying.

Like in most situations, there are exceptions to every rule.  British Citizens with the following British Passport types will need a visa regardless:

British Overseas Territories Citizen without Right to Abode
British Overseas Citizens
British Subjects without Right to Abode
British Protected Persons.

Bulgarian Embassy - Long-Term Visas (Type "D") 
Bulgarian Embassy - Visas
Bulgarian Embassy - Visa Fees

Be aware that according to their embassy, visa applications can take up to 10 work days to process during non busy times.  So make sure you leave plenty of time to arrange this.

As a new resident, you will be expected to register your arrival with the local police (politseiski uchastak) within 48 hours. More information can be found on this in our "living in..." Registering your arrival in the Country.

There are a number of websites which focus on job searches in Bulgaria.  The following are a few, however we can not take personal liability for any of their content or claims.

Jobs Abroad 
4ICJ
Executives on the Web
Tip Top Jobs
Euro Jobs 

You will need your employment contract in order to apply for a longer stay visa and your work permit.

If you do not have an employment contract you will be working illegally and could be sent home. In order to work you will need to contact the National Employment Office prior to applying for any job to obtain your permit. 

More information can be found about this on our "living in..." Tax registration with the authorities. Your employer should apply for a social security number on your behalf via the National Social Security Institute.

If you are planning on going to Bulgaria and starting your own business, these sites may be of interest to you:

Businesses For Sale 
BBA - Bulgarian Business Adviser
Doing Business

If you're going to study in Bulgaria, you will need information regarding courses.

Prospects - Postgraduate study
Open University - Business School 
Study Abroad Directory - Bulgaria

Information regarding childcare for preschool children can be found here:

Demogr - Childcare

The rules for compulsory schooling are simple. Children are expected to start school at the age of 6. One of the biggest decisions you need to make will be "Do I want my children educated in English, at an International school, or in a Bulgarian school?" These sites may help you with this decision.

Demogr - Education 
Independent Schools - Independent Private Schools in Bulgaria
About - Private Schools 
Need - Schools in Bulgaria 

If you are considering retiring to Bulgaria, then the following sites should be useful:

Bulgaria Overseas - Retiring to Bulgaria 
Hiday - Retiring to Bulgaria 
Property Bulgaria - Living in Bulgaria 
Malkoto - Retirement   
Foreign & Commonwealth Office - Moving Abroad 

The decision regarding whether to purchase or rent a property in Bulgaria can be difficult. If you are looking to buy, then these links will help.

Bulgarian Property Sale 
A Property in Bulgaria 
Experience Bulgaria 
Homes in Bulgaria 
Right Move - Property Website
World of Property - Information about Country

Rental can be harder as most real estate agencies focus on short term/holiday rentals, however it is not impossible. You will usually be expected to pay a deposit and a months' rent in advance and property search for rentals is usually easier in autumn and winter as during the summer months the shorter lease periods are more appealing to landlords.

Sunny Real Estate 
My Bulgaria  
How to - Bulgarian Property Rental Market 
Varna Rentals  

When shipping your personal (household) effects within the EU, they are not subject to normal customs formalities or restrictions.

Please check our Resources section to see if there is any further information on English speaking removal companies.

The Form E111 is no longer valid. You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. The EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Bulgarian nationals.

NHS Guide 
Foreign & Commonwealth Office - Travel Insurance

Although Bulgaria has been working towards reforms laid out by the EU, be aware that Bulgarian hospitals are not like those in the UK.  Although adequate and medical care is considered acceptable, it's wise to have a private healthcare plan.  Private clinics offer a much higher quality of care with a slightly higher likelyhood of staff understanding/speaking English.  Unless you have a very comprehensive insurance policy, you could still be expected to pay for treatment!  Consider a policy that includes Medivac to the UK in a major emergency.

Demogr - Heathcare System 

Some Doctors and Dentists are English speaking although finding one can be a challenge!  You have a free choice of general practitioner, paediatrician and several specialists within your area, providing your choice does not bring the doctor's/dentist's list above the maximum patients permitted. For an English speaking Doctor, ask around - other Brits in the neighbourhood can help as well as many of the locals, if this fails, you can always contact the embassy who should be able to point you in the right direction.

This list may be of help, however they do not guarentee an English Speaker.  You would need to call first.

Doctors
Dentists   

Before taking any medication into Bulgaria make sure that you check that it is legal to do so. Interestingly 63% of Britons didn’t know that some medication in the UK e.g. alcohol based prescription drugs and painkillers such as codeine are illegal in some countries. In Japan for instance, the Vicks inhaler and Sudafed are illegal!

You may not be able to get some of your normal medication in Bulgaria.  You will need to check with your doctor before you go.  If you can, also get the generic names for your medication, this should make finding an alternative easier.  There are limited 24 hours pharmacies, however if you are in Sofia (the Capital) there are at least 3.

In your pocket - 24 hour pharmacies in Sofia

Private medical insurance is essential if you are planning on staying in Bulgaria for any length of time!  Although the public healthcare is adequate, it is by no means comprehensive and nothing near as advanced as in the UK.

Please check our Resources section to see if there is any further information on additional medical insurance, general private heathcare and private hospitals.

Opening a bank account is not difficult.  All you need is your valid passport and some funds. You may need a Bulgarian speaker with you to help with the process as many banks do not have English speakers.  Although simple, it does take time, so make sure you leave plenty of time to take care of this.

How to guides - banks in Bulgaria  
Qualisteam - Bulgarian Banks (with reviews) 
Property Show Rooms - Banking in Bulgaria

Internet and Telephone can be ordered together, however you should take the time to explore your options.  Like BT, Bulgarias biggest telephone company is Bulgaria Telecom (BTC).  Most homes have standard landline access, however if you do not have a phone line into your property, it can be expensive to have it connected.  To get a telephone line, a visit to the local post office is necessary.  Make sure you take with all your residency paperwork and a Bulgarian speaker if possible!  Connection can take up to a month.

Bulgaria Telecom 

Internet options are limited since it's still expensive to own a pc and have internet over there.  Most people still use dial up, however both ADSL and ISDN are available.  You will need to research this futher.  As well as Bulgaria Telecom offering Internet services, the following companies are also an option for both Telephone and Internet.

Digital Systems 
EuroIntera 
Orbitel 

In addition, you can also get your tv, telephone and internet as a package.  The following companies offer this service.

CableTel 

Other companies include Evrotur Sat TV, Centrum Group and Eurostat however these do not appear to have English websites.  The locals claim that cable offerings can be very localised, meaning that quality of service is very dependent on where you live.  A good idea would be to talk to the locals and find out who they use and what the service is like. 

Although there are many other companies offering TV, phone and internet services, we have only given you those with an obvious web interface in English.

Please check our Resources section to see if there are any alternatives.

This site may help you decide which carrier is best for you and help you understand the industry in Bulgaria.

Factbook 

There are three main mobile phone operators in Bulgaria. 

Mtel 
Globul 
Vivatel 

As for your UK mobile. Our guess is that you will be returning to the UK from time to time and may want a low cost way for people to contact you when you are there. So why not cancel your contract, but switch to a "Pay as you go"? This is a number that most of your friends/family will already have, so record your voicemail explaining that this phone is now only on when you are in the UK, and tell them how to contact you when you're not. Be careful when choosing your PAYG plan as some expect you to use your phone every few weeks to keep it active.

Also, don't use foreign mobile phones from Bulgaria - the charges will be unbelieveable!

Deciding whether to take your car or not is something you will need to think about. What is "right" varies from person to person. For example, for my first move, I took my UK car with me for the first 6 months only. This gave me the security blanket when I wasn't sure if I would stay. Had I returned to the UK, I wouldn't have then had to look for a new car. Having decided to stay, I returned my UK car to the UK, and bought a local one. Just make sure that if you decide to take your own car, your insurance covers you properly with a "permanent green card"!

Don't forget you must also notify the DVLA if you plan to take your car out of the UK either temporarily or permanently. 

Direct Gov - Taking your car abroad

Foreigners entering Bulgaria in a motor vehicle have to provide proof of both ownership and insurance for the vehicle.  If it was purchased tax paid, or second hand in any EU country, then there are no import taxes payable. So it is also beneficial to bring any receipts you may still have - if not, don't panic. You will be expected to pay the Bulgarian road tax (Vignette) on entry to the country. You can choose between 1 week, 1 month, 6 months or 1 year.  The longer you pay for, the cheaper it works out over the period.

To register the car in Bulgaria, you must go to your local KAT Office (traffic police) and since this is the ONLY place where they can deal with vehicle registration, the queues are often huge, so leave plenty of time.

No one wants to leave their other family members behind, so take them with you!

DEFRA - Qualifying Countries for the PETS Scheme
DEFRA - Preparing your pet for travel (cats, dogs & ferrets)
DEFRA - Preparing your pet for travel (rabits and rodents)

also see

British developments  - Taking pets to Bulgaria 
Bulgarian Embassy - Terms & Conditions for the Import of Pets 

Make sure you have a valid passport. You do not need a minimum period of validity; however it must remain valid for the duration of your stay.

UK Passport Office - UK Passport Information

When moving you need to set a date to do so. Once you have this date, you need to consider your flights or travel arrangements. Investigate cheap flights or travel. There is no need to spend a fortune getting there when there are many cheap options available. The following site details the list of low cost airlines flying to Bulgaria:

Attitude Travel - Guide to Cheap Airline Carriers

If you have not arranged somewhere to live, make sure you have accommodation until you do. Book yourself a hotel. In addition, you may be going to sign contracts for your accommodation. This does not mean you can stay there on the first night! This may not be possible. So make sure you know exactly what your plans are and make arrangements that take these into consideration.

Where car hire is concerned do your research. Different companies offer different deals at different times.

Please check our Resources section to see if there is any further information on car hire and deals.

Don't Lose Your Vote!

If you are 18 and over, and were previously registered to vote in the UK within the last 15 years, you can apply to register again as an overseas voter.

Overseas Voting