Living in Bulgaria

Coronavirus

You should follow the advice of the Bulgarian Government and your local authority. You can also read our Bulgaria travel advice for our latest guidance.

Stay up to date

You should:

• sign up for email alerts on living in Bulgaria
• follow British Embassy Sofia on Facebook and Twitter

Attend a citizen outreach meeting

The British Embassy regularly holds eventsvirtual acrossoutreach Bulgariaevents for UK nationals. Attend one of our citizen outreach meetings to keep up to date on working and living in Bulgaria.

The Withdrawal Agreement

TheIf Withdrawalyou Agreementwere setslegally outresident thein termsBulgaria ofbefore the1 UK’sJanuary withdrawal2021, fromyour therights EUwill andbe providesprotected forby athe dealWithdrawal onAgreement.

You citizens’should rights.check Itthat setsyou outare acorrectly transitionregistered periodand whichshould lastsget untila 31new Decemberresidence 2020.document Duringby this31 timeDecember you2021 can continue to live,evidence workyour andrights.

You studyshould inalso theread EUour broadlyguidance ason youliving didin beforeEurope.

Visas 31and January 2020.

residency

If you arewere resident in Bulgaria atbefore the1 endJanuary of2021, the transition period, you willneed beto coveredapply by the Withdrawal Agreement, and your rights will be protected for asa longnew aspermit, youwhich remainwas residentintroduced in Bulgaria.July 2020.

AnyYou rightsmust thatobtain arethe notnew coveredpermit by the31 WithdrawalDecember Agreement2021, willor beearlier theif subjectyour ofcurrent futurepermit negotiations.expires Readbefore thisthen. guidanceIf pageyou fordon’t moreyou information.

Inmay thehave meantime,to makepay surea youfine, arethough registeredyour asrights aunder residentthe inWithdrawal Bulgaria.Agreement We will updatenot thisbe guidance as soon as more information becomes available.affected.

YouIf shouldyou alsohave readnot ourpreviously guidanceapplied onfor livingresidency inyou Europe.

Visasmust andapply residency

Seeat ouryour travelnearest adviceMigration forDirectorate entryoffice requirementswithin for90 Bulgaria.

Residency

Ifdays youof arearriving resident in BulgariaBulgaria. beforeYou the transition period ends on 31 December 2020 you will bereceive able to stay. If you arrive during the transitionnew periodpermit andwhen plan to stay for more than 3 months, you must apply to your nearest police department for residency.

You will need to show your passport and provide documentation proving that:that you either:

• you have a work contract or are self-employed in Bulgaria, or that you Bulgaria
• can support yourself through independent means
• and you hold personal health insurance or a UK social security form, such as an S1 form
• you are enrolled in an educational programme and you hold personal health insurance or a UK social security form

or

• you are an immediate family member joining an EU citizen who fulfils one of the above criteria. IfYou you are an immediate family member joining an EU citizen, you will have to presentprovide documentarydocuments evidence that show you are a family member or live together with the EU citizen (for example a marriage certificate or a birth certificate)

If your current residency permit expires after 31 December 2021, you must still apply for the new residency permit before 31 December 2021. You will also need to show your passport.passport and fill in a form, but you will not need to provide supporting documentation.

Once you have been resident in Bulgaria for 5 consecutive years, you can apply to the Migration Directorate for a permanent residency certificate.permit.

SeeRead the Ministry of Interior’s Migrationguidance Directorateon websiteresidency forand howthe tonew getapplication long-termprocess. andYou permanentcan residencealso permits or contact your local migration office or, call +359 (2) 982 4808, or email: migration@mvr.bg.

IfRead thereour guidance on moving or retiring abroad.

Additional support

UK nationals who are changesresident in Bulgaria, and need help to residencycomplete registrationtheir processes,residence weapplication willor updateregistration, thiscan guidanceget assupport soonfrom organisations funded by the UK Nationals Support Fund.

This support is only available to people who need additional help to secure their rights under the Withdrawal Agreement. They may include pensioners, disabled people, people living in remote areas or people who have mobility difficulties. Support available includes:

• answering questions about residence applications, such as the documents you need and how the application process works
• guiding you through the process, if necessary
• support if you experience language barriers or difficulty accessing online information isand available.services

If you, or someone you know, are having difficulty completing residence paperwork or have any questions, contact the Aire Centre:

• ReadAIRE Centre website

• hotline: +359 2906 0713, available Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 3.30pm to 6.30pm (local time)

• email: eurobrits@airecentre.org (please contact the BulgarianAIRE MinistryCentre ofby Interior’semail guidanceif onthe residencyhotline foris UKbusy)

Moving nationalsto inBulgaria

Check the entry requirements for Bulgaria.

If you move to Bulgaria you may need a visa. Read ourthe Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ guidance on movingvisas orand retiringthe abroadMinistry of Interior’s travel and entry requirements to Bulgaria.

Applying for Bulgarian citizenship

Once you have held a permanent residence permit in Bulgaria for 5 years, you can apply for Bulgarian citizenship. (in Bulgarian).

IfYou you apply for Bulgarian citizenship after 31 January 2020, you may have to renounce your UK citizenship, based on your personal circumstances (e.g. if you are not married to a Bulgarian citizen).

For your Bulgarian citizenship application, you may need to order a birth, marriage or death certificate from the UK. You may also need a UK criminal records certificate in the UK.

You may also be required to have these and other UK documents officially translated and legalised (apostilled).

Healthcare

If you are living in Bulgaria or move there permanently before 31 December 2020, you’llyou will have life-long healthcare rights in Bulgaria as you do now, provided you remain legally resident.

Read our guidance on who can access healthcare in Bulgaria and make sure you are correctly registered.

If your UK employer has sent you to Bulgaria temporarily, your access to healthcare is different. Find out how to registeraccess healthcare as a posted worker.

State healthcare: S1

If you livehave ina Bulgariaregistered andS1 receiveform anand exportablewere UKliving pension,in contribution-basedBulgaria Employmentbefore Support1 AllowanceJanuary or2021, anotheryour exportablerights benefit, you may be entitled to stateaccess healthcare paidwill forstay by the UK.same Youif willyou needare toeither:

• receiving applya forUK aState certificatePension
• receiving ofsome entitlementother known‘exportable asbenefits’
• a anfrontier S1worker certificate.who Tolives apply,in callBulgaria +44and (0)191commutes 218to 1999.work Whenin youthe getUK

Read yourour form,guidance registeron withusing youran RegionalS1 Healthform Insurancein FundBulgaria to officeensure beforeyou registeringare withregistered acorrectly GP.for healthcare.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you are resident in Bulgaria, you must not use your UK-issued EHIC fromfor the UK to access healthcare in Bulgaria.

WhenIf you travelwere fromliving Bulgaria for a temporary stay in anotherBulgaria Europeanbefore Economic1 AreaJanuary (EEA)2021, countryyou ormay Switzerland,be youeligible canfor usea annew UK-issued EHIC toif accessyou’re:

• a state-providedUK healthcarestudent in thatBulgaria
• a country.UK DuringState thatPensioner shortwith stay:
  a registered S1
  • thea EHICfrontier coversworker treatmentwith thata isregistered medicallyS1

  Apply necessarynow untilfor youra plannednew returnUK home

• anEHIC.

  An EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance

• forinsurance.

  For more information read our travelguidance adviceon pageshealthcare when travelling in Europe and advice on foreign travel insurance

There will be no changes to your healthcare access before 31 December 2020. You can also continue to use your EHIC, as you did before, during this time..

You should also read guidance on:

• healthcare and studying abroad
• finding English-speaking doctors in Bulgaria
• checking if your prescriptions are legal in Bulgaria

Passports and travel

TheYou rulesshould oncarry travelyour willresidence staypermit, theas samewell untilas theyour transitionvalid periodpassport endswhen onyou 31travel. DecemberIf 2020.you Duringhave thisapplied timebut not yet received your permit, carry your certificate of application.

If you canhave continuenot toyet travelapplied tofor countriesa inresidence thepermit, Schengenyou areashould orcarry elsewhereevidence that you are resident in theBulgaria. EUThis withcould include a tenancy agreement or a utility bill in your UKname, passport.dating from 2020.

CheckIf youryou passportcannot isshow validthat before you bookare yourresident trip.in YourBulgaria, passportyou shouldmay be validasked foradditional questions at the proposedborder durationto ofenter the Schengen area, and your stay.

Youpassport canmay applybe forstamped youron Britishentry passportand fromexit. Bulgaria.

PassportsThis fromwill 1not Januaryaffect 2021your rights in Bulgaria.

Passports

Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip.

From 1You Januarycan 2021,apply youfor or renew your British passport from Bulgaria.

You must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). This requirement does not apply if you are entering or transiting to Bulgaria, and you are in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement.

If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.

You will need to renewRenew your passport before travellingyou book your travel if you do not have enough time left on your passport.

As a non-EEA national, different border checks will apply when travelling to other EU or Schengen area countries. You may need to show a return or onward ticket and that you have enough money for your stay. You may also have to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing. YourYou passport may bealso stampedneed forto visitsshow toa thesereturn countries.or onward ticket.

Entry Requirementsrequirements

FromYou 1can January 2021, you will be able to travel to other Schengen area countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa for purposes such as tourism.

To Thisstay islonger athan rolling90 180-daydays period.

Toin stayany for180-day longer,period, to work or study, or for business travel, you willmust need to meet the entry requirements set out by the country to which you are travelling.travelling to. This could mean applying for a visa or work permit. You may also need to get a visa if your visit would take you over the 90 days in 180 days limit.

Periods of staytime authorised underby a visa or permit will not count againsttowards the 90-day limit. Travel to the UK and the Ireland will not change.

Different rules will apply to EU countries that are not part of the Schengen Area.area. Check each country’s travel advice page for information on entry requirements.

Driving in Bulgaria

YouTravel will be able to usethe your UK drivingand licenceIreland untilhas thenot transitionchanged.

Driving periodin endsBulgaria

UK ondriving 31licences Decemberare 2020recognised orin untilBulgaria. your licence expires, whichever comes first.

If you are resident in Bulgaria, you should exchange your UK licence for a Bulgarian driving licence. However, you must wait to do so until at least six months after you register for residency.one.

To exchange your UK driving licence for a local one, contact the traffic police department at your nearest Regional Police Department.

YouRead canthe still use your Bulgarian licenceMinistry inof theInterior’s UKguidance foron shorthow visitsto or exchange ityour for a UK licence without(in takingBulgarian) aand testgeneral ifinformation you return to live in the UK.

Read the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior’s on howdriving tolicences exchangefor yourUK licencenationals (in Bulgarian)English).

Read more about driving licence renewal and exchange and taking a vehicle out of the UK.

Read our guidance on what you need to drivedriving abroad and road travel in Bulgaria.

Driving in the UK with a Bulgarian licence

You can use your Bulgarian licence in the UK for short visits, without any additional documentation. You can also exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test.

Working in Bulgaria

ReadIf ouryou guidancewere onlegally workingresident in anBulgaria EUbefore country.1 January 2021, you have the right to work, as long as you remain legally resident.

If you are planning to come to Bulgaria to work, you may need a visa.

Some jobs may require a UK criminal records check, known as a DBS check.

You can get a Bulgarian criminal records certificate from the Judicial Records Register from any Bulgarian Regional Court (Районен съд) or from the Ministry of Justice. You can see details and download application forms at the Ministry of Justice website (in Bulgarian language only).

Frontier workers

If you arelive resident in Bulgaria onand were regularly commuting to work in another EU or EFTA country, before 311 DecemberJanuary 2020,2021 youryou rightmay need a permit to workprove that you are a frontier worker. You must also apply for the new residency permit.

Education and professional qualifications

You will notbe changeeligible for broadly the same support as Bulgarian nationals, as long as you remainwere legally resident in Bulgaria.Bulgaria before 1 January 2021. You must apply for the new residency permit.

Read our guidance on:

• continuing your studies in the EU
• healthcare for students in Bulgaria

Moving to Bulgaria to study

If you are planning to study in Bulgaria, make sure you meet all visa requirements before you arrive. Contact the relevant Higher Education andprovider professionalin qualificationsBulgaria to check what fees you may have to pay.

For information on education, read studying in the European Union.

Professional qualifications

IfYou youmay haveneed alreadyto beenget your professional qualification recognised byif anyou EUwant countryto aswork holdingin valida professionalprofession qualifications,that thisis regulated in Bulgaria. When doing this, you will remainbe valid.subject to the third country regulations.

If youyour havequalification notwas hadofficially yourrecognised professionalby qualificationsthe recognised,relevant youregulator canin submitBulgaria anbefore application1 underJanuary 2021, make sure you understand the currentterms rulesof untilyour 31recognition Decemberdecision 2020.by checking with that regulator.

Money and tax

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Bulgaria to ensure you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. Ask the relevant tax authority your questions about double taxation relief.

Existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Bulgaria have not changed.

Read guidance about:

• telling HMRC if you leave the UK to live abroad
• the tax on your UK income if you live abroad
• paying income tax in Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, you should expect to pay personal income tax and home owners’ tax. Additional taxes exist, including a vehicle tax and a fee for rubbish collection. See National Revenue Agency.

We recommend you get professional advice on paying tax in Bulgaria.

National Insurance

YouFind mayout beif ableyou need to pay National Insurance whilein abroadthe UK or social security contributions in orderBulgaria.

Banking

Whether UK banks can provide services to protectcustomers yourliving Statein Pensionthe andEEA entitlementis toa othermatter benefitsof local law and allowances.

Ifregulation. Your bank or finance provider should contact you areif employedthey orneed self-employedto inmake theany EUchanges to your product or EEAthe andway they provide it. If you have aany UK-issuedconcerns A1/E101about form,whether you willmight remainbe subjectaffected, tocontact UKyour legislationprovider untilor seek independent financial advice.

Read the endMoney dateand Pension Service guidance on thebanking, form.insurance and financial services changes for more information on cross-border banking.

Pensions

Read our guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Bulgaria.

You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are [movingmoving or retiring abroad](https://www.gov.uk/moving-or-retiring-abroad.abroad.

If you retire in Bulgaria, you can claim claim:

• your UK State Pension or new State Pension.

• pensions from working in other EU countries

If you have not worked in Bulgaria, you should claim your UK State Pension by contacting the International Pension Centre.

IfRead youthe haveMoney workedand inPension severalService EUguidance countries,on seepension Stateand Pensionsretirement abroadchanges. for more information on cross-border pensions.

Life certificates for UK State Pensions

If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service you need to respond as soon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you do not.

Pensions after 31 January 2020

Benefits

ThereRead willour beguidance no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on claimingentitlement the UK State Pension in the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

You can continue to receive your UK Statebenefits Pension if you live in the EU, EEA or Switzerland and youpensions canwhile still claim your UK State Pension.

If you are living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020 you will get your UK State Pension uprated every year for as long as you continue to live there. This will happen even if you start claiming your pension on or after 1 January 2021, as long as you meet the qualifying conditions explained in the new State Pension guidance.Bulgaria.

If you are living in Bulgaria by 31 December 2020, you will be able to count future social security contributions towards meeting the qualifying conditions for your UK State Pension.

If you work and pay social security contributions in Bulgaria, you will still be able to add your UK social security contributions towards your Bulgarian pension. This will happen even if you claim your pension after 31 December 2020.

Read our guidance on benefits and pensions in the EU.

Benefits

You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.

YouCheck maywhich still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you livecan inclaim Bulgaria.while You should:

• read our guidance on claiming benefits if you live, move or travel abroad
• use ourand toolhow to checkclaim which UK benefits you might be able to get while you’re abroad

them.

If you are abroad for more than 4 weeks, many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid.

You may be eligible to claim some Bulgarian social security benefits. You can get information about local Bulgarian benefits and pensions from the National Social Security Institute.

You can request proof of the time you’ve worked in the UK from HMRC if you are asked for this.

Benefits

Bulgarian after 31 January 2020benefits

ThereYou willmay be noeligible changes before 31 December 2020 to theclaim rulessome onBulgarian claimingsocial UKsecurity benefits in the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU..

IfYou youcan areget livinginformation inabout thelocal EU,Bulgarian EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020, you will continue to receive any UK benefits you already receive. This will continue for as long as you live there and meetpensions allfrom otherthe eligibilityNational requirements.

IfSocial youSecurity work and pay social security contributions in Bulgaria, your UK social security contributions will be taken into account when applying for Bulgaria contributions-based benefits. This will happen even if you claim contributions-based benefits after 31 December 2020.

Read our guidance on benefits and pensions in the EUInstitute.

Voting

You cannot vote in local municipal elections in Bulgaria or European Parliament elections.

You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:

• check if you are able to vote
• register as an overseas voter to vote

Births, deaths and getting married

If your child is born in Bulgaria, you will need to register a birth abroad.

If one of your loved ones dies in Bulgaria you can:

• read our guidance on what to do after someone dies
• find English-speaking funeral directors in Bulgaria
• read our guidance on deaths in Bulgaria

Find out how you can get married abroad.

Find out about notarial and documentary services for UK nationals in Bulgaria.

Accommodation and buying property

All UK nationals living in Bulgaria are subject to property rules for third country nationals, according to the Property and Use of Agricultural Land Act. This includes people whose rights are protected by the Withdrawal Agreement.

Property you already own is not affected by the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, and you do not need to transfer your ownership.

You should seek specialised legal advice when purchasing property in Bulgaria.

You can readpurchase ourbuildings, guidanceapartments on:and real estate in Bulgaria. However, you can only purchase agricultural land if you have resided in Bulgaria for more than 5 years. UK nationals can still acquire agricultural land through inheritance.

• Read our guidance on buying a property abroad

• buying property in Bulgaria

.

Pets

CurrentIf you have a pet passport issued by Bulgaria or another EU member state, you can use it to travel ruleswith willyour staypet theto sameGreat untilBritain 31and Decemberelsewhere 2020.in the EU.

IfA you’reGB-issued travellingEU withpet yourpassport petis not valid for travel to the firstEU timeor youNorthern mustIreland. visitYou should speak to your vet before you travel to get athe necessary pet passport.travel documents and ensure you’re compliant with the EU Pet Travel Regulations.

Read guidance on on:

• bringing your pet to GB
• travelling with your pet in the UKEU.
• travelling to Northern Ireland with your pet

Check the rules of the country you’re travelling to for any additional restrictions or requirements before you travel.

Emergencies

As well as the European emergency number 112, Bulgaria also has:

• 166 for police
• 160 for fire brigade
• 150 for first aid

You can also look at emergency numbers in Bulgaria.

If you’re the victim of crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact your nearest British embassy or consulate.

Other useful information

• English-speaking lawyers in Bulgaria
• translators and interpreters in Bulgaria
• notarial and documentary services guide for Bulgaria

Returning to the UK

Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, tax, access to services and bringing family members.

Disclaimer

Please note that this information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Bulgarian authorities. The FCDO will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.