Living in Bulgaria

This guide sets out essential information for British citizens moving to or living in Bulgaria. Read about how our embassy in Sofia can help.

This information is provided as a guide only. You should get definitive information from the Bulgarian authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is not liable for any inaccuracies in this information.

Support for British nationals abroad: A guide sets out how British nationals can stay safe abroad and how the FCDO can help if you do get into difficulty.

Read general guidance on moving or retiring abroad.

To stay up to date:

• sign up for email alerts
• follow the British Embassy Sofia on Facebook and Twitter

Before you go

See our travel advice for Bulgaria for up-to-date information on entry requirements, local laws and customs, safety and emergencies.

If you were living in Bulgaria before 1 January 2021

Some parts of this guide only apply if you have been living in Bulgaria since before 1 January 2021. You should read these in addition to the rest of the guidance in each section.

You should also read our living in Europe page for detailed guidance about citizens’ rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

Coronavirus

Follow the advice of the Bulgarian Government and your local authority. You should also read the Bulgaria travel advice.

For information on getting a COVID-19 vaccine as a UK national in Bulgaria, read coronavirus travel advice.

Visas and residency

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

Check the entry requirements for Bulgaria.

If you move to Bulgaria, you may need a visa. Read the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ guidance on visas.

Read the Ministry[Ministry of Interior informationinformation] (https://www.mvr.bg/migration/en/administrative-services/administrative-servces/issue-of-residence-permits-to-third-country-nationals) about which documents you need for different kinds of residence permits.permits.

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

Applying for Bulgarian citizenship

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

You may need to renounce your UK citizenship, depending on your personal circumstances (for example, 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 need to have these and other UK documents officially translatedtranslated. We have provided a list of translators. andYou may also have to get your documents legalised (apostilled).

Visas and residency if you were living in Bulgaria before 1 January 2021

If you have lived in Bulgaria since before 1 January 2021, you and your family members have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

You should request a new residence card (документ(документ за пребиваване)пребиваване) which will show that you have these rights. It will also show your right to enter Bulgaria, and exempt you from the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) and visa requirements.

The deadline for applying for the документnew заresidence пребиваване card was 31 December 2021. You may need to pay a fine if you apply after this date.

Your close family members continue to be able to join you and settle in Bulgaria at any time in the future. Read more information on who this applies to in the Living in Europe guidance. They must travel to Bulgaria and then apply as your family member.

Nationals of certain non-EU countries may need a visa before travel. The Bulgarian authorities should issue family reunion visas free of charge.

Read the Advice on Individual Rights in Europe (AIRE) Centre’s guidance on residency in Bulgaria if you moved to Bulgaria before 1 January 2021.

Passports and travel

Coronavirus travel restrictions may affect travel to and from Bulgaria.

You can apply for or renew your British passport from Bulgaria.

Check the Bulgaria travel advice for passport validity requirements.

Always carry your passport when travelling to other EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries. If you have citizenship of an EU or EFTA country, in addition to your British citizenship, you should enter and leave Bulgaria using your EU or EFTA passport.

Bulgaria is not part of the Schengen area. If you stay in Bulgaria with a Bulgarian residence permit or long stay visa, this time does not count towards your 90-day in 180 days visa-free limit in Bulgaria or for the Schengen area.

If you visit countries in the Schengen area, make sure you do not exceed the visa-free 90 days in any 180-day period. You are responsible for counting how long you stay under the Schengen visa waiver, and you must comply with its conditions.

Different rules apply toif EUyou countries that are nottravelling partto ofother EU theand Schengen areacountries. as a resident of Bulgaria. Check each country’s travel advice page for information on entry requirements.

If you were living in Bulgaria before 1 January 2021

When you travel, you should carry with you your residence document (Документ за пребиваване) or frontier worker permit issued under the Withdrawal Agreement, in addition to your valid passport.

You must proactively show your residence document, or other evidence of residence status, if you are asked to show your passport at border control. Other evidence may be your tenancy agreement or a utility bill in your name, dating from 2020. If you have applied for, but not yet received, your residence document, show your certificate of registration.

If you cannot prove that you are a resident in Bulgaria, you may be asked additional questions at the border to enter the EU. Your passport may be stamped on entry and exit. This will not affect your rights in the country or countries where you live or work. If a passport is stamped, the stamp is considered null and void when you can show evidence of lawful residence.

If you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement, you can enter and exit Bulgaria with a valid passport. You do not need any additional validity on your passport beyond the dates on which you are travelling.

Healthcare in Bulgaria

Read our guidance on healthcare in Bulgaria and make sure you are correctly registered for your circumstances.

Travel insurance is not intended to cover healthcare costs if you live overseas.

YouIf shouldyou alsocannot readregister ourfor guidancehealthcare, on:you must ensure you have private healthcare cover for Bulgaria.

• Be aware that UK travel insurance providers will not generally cover your healthcare costs if you live overseas.

  We have a list of English-speaking doctors in Bulgaria](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bulgaria-list-of-medical-facilities).

  Medicine

  If you are on a prescription for any medication you should ensure you have a supply of it, or are able to obtain it when in Bulgaria. Certain medicines may not be available in Bulgaria

• (including major brands readily available in the UK), and you may be prohibited from taking them into the country. You should consult your GP before travelling to Bulgaria to find out about any alternative medication.

  Read the guidance if you need to travel with medicines

Working in Bulgaria

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

To apply for a job you may need to provide 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 seeread the details and download application forms at the Ministry of Justice website (in Bulgarian).

Read:

• working or providing services in Bulgaria
• working in an EU country
• EU guidance on working in an EU country

If you were living in Bulgaria before 1 January 2021

You have the right to work under the Withdrawal Agreement,Agreement, if you have a residence document (Документ за пребиваване) or have applied for one.

If you live in Bulgaria and were regularly commuting to work in another EU or EFTA country before 1 January 2021, read our guidance for frontier workers.

Professional qualifications

You may need to get your professional qualification recognised if you want to work in a profession that is regulated in Bulgaria.

Read guidance on:

• recognition of professional qualifications
• how to get your qualification recognised in Bulgaria

If you were living in Bulgaria before 1 January 2021

If the relevant regulator in Bulgaria officially recognised your professional qualification before 1 January 2021, or you started the recognition process by this date, make sure you understand the terms of your decision. You should get advice from the relevant regulator.

Studying in Bulgaria

If you plan to study in Bulgaria, you must meet all visa requirements before you travel.

Contact the relevant higher education provider in Bulgaria to check what fees you may have to pay.

Read guidance on:

• continuing your studies in the EU
• studying in the European Union
• healthcare for students in Bulgaria

If you were living in Bulgaria before 1 January 2021

The studying in the European Union guide includes information if you were already living in Bulgaria before 1 January 2021.

Studying in Bulgaria

If you plan to study in Bulgaria, you must meet all visa requirements before you travel.

Contact the relevant higher education provider in Bulgaria to check what fees you have to pay.

Tax

The UK has a [doubledouble taxation agreement with Bulgaria]](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bulgaria-tax-treaties)Bulgaria so that you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. Ask the relevant tax authority your questions about double taxation relief.

You should get professional advice on paying tax in Bulgaria. Find an English-speaking lawyer 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 (in Bulgarian).

Read guidance on:

• tax if you leave the UK to live abroad
• tax on your UK income if you live abroad
• tax if you get a pension and live abroad
• paying income tax in Bulgaria
• EU factsheet on buying goods online from UK websites (PDF, 294KB)

National Insurance and social security contributions

National Insurance-type contributions (NIC) are called ‘social security contributions’ (SSC) in Bulgaria. Find out if you need to pay National Insurance in the UK or social security contributions in Bulgaria.

You can request proof from HMRC of the time you’ve worked in the UK and your UK National Insurance Record.

Read guidance on:

• national insurance for workers from the UK working in the EEA or Switzerland
• social security contributions for workers coming to the UK from the EEA or Switzerland

Benefits

UK benefits

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

Check which UK benefits you can claim while abroad and how to claim them.

Many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.

Bulgarian benefits

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.

Pensions

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

Read State Pension guidance if you have lived in Australia, Canada or New Zealand and you are claiming or waiting to claim your UK State Pension.

If you retire in Bulgaria, you can claim:

• your UK State Pension or new State Pension. Contact the International Pension Centre for further information
• pensions if you’ve worked in Bulgaria (in Bulgarian). To claim a pension you need to go in person to an office of the National Social Security Institute (NSSI)
• pensions if you’ve worked in other EU countries

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

Read the Money and Pension Service’s MoneyHelper guidance on pension and retirement 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.

Money and banking

Whether UK banks can provide services to customers living in the EEA depends on local laws and regulation.

Read the Money and Pension Service’s MoneyHelper guidance on banking, insurance and financial services for more information on cross-border banking.

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 purchase buildings, apartments 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.

Driving in Bulgaria

You cannot renew or replace your UK, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man licence if you live in Bulgaria. Read the guidance on what you must do to drive legally in Bulgaria:

• what you need to drive in the EU
• driving license rules in Bulgaria if you live there
• road travel in Bulgaria

Exchanging your UK, Gibraltar, Jersey or Guernsey licence

If you live in Bulgaria, you must exchange your licence for a Bulgarian one. Contact the traffic police department at your nearest Regional Police Department (in Bulgarian) to exchange your licence. You do not need to take a test. You cannot use an International Driving Permit (IDP) instead of exchanging your licence.

Read the Bulgarian government’s guidance for UK nationals on how to exchange your driving licence.

Exchanging your Isle of Man licence

If you have a licence from the Isle of Man you may need to take a test.

Disabled drivers

If you have a UK Blue Badge and live in Bulgaria, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority. To apply for a new Bulgarian disabled parking card, you must have a certificate from your local Territorial Expert Medical Commission (in Bulgarian) and then apply at your local municipality.

Read the EU guidance on the EU parking card for people with disabilities.

Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to Bulgaria

Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.

Driving outside Bulgaria with a Bulgarian licence

You can use your Bulgarian licence when visiting the UK. Keep up-to-date with the UK Highway Code.

If you go to live in the UK, you can exchange your Bulgarian licence for a UK one without taking a test.

To drive in another country, in addition to your Bulgarian licence you may need to apply for an IDP (in Bulgarian).

Read the EU guidance on:

• EU driving licences and insurance
• driving licence exchange and recognition in the EU

Voting

You cannot vote in Bulgaria.

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

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

Births, deaths, marriage and civil partnerships

Births

If your child is born in Bulgaria, you can register the birth with the UK authorities in addition to registering locally. If your child has British nationality, you do not need to register the birth with the UK authorities to apply for a British passport.

Deaths

If someone dies in Bulgaria, read our guidance on:

• what to do after someone dies abroad
• bereavement in Bulgaria
• findfinding English-speaking funeral directors in Bulgaria

Marriage and civil partnership

Find out how you can get married or get a civil partnership abroad.

You may also need notarial and documentary services for UK nationals in Bulgaria

Pets

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Read guidance on:

• bringing your pet to GBGreat Britain

• travelling. Check that your pet’s rabies vaccinations are up to Northerndate. IrelandVets within yourGreat Britain cannot enter rabies vaccination details in non-UK issued pet passports

• travelling to Ireland with your pet

• travelling with your pet in the EU

Before you travel, check the rules for the country you’re travelling to for any additional restrictions or requirements.

Emergencies

Dial the European emergency number 112 in Bulgaria for the police, ambulance or fire brigade, or dial:

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

Dial the EU 116 000 hotline to report a missing child in the EU country where you live or in another EU country.

If you need guidance on child abduction, read the guidance on international parental child abduction; the EU guidance on child abduction and EU guidance on child abduction to another EU country.

If you have been the victim of a rape or sexual assault in Bulgaria, read the guidance on what to do and where to get support in cases of rape and sexual assault.

If you’re the victim of a crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis, contact the British Embassy Sofia.

Returning to the UK

Check the COVID-19 travel guidance for entering the UK.

Tell the Bulgarian and UK authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently.

To move your pension to the UK, contact the International Pension Centre.

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

Useful information

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

Support for British nationals abroad: a guide sets out how to stay safe abroad, and explains how the FCDO can support you if you get into difficulty.