From our contacts and from forums, the answer is yes: you can still open a Bulgarian bank account as a non-resident (although one Bulgarian, who had helped a non-resident Greek contact open an account recently, told us it was a challenging task). Bulgarian rules require immigrants to demonstrate they can support themselves financially, although the Bulgarian prime minister has publicly welcomed British migrants. If you are trying to familiarise yourself with the country, its worth watching some episodes. Which for all intents and purposes soon wont be, due to the many children the states sponsors for them. Property prices in Bulgaria have settled down from their peaks following EU accession meaning that its possible to buy decent accommodation country-wide, (with the exception of a few exclusive suburbs in Sofia), for much less than you would pay in the UK for similar accommodation. So what is it like to live in Bulgaria and how do you go about moving and settling down there? You wont get far without at least elementary Bulgarian and you should familiarise yourself with the alphabet. Regards, Hi Mark, you can find detailed information on various locations in Bulgaria in our location guides here: https://expatra.com/guides/bulgaria/. If you have not worked in Bulgaria, you should claim your UK State Pension by contacting theInternational Pension Centre. Youll be astonished by the golden domes of one of the main symbols of Sofia the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, which was created after Bulgarias liberation. If you relocate to Bulgaria with the prospect of finding employment there you may find it very difficult to land yourself a job that will allow you to benefit from Bulgarias low cost of living. Spend any time checking forums and youll find fairly even numbers of British expats extolling Bulgarias virtues or hauling it over the coals. Today, I will be talking about the pros and cons of living in Bulgaria, specifically Sofia and Plovdiv. One thing thats been a really positive change is that as a woman, I feel a lot safer in Bulgaria. Its located near the geographic centre of the country and is the midpoint between Varna and Sofia. You can enjoy a number of natural and manmade lakes around Popovo, you can go fishing, explore the birdlife of the region, or organize a camping weekend. Its a small town nestled at the foot of the Pirin mountains, with a low cost of living making it attractive to those ski fans otherwise eyeing up France, Italy and Switzerland. Bulgarias appeal was on the rise prior to and immediately following EU accession, and this resulted in a small wave of immigration particularly from the UK and Ireland. Enjoy your trip and good luck with the relocation. For instance, we were told, in Vratsa you can open a bank account with 450 lev but in Shumen it is 1,000 lev and in Veliko Turnovo around 3,000 lev. I stayed for a month when I was still traveling around the world full-time. A family of four can conveniently live in Veliko Tarnovo for about 2,800 lv (1,221/$1,692), excluding rent. You must put a minimum amount into the account for it to be opened, which differs depending on the area. Our most popular evergreen guides are kept fresh and up-to-date by our in-house research team. Recently, the city has become an attraction for digital nomads thanks to its vast range of suitable cafes and coworking spaces. Its very useful to consider the pros and cons of living in Bulgaria before you move, but you need to spend an extended time exploring before you commit to your relocation. On the other hand, when it comes to Bulgarian public schools, they are completely free to attend and textbooks are provided for free for students in certain grades. There are certainly those expats who have made a very positive life change by moving to Bulgaria. Once you have been resident in Bulgaria for five years, you canapply for Bulgarian citizenship. You will need a Bulgarian bank account in order to buy property, residents told us. You will need to present proof of your income or pension and that you have a bank account in Bulgaria. Of course, they both have a lot to offer and theres no coincidence that theyre both on our list of top places for expats in Bulgaria. Other ski resorts include Pamporovo and Borovets. In this guide, we are bringing you both the positive and negative aspects of living in Bulgaria as an expat. If you don't want to be surprised by this different way of socially behaving, it might be best to read up on Bulgarian culture. If you are the kind of person who takes a considered approach to relocation, who has spent time getting to know Bulgaria before moving permanently, you have good chances to adjust well to what is an undoubtedly very beautiful country. Its located near natural lakes. Bulgariais 42.72%lowerthan inthe United States. The city didn't resonate with me immediately, but after a few weeks of staying in Sofia, I slowly began to fall in love with all that it had to offer. You may need to provide a clean UK criminal record certificate. Burgas - a cultural hub on the coast of the Black Sea 6. Complete Guide to Living in Bulgaria. From what I can tell, Im mostly amongst other locals I never hear English spoken in my neck of the woods. Mobile phone packages are cheap for 25 leva you get unlimited calls to all networks with some GB internet. Life as an expat in Popovo is an extremely affordable experience and wont burn a hole in your pocket in any way. While Sofias main sights can be seen pretty much within the time it takes to do the citys free walking tour, theres a lot more to Sofia beneath the surface that people dont often get to see when they do a whistle-stop tour through the Balkans, spending just one or two days in Sofia. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It offers a vibrant and relaxing atmosphere simultaneously and has something for everyone. You must register your residence in Bulgaria if you are planning to stay for over 90 days, within three months of arrival and either in the Migration Directorate in Sofia or in the nearest regional directorate. I hope it helped Jean, Allison did a great job sharing her experiences about life in Bulgaria . There are some amazing areas to live in Plovdiv. There are a few ways to find a long-term apartment rental in Bulgaria. You need to speak the language 2. Most restaurants have lunch specials generally between 12 2 pm and you can have the special for about 56 leva. You need to contrast the cost of living with what you can expect to earn in Bulgaria. Thanks for this post! Unsurprisingly, well start from Sofia Bulgarias capital. I was about to leave Sofia and try somewhere else in Europe, as I was so frustrated by the process of moving here, when I met the man who would later be my husband! 1. Its mostly residential and for families, and I like it for living, but its nowhere interesting to go out in. 6- Traveling inside the country is relatively easy because everything is close together, trip Sofia- Varna (one of the longer distances to travel is only 450 km.) 15- Bulgaria has some fastest internet speed in the world, you get great value for money. Its what I was doing before I came to Bulgaria, but now, I have more focus and purpose being based in one place. But to settle well you must truly integrate into the community and learning the language properly is a must. Its completely natural to see deers, boards, rabbits, hares, and squirrels moving through the villages. Ad to these old cars and you can imagine yourself the result. We avoid military conflicts, crime is low, we don't actively engage in heated political debates, public protests are rare (but avoid them if they do break out), and religions coexist happily on the whole. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Of course, there are also a ton of options to choose from when it comes to dining out in a fancy and highly rated restaurant. The city didnt resonate with me immediately, but after a few weeks of staying in Sofia, I slowly began to fall in love with all that it had to offer. If you are resident in Bulgaria, you should exchange your UK licence for a Bulgarian driving licence at your nearest traffic police department within six months, after first registering with Bulgarian authorities. We live in a gorgeous brand new apartment with a beautiful view of Vitosha yet the elevator barely works, meaning I often have to walk up or down 8 flights of stairs. In my neighborhood, cars park wherever they want to; you always have to look down or risk twisting your ankle on some busted piece of sidewalk. Another estimated 2,000-6,000 live in Bulgaria part-time, and are thus not registered as permanent residents. Read our Best Places To Live In Bulgaria As An Expat for a detailed overview of the most popular locations. As one of Europes cheapest countries, there is so much to experience and explore, so much history to dig into, and so much beauty to see. When you have held a permanent residence permit in Bulgaria for 5 years, you can apply for Bulgarian citizenship (in Bulgarian). 5. before your trip. Well done Suzanne. If you're planning on moving to Bansko, you can take a look at apartments on this Facebook page. As someone that. 7M. A 1-bedroom apartment in the central area is around 450 lv (196/$272), while one located in regions outside the city centre could be found for 300 lv (130/$181). Overall, Varna is a city that its hard not to fall in love with. You can draw the money out once the paperwork is done, we were informed. All the international coffee and fast food chains are here, Starbucks, KFC, Subway, McDonalds, etc, cost of living in Bulgariais 42.72%lowerthan inthe United States. Required fields are marked *. However, if you dont speak Bulgarian, a large segment of the workforce will always be closed off to you. You may need to take a translator and/ or lawyer with you if you dont speak Bulgarian, although one person told us that the teller at the branch in Sofia they went to spoke good English. It may take up to 14 days for your application to be approved, after which you may still have to return to the branch to actually open the account. 7- Agriculture is probably what defines Bulgarian roots best. and there are also few flights that connect both cities in less than an hour. There are two lakes surrounding Dobrich, offering a delightful opportunity to spend evenings outside. but there arent perfect countries, you can feel miserable in a rich country and vice-versa, the important is to accept the things how they are, dont waste energy in what can be changed, and when you see a possibility to make the improvements, do it one at the time. A new and exciting bar, restaurant, coffee shop, or boutique seems to be opening up in the center nearly every other day. Although Bulgaria is a member of the EU, they still have their own currency, Leva. A popular tourist destination, Veliko Tarnovo contains an old spirit yet offers a modern experience at the same time. Varna is popular for its seagull population, keep in mind that theyre quite intrusive. Veliko Tarnovo is another Bulgarian city with extreme history and cultural riches. A lot of people here work for very low salaries especially outside of Sofia. I run several travel blogs, including one focused on Bulgaria and the Balkans, and I make a living for myself that way and by occasionally taking on freelance writing projects or other sponsored work. Plovdivs Old Town is bound to steal your heart at a first glance. Late EastEnders actor Leslie Grantham had to learn Bulgarian to star in Bulgarian TV series The English Neighbour in 2010, about a retired British chemist who sets up home in the fictional village of Plodorodno. Depending on your lifestyle, you can live as basically or as liberally as you choose here. We hope that this guide will come in handy and will help you choose the best place that will meet your expectations. Living in Bulgaria was a good fit because I needed a place to stay that was cheap, outside of the Schengen zone, yet located in Europe as I had upcoming projects in the area. Bulgaria is a place with many problems where life isnt easy. According to (now 10-year-old) figures from think tank the IPPR, some 18,000 Britons have moved to Bulgaria, about half living here for half the year and the other half permanently. Bulgaria can provide you with very different experiences depending on whether you live in one of the cities, or in smaller towns and villages. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Bulgaria is wonderful only if you dont come into contact with its red-tape bureaucracy and horrid government institutions. Bansko is a great destination for expats looking to enjoy a bit of hiking, skiing, cycling, and nature in general. You can see jars for sale on the sides of roads and in any of the villages. There were a lot of tears and several meltdowns along the way, but eventually we registered our company in Bulgaria. Lifestyle and the cost of living in Bulgaria, Settling in Bulgaria: formalities and paperwork, Best Places To Live In Bulgaria As An Expat, etiquette guide on the Bulgarian Embassy of London site, How A British Family Bought & Renovated A House In Bulgaria, Expatras guide to international removals, The Pros & Cons Of Expat Life In Bulgaria, List of Regional Migration Directorate offices, Bulgaria visas and residency for US citizens , Living in Bulgaria after Brexit (for UK citizens) . Its safe to say that its the busiest city in the country and a multicultural hub of professionals and students from all over the world. Expats often choose Haskovo as a popular Bulgarian place to live in as it offers the comfort and cosiness of the small town but its also extremely close to Plovdiv, where you can quickly travel to. Required fields are marked *. Its the perfect place to explore what nature has to offer and connect with our planet. I have a few local friends, but mostly Ive stuck to the expat community, as my husband works with mostly Portuguese people and my business partner here is American. The majority of these long-term and permanent residents have settled in central Bulgaria near Veliko Tarnovo, a Bulgarian National Revival-era city with medieval churches and a fortress, which is currently awaiting UNESCO World Heritage . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 - Expatra Ltd. UK Company Number 09686420. Registering my business in Bulgaria was a total headache. Burgas a cultural hub on the coast of the Black Sea, 6. To benefit from the cost of living your income should be above the Bulgarian average Theres a great etiquette guide on the Bulgarian Embassy of London site. But yes, Bulgaria is still rapidly losing population, so it needs people to come (back) and contribute. 8 Best reasons to retire to Bulgaria! Your email address will not be published. Leslie Grantham: Bulgarias most famed Briton? better place to live than two-thirds of the world, All You Need To Know About Medical Insurance for Foreigners in Bulgaria. New pieces of beautiful street art adorn the walls unexpectedly, discovered on your daily walks. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 - Expatra Ltd. UK Company Number 09686420. Haskovo one of Bulgarias oldest yet most pleasant places to live in, 9. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. As an EU country, standard EU rules apply to removals; do note you may need to list serial numbers and brands for all electrical appliances. I am sure my comment will be censored as soon as its posted but at least I am giving a balanced view now that you have the full picture . Regardless of age, you cant really say youve been to Varna if you havent visited Cubo the most popular beach bar in the city. If youre moving to Bulgaria, currently living in Sofia or just curious about living abroad, leave you questions for Allison below in the comments. So I ended up staying in Sofia for love, and we got married in 2019 after exhausting all the other possibilities to stay together in Sofia, since domestic partnerships are not an option here. Veliko Tarnovo a historically rich and truly beautiful city, 5. Popovo may not be a large city but it also has delicious food to offer in a few quality restaurants. The daytime temperatures vary from 0-5C in the winter and 25-30C in the summer months. Looking forward to your inputs ! Find out more about us HERE. Bulgaria regularly reports hate crime data to ODIHR. 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