The blog
Bulgaria, from the inside.
Paperwork, daily life, neighbourhoods, budget, culture: everything we wish we had known before unpacking.
Schools in Bulgaria for expat children: kindergarten, enrolment and languages
Schools in Bulgaria for expat children: compulsory kindergarten from 4, school from 7, free state education, recognised school years, Bulgarian lessons.
6 min readFamily and workRetiring in Bulgaria: S1, tax on your pension and the Bulgarian pension age
Retiring in Bulgaria with a foreign pension: S1 and NHIF registration, residence, tax on pension income, the 2026 pension age and minimum pension.
6 min readPaperworkResidence in Bulgaria for EU citizens: the long-term residence certificate
Residence in Bulgaria for EU citizens: when to apply, the documents the Migration Directorate asks for, fees in euros and permanent residence.
7 min readWhere to liveRenting in Bulgaria: the written lease, deposit and notice rules
Renting in Bulgaria as an expat: rents by city, the written lease, why there is no legal deposit cap, one-month notice and the landlord's statement.
6 min readPaperworkOpening a bank account in Bulgaria: the euro, the basic account and your rights
Bank account in Bulgaria for expats: the euro since 2026, your right to a basic payment account, documents to bring and the 10-day rule.
6 min readPaperworkMoving to Bulgaria: the step-by-step guide to your first weeks
Moving to Bulgaria from the EU: the residence certificate, LNCh number, health cover, bank account and euro changeover, in the order you will need them.
7 min readPaperworkMoving to Bulgaria from the UK after Brexit: what you need now
Moving to Bulgaria from the UK after Brexit: the 90/180-day rule, long-stay visa or permit, withdrawal agreement rights, health cover and driving.
6 min readDaily lifeLiving in Bulgaria: Cyrillic, the head-nod puzzle, holidays and daily life
Living in Bulgaria as an expat: reading Cyrillic, polite forms, name days, the 2026 public holidays, Orthodox Easter, 112 and prices in euros.
6 min readBudgetIncome tax in Bulgaria for new residents: the 10% flat tax and tax residence
Income tax in Bulgaria for new residents: the three tests for tax residence, the 10% flat rate, 5% on dividends and the 30 April return deadline.
7 min readHealthHealthcare in Bulgaria for expats: the NHIF, your S1 and your GP
Healthcare in Bulgaria for expats: who insures you, the monthly contribution in euros, registering an S1 with the NHIF, choosing a GP, patient fees.
6 min readFamily and workFreelancing and starting a business in Bulgaria: BULSTAT, 10% and 15% tax
Start a business in Bulgaria as an EU citizen: freelancer at 10%, sole trader at 15%, EOOD with 1 euro capital, BULSTAT, contributions and VAT.
6 min readPaperworkDriving in Bulgaria: your licence, registering a car and the e-vignette
Driving in Bulgaria as an expat: EU licence validity, one-month car registration, compulsory insurance and e-vignette prices from 1 August 2026.
6 min readBudgetCost of living in Bulgaria: rent, wages and everyday prices in euros
Cost of living in Bulgaria in euros: rents and prices by city, the 2026 minimum wage, health contributions, the e-vignette and minimum pension.
5 min readWhere to liveBuying property in Bulgaria as a foreigner: notary, local tax and land rules
Buying property in Bulgaria as a foreigner: notary and registry steps, the 0.1% to 3% local acquisition tax, Sofia's 3% rate and land rules.
6 min readPaperworkBulgaria LNCh number: the foreigner's personal number and the NRA service number
Bulgaria LNCh number explained: who issues it, how it differs from the NRA service number, which form to file and why it is your tax ID as a foreigner.
6 min readPaperworkBulgaria e-government for expats: NRA PIK code, e-signature and egov.bg
Bulgaria e-government for foreigners: which office does what, how to get the NRA PIK code or a qualified e-signature, and what egov.bg covers.
6 min readWhere to liveBest places to live in Bulgaria: Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Bansko
Best places to live in Bulgaria for expats: Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas and Bansko compared on rents, purchase prices, work and lifestyle.
5 min readYour move, one step at a time.
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