Practical guides
Practical guides for living in Bulgaria
Step-by-step walkthroughs of the things that catch foreigners out. Every guide has sources and a last-reviewed date.
Bulgaria and the euro
Bulgaria has used the euro since 1 January 2026. What the completed changeover means for your bank account, old contracts and any leftover lev cash.
Your first month in Bulgaria — what it actually costs
The one-time setup costs nobody budgets for — deposit, first rent, furniture, registrations and the buffer that saves you.
Opening a bank account in Bulgaria
Which banks actually accept foreigners, fees nobody tells you about, and what cards work where.
Living in Burgas: the practical city guide
Districts, lakes and birdwatching, day trips, eating by dietary need, where to shop, and the safety basics — everything you need for your first weeks on Bulgaria's southern coast.
Bulgarian citizenship by naturalisation: the honest timeline
The realistic path to a Bulgarian passport — residence years, the language exam, and the dual-citizenship question nobody explains up front.
Living in Plovdiv: the practical city guide
Districts, day trips, eating by dietary need, where to shop, and the safety basics — everything you need for your first weeks in Bulgaria's second city.
Renting an apartment in Bulgaria
Where to look, what landlords actually want, deposits, and the leases people sign without reading.
Living in Varna: the practical city guide
Districts, day trips, eating by dietary need, where to shop, and the safety basics — everything you need for your first weeks in Bulgaria's sea capital.
VAT in Bulgaria: when registration actually applies to you
The €51,130 threshold, voluntary registration, and the article 97a services rule that catches freelancers with foreign clients by surprise.
Living in Bansko: the practical guide
Where to base yourself, the ski-and-nomad calendar, eating by dietary need, where to shop, and the mountain-town safety basics — everything you need for your first weeks in Bansko.
Pensions for foreigners: what your Bulgarian years actually earn you
The age and contribution thresholds, the 15-year route that matters most to foreigners, and how EU coordination — or a bilateral treaty — affects what you'll actually get.
Residency in Bulgaria: EU and non-EU paths, step by step
How EU citizens register their stay and how non-EU citizens work through the D visa and residence permit — in the right order.
Living in Sofia — the practical city guide
Districts, day trips, eating by dietary need, where to shop, and the safety basics — everything you need for your first weeks in the capital.
Bulgarian taxes for foreigners: the 10% system
How Bulgaria's flat 10% income tax actually works, what social security really costs, and who needs to file a return.
Health insurance and болнични: employed, self-employed, or new arrival
How NHIF contributions work, what happens when they lapse, and the sick-leave and maternity pay rules nobody explains until you need them.
Freelancer, EOOD, or employment contract: picking your setup
What it actually costs and takes to work as a self-employed freelancer, run a single-owner EOOD, or stay on a payroll contract — and how to choose.
NAP registration & getting your EGN/LNCH
Getting your Bulgarian tax number, ЕГН or ЛНЧ, and a stamped address. The order matters.