{"id":12429,"date":"2021-10-25T07:24:21","date_gmt":"2021-10-25T06:24:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/?p=12429"},"modified":"2025-12-18T14:09:35","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T14:09:35","slug":"moving-to-bulgaria-from-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/moving-to-bulgaria-from-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"Moving to Bulgaria from the UK"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"770\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/veliko-tarnovo-bulgaria.jpg\" alt=\"Bulgaria's old capital, Veliko Tarnovo on a beautiful summer day\" class=\"wp-image-12605\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/veliko-tarnovo-bulgaria.jpg 770w, https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/veliko-tarnovo-bulgaria-300x175.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/veliko-tarnovo-bulgaria-768x449.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image source: Shutterstock \/ Location: Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><br><strong>Capital City:<\/strong> Sofia<br><strong>Population:<\/strong> 6,875,040<br><strong>Official language:<\/strong> Bulgarian<br><strong>Commonly spoken languages:<\/strong> Turkish, Romani, English (minorities)<br><strong>Currency:<\/strong> Bulgarian Lev (BGN)<br><strong>Exchange rate to pound:<\/strong> 1 BGN is equal to 0.44 GBP and 1 GBP is equal to 2.29 BGN<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moving to Bulgaria from the UK is an exciting journey! Bulgaria is a quaint nation with breathtaking beauty&nbsp;and an intriguing history,&nbsp; all&nbsp;tucked away in the Balkan Peninsula. Bulgaria has had continuous economic growth and rising living standards since joining the EU in 2007. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, it&#8217;s a more alluring location now that the Euro is expected to replace other currencies as the official one. We&#8217;re confident you won&#8217;t be sorry if you&#8217;ve made the decision to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/international-removals\/\">move to Bulgaria<\/a>, where a cordial greeting and an exciting new chapter await you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69fa47bcc53fb\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69fa47bcc53fb\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/moving-to-bulgaria-from-uk\/#Where_to_Move_in_Bulgaria_from_the_UK\" >Where to Move in Bulgaria from the UK?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/moving-to-bulgaria-from-uk\/#How_to_become_a_resident\" >How to become a resident<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/moving-to-bulgaria-from-uk\/#Working_in_Bulgaria\" >Working in Bulgaria<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/moving-to-bulgaria-from-uk\/#Transportation_in_Bulgaria\" >Transportation in Bulgaria<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/moving-to-bulgaria-from-uk\/#Driving_your_own_car_in_Bulgaria\" >Driving your own car in Bulgaria<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/moving-to-bulgaria-from-uk\/#Education_in_Bulgaria\" >Education in Bulgaria<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/moving-to-bulgaria-from-uk\/#Being_a_student_in_Bulgaria\" >Being a student in Bulgaria<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/moving-to-bulgaria-from-uk\/#Healthcare_in_Bulgaria\" >Healthcare in Bulgaria<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/moving-to-bulgaria-from-uk\/#Takeaways\" >Takeaways<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_to_Move_in_Bulgaria_from_the_UK\"><\/span>Where to Move in Bulgaria from the UK?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Thinking about moving to Bulgaria from the UK? You\u2019ll find that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-bulgaria\/\">most popular places to live in Bulgaria<\/a> are also the country\u2019s largest cities. Sofia, the bustling capital, is a top choice, along with Plovdiv, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Stara Zagora, and Burgas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These cities offer great job opportunities and plenty of other perks. But don\u2019t worry if big city life isn\u2019t for you\u2014many UK expats also enjoy the charm of smaller Bulgarian towns or even peaceful village life. There\u2019s something for everyone in Bulgaria, whether you\u2019re after the buzz of the city or the tranquillity of the countryside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_become_a_resident\"><\/span>How to become a resident<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/guidance\/living-in-bulgaria\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the latest updates<\/a>, if you have not previously applied for a Bulgarian residency permit, you need to do that at the nearest Migration Directorate office within 90 days of arriving in the country. You will need to provide your passport and a few other documents, proving that you:<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n<ul class=\"list-red-check\">\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>have a work contract or are self-employed in Bulgaria<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>can support yourself via independent and have personal health insurance or UK social security form<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>are enrolled in an educational program in Bulgaria and hold personal health insurance or UK security form<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alternatively, you will have to prove that you are an immediate family member joining an EU citizen who fulfils one of the above criteria. In case you are already a resident in Bulgaria and have a permit that expires before or after 31st December 2021, you should apply for the new permit, which was introduced in July 2021. You can read more details on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mvr.bg\/lovech\/%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%B8-%D1%83%D1%81%D0%BB%D1%83%D0%B3%D0%B8\/%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%B8-%D1%83%D1%81%D0%BB%D1%83%D0%B3%D0%B8-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%B3%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8\/%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%B3%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%8F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bulgarian Ministry of Interior\u2019s website<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mfa.bg\/en\/services-travel\/consular-services\/travel-bulgaria\/visa-bulgaria\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ministry of Foreign Affairs\u2019 website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you have been a resident in Bulgaria for 5 consecutive years, you can apply for a permanent residency permit, and once you have held a permanent residence permit for five years, you can apply for Bulgarian citizenship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Working_in_Bulgaria\"><\/span>Working in Bulgaria<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Bulgarian economy has been growing rapidly in the last decade and the demand for qualified workers has increased. As per the latest data, the highest in-demand jobs in the country are ICT professionals, health professionals, engineers, business services and eCommerce professionals, digital marketing professionals, sales professionals, and teachers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The minimum wage in Bulgaria as of 2021 is 650 BGN or 283.91 GBP. The average wage for the same year is 1,525 BGN or 666.10 GBP. Increasingly more employers offer additional benefits, such as additional health insurance, sports membership cards, transportation costs reimbursement, training, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unsurprisingly, the highest-paying careers in Bulgaria are surgeons and doctors, judges and lawyers, IT specialists, finance and marketing directors. Note that most Bulgarian employers require a DBS check and a residency permit before being able to legally employ you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Transportation_in_Bulgaria\"><\/span>Transportation in Bulgaria<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The transportation system in Bulgaria is relatively well-organised and developed. There are four main methods of transportation &#8211; buses, planes, trains, and cars. There are three main airports in the country &#8211; Sofia, Varna, and Burgas. Normally, the biggest airport is located in the country\u2019s capital. Intracity most Bulgarian residents use public transport or their personal vehicles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The public transport network includes buses, trolleys, trams, and subways and is affordable and relatively convenient. The one-way ticket cost is 1 BGN or 0.44 GBP and the monthly public transportation pass is around 15 BGN or 6.56 GBP for students up to the age of 26, and 45 BGN or 19.68 GBP for adults. These prices are average and may vary slightly from one city to another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although not as popular as in the UK, cycling is becoming increasingly more favoured by a lot of Bulgarian residents. The same applies to scooters. Last but not least, you can use taxis to get around in the country. There are quite a few taxi companies to choose from. The normal tariff is around 0.90 BGN per kilometre or 0.39 GBP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to travelling outside of the city, Bulgarians travel via the Bulgarian State Railway or buses. The experience is generally comfortable for travellers and also reasonably priced, based on the travel distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall, the transportation in Bulgaria is of good quality and affordable prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Driving_your_own_car_in_Bulgaria\"><\/span>Driving your own car in Bulgaria<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>UK driving licenses are recognised in Bulgaria, so all you need to do when you move to the country is exchange your UK license for a Bulgarian one. This could be done at your nearest Regional Police Department. Apart from your driving license, you need to have vehicle registration and insurance documents. For intercity travels, you are also required to have vignettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a lot of cars in the country. According to the latest data, there were nearly three million vehicles in 2020. In bigger cities, like Sofia and Varna, traffic issues are frequent. Finding available parking spaces can also be tricky sometimes, especially in the city centre. However, overall, owning a car in Bulgaria is relatively affordable and more convenient compared to owning a vehicle in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Education_in_Bulgaria\"><\/span>Education in Bulgaria<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Education in Bulgaria is overseen by the Ministry of Education and Science. It is of very high quality. Children start school at the age of 7. Education is compulsory until the age of 16. Education in Bulgaria is completely free of charge, with the expectation of higher education, such as colleges and universities. There are, of course, private schools that require additional payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Being_a_student_in_Bulgaria\"><\/span>Being a student in Bulgaria<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many universities in Bulgaria, both public and private. Unsurprisingly, the biggest ones are located in Sofia, Varna, Plovdiv, and Stara Zagora. The tuition fees for attending public universities are generally lower than the fees for studying at private educational institutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The programs offered might be full-time and part-time. Since the cost of living in Bulgaria is relatively lower than in many other countries, the UK included, a student in Bulgaria would need around 500 BGN or around 220 GBP a month, costs for accommodation, utilities, and food included.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Check also:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/moving-to-romania-from-uk\/\">Moving to Romania from the UK<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/moving-to-greece-from-the-uk\/\">Moving to Greece from the UK<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/moving-to-serbia-from-uk\/\">Moving From the UK to Serbia<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Healthcare_in_Bulgaria\"><\/span>Healthcare in Bulgaria<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the latest information provided by the UK government, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/guidance\/healthcare-in-bulgaria\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">healthcare is accessed by UK nationals<\/a> in one of the following ways:<\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n<ul class=\"list-red-check\">\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>paying state health insurance contributions through their Bulgarian employer<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>paying state health insurance contributions independently if you\u2019re self-employed or financially independent<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>taking out private health insurance<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>using a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) for temporary stays<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>registering a UK-issued <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/guidance\/healthcare-in-bulgaria#s1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">S1 form<\/a> with Bulgaria\u2019s National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\n\n\n\n<p>As long as you pay your health insurance contributions regularly, or hold private health insurance, healthcare is relatively affordable. Most healthcare procedures are covered by insurance. There are both private and public hospitals in Bulgaria. You must be registered as a Bulgarian resident in order to pay healthcare insurance contributions.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"cta_container_holder\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"title\">Moving to Bulgaria?<br \/>Let Fantastic Removals handle the international relocation for you!<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/contact-us\/\" class=\"btn-regular btn-gfq\">Contact Us<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info_text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>For questions about the services we offer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/\">visit our main site<\/a> or you can always call us at <a href=\"tel:\"><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Takeaways\"><\/span>Takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<\/p>\n<ul class=\"list-red-check\">\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>If you are wondering where to live in Bulgaria, Sofia, as well as Plovdiv, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Stara Zagora, and Burgas are very good options<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>When looking for a job in Bulgaria, mind that jobs related to medicine, the IT sector, marketing, and law are the highest paid ones<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>Unlike other European countries, higher education in Bulgaria is paid, but is still very affordable<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Capital City: SofiaPopulation: 6,875,040Official language: BulgarianCommonly spoken languages: Turkish, Romani, English (minorities)Currency: Bulgarian Lev (BGN)Exchange rate to pound: 1 BGN is equal to 0.44 GBP and 1 GBP is equal to 2.29 BGN Moving to Bulgaria from the UK is an exciting journey! Bulgaria is a quaint nation with breathtaking beauty&nbsp;and an intriguing history,&nbsp; all&nbsp;tucked&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":12605,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[623,632],"class_list":{"0":"post-12429","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-moving-abroad","8":"tag-international","9":"tag-move"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12429","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12429"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12429\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21605,"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12429\/revisions\/21605"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12605"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12429"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12429"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12429"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}