Relocating to Bulgaria: how to settle in
Bulgaria is an increasingly popular base for a long stay and relocation: visa-free entry for citizens of many countries (typically 90 days in 180), the euro, inexpensive Black Sea living, fast internet, and growing Russian- and Ukrainian-speaking communities on the coast. This section is a practical guide to settling in on the ground.
We start with the non-regulatory things everyone needs: housing, connectivity, banking, transport, insurance. Documents, residence permits, and taxes are regulated by the state, and they change periodically - for those we give direct links to official sources and are preparing separate breakdowns.
Documents and taxes change - verify with the primary source
The rules for entry, residence permits, business registration, and taxes in Bulgaria are revised periodically (for example, the digital nomad permit and the new Company Law). Don’t rely on retellings in chats and outdated articles - verify the terms as of the time of your move directly with the government bodies (gov.bg / МВР; links below).
That’s why we don’t fix specific deadlines, amounts, and requirements here as unchanging, but point you to the official sites - they always have the current version.
Where to start on the ground
Housing for your first weeks
For the first weeks it’s convenient to stay in a hotel, guesthouse, or apart-hotel, and look for a long-term rental on the ground, having seen the neighborhood in person. The largest local listing boards are nekretnine.me and 4zida.me; there are also many options through local Facebook groups, chats, and agencies.
SIM card and internet
A local SIM is sold with a passport at operators’ offices and shops - the main ones are A1, Yettel, and Vivacom. Mobile internet is fast and inexpensive, Wi-Fi is everywhere in the cities; this is one of Bulgaria’s strengths for remote work.
Bank account
An account and a card are opened for foreigners by the major banks - CKB, NLB, Hipotekarna, and Erste are among the larger ones. Requirements and check times are periodically tightened, so verify the document set and terms at a branch in advance.
Long-term rental
The lease is usually for 6-12 months, with a deposit most often equal to one month. Prices depend on the city and season: on the coast (Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas) summer rents spike, while in Sofia demand is steadier year-round. Check the meters, the internet, and who pays for utilities.
Transport and getting around
In the cities - cheap public transport (Sofia also has a metro); between cities - frequent intercity buses and the national railway (Sofia-Plovdiv-Burgas/Varna). For freedom of movement many rent a car - how that works is in our rental section.
Health and insurance
There are public and private clinics; the level of private medicine in the big cities is good. For the move and for trips, medical insurance with coverage abroad is convenient - options are in our insurance section.
Daily life and community
The euro (€) - since Bulgaria joined the euro in January 2026 - is accepted everywhere; cards work almost anywhere in the cities, and cash is handy in smaller towns and at markets. The coast (Varna, Burgas, Nessebar) and Sofia have growing Russian- and Ukrainian-speaking communities, and cafes and services often speak English - it’s easy to adapt even without Bulgarian.
Detailed guides
In-depth, non-regulatory how-tos for settling in - updated as things change.
Services for living in Bulgaria
What’s already on the site
Practical sections that come in handy when relocating:
Documents, visas, and taxes: official sources
For these topics we point you straight to government sites - they have the current rules, deadlines, and amounts. We prepare separate breakdowns relying on these same sources.
- Visa, visa-free entry, and length of stay Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria
- Residence and work permit, digital nomad permit Ministry of Interior (МВР)
- Taxes for individuals and companies Revenue and Customs Administration
- Registering a company (d.o.o.) Central Registry of Business Entities (CRPS)
- Driver’s license and vehicle registration Ministry of Interior (МВР)
Nuances people ask about
- The language is Bulgarian, but in the cities and on the coast you can easily get by with English and Russian: signs and menus are often duplicated.
- The money is the euro (€) - Bulgaria uses it unilaterally. We show the current euro rate on the home page in the “Right now in Bulgaria” block.
- Internet and connectivity are cheap and fast, which is why remote workers love Bulgaria.
- Housing on the coast (Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas) gets noticeably more expensive in the summer season - worth keeping in mind for a long-term rental.