Can you drink the tap water?
Legally, yes. In Bulgaria, as across the EU, the European Drinking Water Directive applies; the tap water is monitored and generally…Read the answer →
Residence and daily life
Registration, residence permits, health insurance, schooling, the car and everyday life after the move.
Residence and daily life
Registration, residence permits, health insurance, schooling, the car and everyday life after the move.
#Aufenthalt #AuswandernBulgarien #Krankenversicherung #Umzug
Can foreigners buy property in Bulgaria?
Foreigners can usually buy buildings and apartments directly. For land (plots) restrictions apply depending on citizenship: EU citizens…Read the answer →Residence →
How is residence regulated for non-EU citizens?
For short stays, the 90/180-day rule applies to many non-EU citizens. A longer stay requires a residence permit obtained via the…Read the answer →Residence →
What ongoing taxes does a property owner pay in Bulgaria?
Each year an owner pays the municipal property tax and the waste-collection fee; both follow the Local Taxes and Fees Act, with rates…Read the answer →Residence →
What is healthcare like — for EU and non-EU citizens?
Burgas is the southern coast's medical hub with a university hospital and private clinics; each location page shows the hospital and…Read the answer →Residence →
What is the type D visa and where do I apply?
The type D visa is Bulgaria's national long-stay visa and the usual first step towards a residence permit. You apply at the Bulgarian…Read the answer →Residence →
What residence stages exist for non-EU citizens?
The usual route runs from the type D visa to prolonged residence (up to one year, renewable). After five years of lawful, uninterrupted…Read the answer →Residence →
I am from Ukraine with temporary protection — can I buy?
Yes — the protection status governs your stay, while the property purchase follows the general rules for foreigners: you can acquire…Read the answer →Residence →
Do Israelis need a visa for Bulgaria?
For short stays, no: Israeli citizens enter visa-free, and the Schengen 90/180 rule applies. The EU is gradually introducing the ETIAS…Read the answer →Residence →
May I let my property — and how is rental income taxed?
You may let freely in principle; for short-term tourist letting Bulgaria requires categorisation of the accommodation with the…Read the answer →Residence →
Which universities are there in Burgas?
Burgas has three higher-education institutions: the state Prof. Dr Asen Zlatarov University with faculties of engineering, natural…Read the answer →Residence →
How do school choice and enrolment work?
For grade 1, the Burgas municipality allocates places through an electronic system based on catchment areas and points: the leading…Read the answer →Residence →
How is the school system structured and are diplomas recognised in the EU?
Secondary school ends with the Diploma za sredno obrazovanie, Bulgaria's secondary-education diploma. Important: university admission…Read the answer →Residence →
How does the Bulgarian grading system work?
Bulgaria grades on a scale from 2 to 6: otlichen (6) is the top mark, followed by mnogo dobar (5), dobar (4) and sreden (3); slab (2)…Read the answer →Residence →
Why does Bulgaria write in Cyrillic — and will that stay?
The Cyrillic script is Bulgarian cultural heritage of the first order: the disciples of Cyril and Methodius — Kliment of Ohrid and Naum…Read the answer →Residence →
What makes Bulgarian society tick?
Bulgaria is an EU member and at the same time noticeably more conservative socially than Western and Northern Europe. Family and the…Read the answer →Residence →
How are taxi fares regulated — and what should I watch out for in Sunny Beach?
Taxi fares are regulated: the municipal council sets maximum rates, and every licensed taxi must display its prices on stickers on the…Read the answer →Residence →
Is my driving licence valid in Bulgaria — and when do I need to exchange it?
EU driving licences are recognised throughout the EU; if you move to Bulgaria you generally do not need to exchange yours, though a…Read the answer →Residence →
What comes after buying a car — registration, inspection, tax?
A purchased or imported vehicle must be registered within one month at the traffic police — for the southern coast that is the Patna…Read the answer →Residence →
What applies to EU citizens for health insurance and treatment?
During a temporary stay, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers medically necessary public healthcare on the same terms as…Read the answer →Residence →
What do the EU social security rules provide for pensions and benefits?
EU Regulation 883/2004 coordinates member states' social security systems along four principles: you are always subject to only one…Read the answer →Residence →
Can I pop into Turkey for a day trip or shopping?
Yes — thanks to its proximity to Turkey, the Burgas region is an ideal base for cross-border trips: shopping and sightseeing combine…Read the answer →Residence →
Will I manage with English on Bulgaria's southern coast?
In cities, tourist areas and with younger people, English usually works well. In Burgas, Varna, Sofia, Plovdiv and along the coast…Read the answer →Residence →
What should I know about mentality and service culture in Bulgaria?
Bulgaria is friendly, safe and pleasantly non-pushy, though communication can be more reserved than in Spain or Italy. It is best to…Read the answer →Residence →
How do I register after arrival and obtain a personal number?
You first register your residence with the migration authority and then have your address recorded at the municipality; your personal…Read the answer →Settling in →
Which residence status do I need in Bulgaria?
EU nationals receive a long-term residence certificate, while non-EU nationals obtain a residence card through the migration authority…Read the answer →Settling in →
How do I register with the Bulgarian health insurance system?
Your insurance route depends on your situation — employer, self-payment, the S1 form for EU pensioners, or the EHIC for short visits…Read the answer →Settling in →
How do I register my car in Bulgaria?
Register the car with the traffic police for your place of residence within one month of purchase; you will first need a valid…Read the answer →Settling in →
What annual taxes apply to my property?
Each year you pay the property tax and the household waste fee; they fall due in two instalments by 30 June and 31 October, with a 5%…Read the answer →Settling in →
What incidental costs should I expect when buying?
Expect the acquisition tax, the register entry, the notary fee and, as a rule, an agent's commission, plus translation and…Read the answer →Settling in →
How do I transfer electricity and water after the purchase?
You transfer the electricity contract with the grid supplier and the water contract with the municipal water utility; for water, proof…Read the answer →Settling in →
How do I protect myself against fraud when buying property?
Check the ownership independently via the encumbrance certificate, hire your own lawyer, and pay only traceably through the bank rather…Read the answer →Settling in →
Do I need an electronic signature for online dealings with public authorities?
For the tax portal alone the free PIK code is enough; only those who regularly use the commercial register and several authorities need…Read the answer →Settling in →
Which border crossing into Turkey is best from the southern coast?
From the southern coast the nearest crossing is Malko Tarnovo–Dereköy, open around the clock and suitable for cars. Which documents…Read the answer →Settling in →
Do my documents need an apostille for Bulgaria?
For civil-status documents from an EU country you usually need no apostille; for documents from outside the EU the order is apostille…Read the answer →Settling in →
How do I enrol my child in daycare or school?
First register your home address in the right catchment area and apply through the municipality's online system, with the child's…Read the answer →Settling in →
What do I need to bring my pet?
Your pet needs, in this order, an ISO microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and — depending on the country of origin — the EU pet…Read the answer →Settling in →
How do I open a bank account as a foreigner?
Ask several branches in advance whether a passport or EU ID card with a registered address is enough, and book an in-person appointment…Read the answer →Settling in →
What running costs come with a collection pit?
You pay per collection, not a flat monthly fee. How often the tanker has to come depends on the size of the pit and on how many people…Read the answer →
What is the quickest way to get a phone number and internet?
Get a prepaid SIM from one of the three operators on your first day. The card must be registered in your name, which is a legal…Read the answer →
Do I have to file an income tax return in Bulgaria?
It depends on your tax status. Under Art. 4 of the Income Tax Act you count as resident if any one of these applies: a permanent…Read the answer →Residence →
Where do I get help in an emergency on the southern coast?
The emergency number is 112: free, round the clock and answered in English as well. For the Burgas area the emergency department is at…Read the answer →Settling in →
What advantages does Bulgaria offer as an EU location?
Bulgaria is an EU member, has been a full Schengen member since 1 January 2025 and adopted the euro on 1 January 2026. The conversion…Read the answer →Settling in →
How high are taxes in Bulgaria?
Bulgaria works with flat rates: 10 per cent corporate tax, 10 per cent income tax without progression and 5 per cent on dividends…Read the answer →Settling in →
Do I have to deregister in Germany, and is that enough for tax purposes?
Under registration law yes: section 17(1) of the Federal Registration Act requires anyone who moves out of a dwelling without taking a…Read the answer →Moving to Bulgaria →
What does the tax office look at to decide whether I really left?
At the actual circumstances, not at declarations. Sections 8 and 9 of the Fiscal Code ask whether a dwelling is kept and where a person…Read the answer →Moving to Bulgaria →
Do I need Bulgarian to live there?
Not to arrive, but yes to settle and stay. Along the coast English and Russian carry you a long way; at the authorities and with…Read the answer →Settling in →
Do I have to give up my German number if I take a Bulgarian SIM card?
No. Almost every smartphone of recent years runs two numbers at once, either through two SIM slots or through an eSIM that the shop…Read the answer →
Which emergency number applies in Bulgaria?
The EU-wide emergency number 112 applies across Bulgaria. The call is free, even from a mobile phone without credit, and the control…Read the answer →Settling in →
This information is for general orientation only and does not replace legal, tax, banking, construction, notarial or compliance advice.
