Thinking to move to Bulgaria

@SimCityAT

It's seems inevitable.

I left to the UK for the middle east just after the Brexit vote and been moving around the globe since.

@janemulberry

Hindsight is a wonderfully accurate thing, and constantly beating yourself up about your missed opportunities is probably not the most constructive option! Especially as you will pretty soon (I think) qualify by the tried-and-tested TCN pensioner option (and a few short years after that, your Bulgarian PR). You already have a home here, and you have a plan, so that seems pretty positive to me. :-)

Thanks, Gwyn! Really, I am 99% positive. It's all going to work out, just slower than I'd like.

I do get a little irritated when people say "What's the problem? It won't affect me!" when the issue under discussion is affecting or going to affect a lot of other people.

Getting back on topic, I do hope that James, the original poster, is able to find a practical and workable route into moving to Bulgaria (without having to wait till he's 70!

I completely understand where you're coming from – and honestly, you're not alone in feeling this way.

A lot of people were in similar situations: COVID, health issues, family problems… and before you knew it, the window closed. It’s easy to look back now and think “I should have done it,” but at the time, you were dealing with real constraints, not just hesitation.

That said, I wouldn’t say you’re “stuck” – just that the path is now more structured than it used to be.

Bulgaria is still accessible for UK citizens, just under a different framework. The most common route now is through a Type D visa, often combined with either:

setting up a company, or

having a clear basis for residence (business activity, representation, etc.)

It’s not as simple as pre-Brexit residency, but it’s still very much doable with the right preparation.

Also, regarding travel concerns – that’s a completely valid factor. Many people underestimate how much that alone can delay decisions, especially when combined with everything else you mentioned.

If Bulgaria is still your chosen destination, it might be worth revisiting the idea with the current rules in mind rather than writing it off completely. The door isn’t closed – it’s just no longer wide open.

Hope that helps a bit, and you’re definitely not the only one feeling like this.

Thanks, Daniel! Thankfully I'll be eligible to claim my old age pension next March, so can move under the retirement visa.

The other routes to residency here are unfortunately significantly more complicated.

@Daniel Malbasic

You are correct, but I'd say it's a teeny bit frustrating that Bulgaria doesn't have an equivalent to Spain's NLV (No Lucrativa Visa). While this is very similar to a pensioner visa, and is the option chosen by almost all pensioners, it is, very helpfully, much broader. That's because it doesn't insist on the income being a pension, it can be any kind of passive income, and you can meet the annual income requirement with savings instead. As a consequence, Brits who are too young for their pensions, can still relocate easily to an EU country.

@james1992main

I am close to retirement, in practice I already am, but some years ago I created an Hungarian Kft and was very easy and much cheaper, there might be a significant diffence in bureacracy because I am Dutch (ie part of the EU). The account dealt with everthing, the total incorporation cost was perhaps EUR 3.000, the ongoing cost of the accountant (dealt with authorities, annual statements, registration maintenance, ...) EUR 50 pm. But having a company (apart from the income) has many advantages. In practice it meant that revenues was close to net, depreciation of car, health insurance, our salaries. Clearly helped by a low flat tax.

@james1992main

I am close to retirement, in practice I already am, but some years ago I created an Hungarian Kft and was very easy and much cheaper, there might be a significant diffence in bureacracy because I am Dutch (ie part of the EU). The account dealt with everthing, the total incorporation cost was perhaps EUR 3.000, the ongoing cost of the accountant (dealt with authorities, annual statements, registration maintenance, ...) EUR 50 pm. But having a company (apart from the income) has many advantages. In practice it meant that revenues was close to net, depreciation of car, health insurance, our salaries. Clearly helped by a low flat tax.

@SimCityAT laugh yes but i still live here with our 6 month old baby. I’m fearing what kind of world he is going to grow up in. Hence why we want out the uk to rural Bulgaria and we are out the way.

the uk in general is finished, doesn’t matter who gets in they are all peas from the same pod. Puppets on strings. I’m really worried about this visa but I’ve been discussing with people who live in Bulgaria and they say it’s not as hard as people think but maybe they were just lucky. I’ve emailed the embassy in London today and hoping for a response soon on some questions I’ve raised.

Hoping it works out for you, James.

Some people did get lucky post-Brexit and have somehow managed to sneak things past immigration that shouldn't have been allowed. Many people giving advice don't realise things have changed since Brexit and have become way more challenging. But challenging isn't the same as impossible!

whar have they got past immigration? Asking for a friend…. 😝

LOL! Well, I wish your friend Успех!

I heard rumors (last year) from a few different sources that some Brits who owned properties in Bg were just turning up at their local immigration offices with the required paperwork  like proof of enough money to support themselves and proof of address -- but without the D visa stamped in their passport, which needs to be applied for in one's country of residence -- and were successful in getting residency cards. Basically, they bypassed step 1 and went straight to step 2.

Independently of the rumours, my lovely Bulgarian neighbour researched how I could get residency faster and insisted I could do that. So we set off to the city one day around this time last year, filled in all the paperwork, and submitted my documents. Looked like we were going to pull it off. Right till the final step, paying the cashier the 6 BGN fee to get the residency card. She asked where my D visa was!

So despite the rumours, it didn't work for me and I'm waiting and going the D visa route. Thankfully now the Embassy finally posted the requirements for the digital nomad visa, it does look as if will work to get me residency a year sooner, then I can apply for the retirement D visa.

Post-Brexit, Bulgaria gave Brits who owned property extensions to apply for residency, and it seems there was a very much extended unofficial period as well where many immigration offices relaxed the new rules and gave Brits residency under the old system. Unfortunately those days are probably now long gone. Which is why the key question when people tell you how they got residency is "When did you apply?"

@SimCityAT laugh yes but i still live here with our 6 month old baby. I’m fearing what kind of world he is going to grow up in. Hence why we want out the uk to rural Bulgaria and we are out the way.
the uk in general is finished, doesn’t matter who gets in they are all peas from the same pod. Puppets on strings. I’m really worried about this visa but I’ve been discussing with people who live in Bulgaria and they say it’s not as hard as people think but maybe they were just lucky. I’ve emailed the embassy in London today and hoping for a response soon on some questions I’ve raised. - @james1992main

I still have family and family living in the UK, so I will feel sorry for them very much. I will laugh if Reform wins, and all those who voted for them think everything is going to be miraculously better because it won't. (Give in a year or 2, they are going to regret who they voted for) Farage is very clever in his wording of the party "Reform". People only see that word and are tired of the old parties, so they are drawn in to voting for the name. They don't see the bigger picture or bother to research the lies being fed to them.

Rupert Lowe is from the same cloth, with "Restore Britain". In some way its good because they are just splitting the far-right vote.

If you are unsuccessful in trying to move over to mainland Europe, there is Ireland as a backup. Live there for 7 years, I think, and you can get an Irish passport or do you have any grandparents that are Irish? Then you will be able to get one from them.

@janemulberry

Some rummors maybe true, that post Brexit people were able to get Residency but after appeals and some paperwork. It was possible, months, maybe a year. But after that, I doubt it. Like being in a hospital and unable to leave, for instance. 

What about the so called brown envelope method will it work? I’m willing to give anything a go to get out there! I want to make my dream a reality 

@james1992main

Please don't risk it! It might work, once, but I'm pretty sure you need to renew your residency yearly for five years before you can get longer term residency and that's depending on it working waaaaaay too many times! And you might just happen on someone who will report you, which means you'll find yourself barred from entry for a very long time and possibly facing a very large fine that will wipe out a big chunk of your budget! Even jail. That would not be good for your baby's future!

The list of all the grounds for a D visa and the conditions are listed on the London Embassy website: https://www.bgconsullondon.co.uk/long-t … a-bulgaria

Unfortunately, there really isn't any other way for Bulgaria.

Have you looked at other non-EU European countries with easier immigration rules? Georgia or Serbia might be worth considering.

What about the so called brown envelope method will it work? I’m willing to give anything a go to get out there! I want to make my dream a reality - @james1992main

Years ago, it may have worked, BUT now? I'd never try it or attempt it. You will simply be deported, barred from entering the EU for X amount of years and possibly imprisoned if caught.

Probably simpler, for British nationals, to just move to Ireland and get an EU passport after 5 years. You can claim child benefits and others in Ireland as soon as you arrive.

No need for any visas or ID cards etc. You have the right to stay automatically thanks to common travel area and after 5 years you will have an EU passport ready to go. Probably easier than 5+ years or D visas and others in Bulgaria.

@james1992main

i hope it works out for you too. I have not found even the retirement visa an easy process and it’s a lot more costly than I estimated. The costs of trains to London (from N Wales) were horrendous and there are the costs of changing company to Euro, registration, add in all the residency costs etc and I was pretty shocked as I thought I had budgeted well. I am not sure if our costs are over as although I received my visa, my husband was waiting and waiting and we decided to come out as things needed doing. Just our luck, we get as far as Romania and receive a message to say it’s ready! (Our paperwork went in 29 December).  You couldn’t make it up 🤣

Probably simpler, for British nationals, to just move to Ireland and get an EU passport after 5 years. You can claim child benefits and others in Ireland as soon as you arrive.
No need for any visas or ID cards etc. You have the right to stay automatically thanks to common travel area and after 5 years you will have an EU passport ready to go. Probably easier than 5+ years or D visas and others in Bulgaria. - @Zooldrool

While you can apply after 5 years, the total time from moving to receiving the passport in hand is often closer to 6.5–7 years due to processing.

Because of the surge in demand for Irish passports, yes, processing time is now 2 years.  But it's an option.  Even easier for those with an Irish grandparent. I thought I had - veeeeery disappointed to find out that though Poppy spoke with a strong brogue he was born to Irish parents in Liverpool!

Jayne, I'm so sorry your visa process turned out so difficult. So hubby has to fly back to get the visa entered into his passport? What a huge hassle! I hope you love your life in Bulgaria and it's all easy from here on!

After hearing so many people here experience long delays getting their retirement D visa due to hassles getting necessary paperwork from the UK government departments or slow processing at the Embassy, I've decided to go for it with the digital nomad visa. The London Embassy have finally posted the requirements and are taking applications. It will no doubt be a massive hassle and also take forever to get, but it should mean we can be there when we hope to be rather than thinking "Yes, I've got my pension and now we can go!" and hanging around six months waiting for everything to process!

@janemulberry

What will you do after the year is up? Renew for 1 more year, to give you time to work out what to do next?

@SimCityAT

I'm hoping I can get the one year residency based on the digital nomad visa in place by September 2026. According to the information on the London Embassy website, I will meet the requirements.  My UK old age pension starts in early March, 2027. That gives me six months to get the paperwork for the retirment D visa arranged, which hopefully will be enough. If not, I believe the residency based on the nomad visa can be extended a second year by applying at the regional immigration office while I wait to receive the necessary paperwork for the retirement visa.

Some requirements for the retirement D visa like getting a Bg bank account for the pension to be paid into should be much easier to meet if I already have a residency card via a different route!

@SimCityAT
I'm hoping I can get the one year residency based on the digital nomad visa in place by September 2026. According to the information on the London Embassy website, I will meet the requirements. My UK old age pension starts in early March, 2027. That gives me six months to get the paperwork for the retirment D visa arranged, which hopefully will be enough. If not, I believe the residency based on the nomad visa can be extended a second year by applying at the regional immigration office while I wait to receive the necessary paperwork for the retirement visa.
Some requirements for the retirement D visa like getting a Bg bank account for the pension to be paid into should be much easier to meet if I already have a residency card via a different route! - @janemulberry

Well, I wish and hope everything goes smoothly for you, Jane.

Thank you!

Probably not as smoothly as I hope, but as long as I get us there in the end, it's all good!

@janemulberry

In Dublin the Irish naturalisation process time time is currently around 12 months or so. So 5 years + 1 to receive an EU passport in hand.

Brits also have it a lot easier with naturalisation in Ireland, just a simple points based system without much checks. 

In Bulgaria it would take well over a decade with all the timescales and several hoops to jump through (including language exams) to get the same rights.

Good to know! I'd seen official figures saying 2 years from application to passport issue for grandparentage passports, but that probably was for overseas applicants rather than those already living in Ireland.

@SimCityAT

Couldn’t wait 5 years, you could be dead by then 😃

@jeanmandredeix

I think many of us feel we've waited long enough already!

@james1992main

Before deciding to move to Bulgaria, I would not start with “which city is best”.

I would start with your practical situation:

- Are you moving alone or with family?

- Do you need work locally or income from abroad?

- Do you want city life, mountain life or coastal life?

- Are you renting first or buying immediately?

- Do you need residency support, car registration, banking, doctor, school or local contacts?

- Will you be in Bulgaria full-time or only part of the year?

Bulgaria can be a very good option, but the experience is very different in Sofia, Bansko, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas or rural areas.

My advice: rent first, test the region, and only then buy property.

I work with international owners and relocation clients in Bulgaria, so I am happy to share a practical first-step checklist.