hamousher
English expat in Bulgaria
Forum posts
25
Contacts
2
About me
English
Lives in Starosel, Plovdiv
Speaks English
Registration: 24 October 2017
Renewing Residence Permit (Lichna Karta) by Ellie888
Hi Everyone, I have a question about renewing the residency permit card for Bulgaria. I was wondering what happens if I am absent for more than six months. How does this affect the renewing of the residence card? Also, is it possible to appoint a ...
@Ellie888 the Bulgarian residence permit for foreigners is known as "Личен номер на чужденец" abbreviated to ... Read More
Water and electric and meters by Lee4
In Bulgaria do all houses have water meters? Are water and electric meters at Bulgarian properties digital meters (as in a smart meter), or are analogue water and electric meters also available? Also, a lot of houses for sale in Bulgaria have a ...
the water from the wells can be also used for colonic irrigation Read More
Snakes, and other biting or stinging creatures in Bulgaria by Lee4
Hi, I've read that there are a lot of snakes in Bulgaria, including the most venomous snake in Europe the Nose Horned Viper, Vipera ammodytes. With snakes of various varieties being sighted fairly frequently - living in fields, in woodland, ...
Thank you so much Kristiann, My wife and I have split our sides laughing, my wife is Bulgarian and we have lived here for exactly 1 year now Read More
Looking for reliable builder in the area around a Veliko Tărnovo
Hi Dilys, there is a very good english builder who lives just north of Veliko Tarnovo. His name is Paul L'Oiseux. I have seen some of his work and it is of a high standard, I have not used him personally as I do not live in the VT area. You ... Read More
Help with process for Registering as an EU citizen by lauraball
OK, So I have struggled to find a straight forward explanation of the process and timeframes for registering and receiving a lichna karta here. Currently I understand the process to be: Go to the immigration office with: Application form filled ...
faxo, you are absolutely correct the residence card does not have Lichna Carta on it and as far as I know the only Lichna Carta is the Bulgarian Citizens ID card. The residence card is not an ID as such and is merely a permit for foreigners to live ... Read More
Help with process for Registering as an EU citizen by lauraball
OK, So I have struggled to find a straight forward explanation of the process and timeframes for registering and receiving a lichna karta here. Currently I understand the process to be: Go to the immigration office with: Application form filled ...
kojidae, maybe you could follow the link in my post and then tell me if you can get a Lichna Carta and residence card, because if you have a Lichna Carta you do not need a residence card. I have a 5 year residence card with an лн ... Read More
Help with process for Registering as an EU citizen by lauraball
OK, So I have struggled to find a straight forward explanation of the process and timeframes for registering and receiving a lichna karta here. Currently I understand the process to be: Go to the immigration office with: Application form filled ...
After looking at the PDF. you will need a marriage certificate translated into Bulgarian and your Husbands residence permit along with your other documents you mention Read More
Help with process for Registering as an EU citizen by lauraball
OK, So I have struggled to find a straight forward explanation of the process and timeframes for registering and receiving a lichna karta here. Currently I understand the process to be: Go to the immigration office with: Application form filled ...
Hi laurabell, I am unable to answer your question as I am a family member of a Bulgarian citizen. However, first you do not get a lichna carta. The lichna carta is what Bulgarian citizens have as their ID card. What foreigners get wether EU ... Read More
Building Sand and Cement by scotswahay
Hi does anyone know how much is the currant price for Building sand and Cement in Bulgaria
Hi in Praktiker, which is the English equivalent to B & Q. 25 kg bag of cement is 4.99 lv from the same source 30 kg of sand is 2.99 lv or 40lv for a ton. so in GBP terms cement is about £2.50 sand is £1.25 it may be possible to ... Read More
Exchanging expired driving licence by mcmaxum
Hi, has anyone had a similar or the same situation as myself. My EU driving licence expired in January 2019, I can't renew it for Bulgarian one since I am not a registred citizen for 185 days. Cought myself in whole, since I am registered in ...
Jimj, I assume you are not up to date with UK regulation regarding driving licenses. Currently if you look at Gov.uk Driving license. you will see that there has been a change in that now it says that you need to provide a "contact ... Read More
Exchanging expired driving licence by mcmaxum
Hi, has anyone had a similar or the same situation as myself. My EU driving licence expired in January 2019, I can't renew it for Bulgarian one since I am not a registred citizen for 185 days. Cought myself in whole, since I am registered in ...
depends who the issuing country is. for example, in the UK you can get a new license online simply by logging into the gov.uk website and giving some details. I am afraid I don't know about other EU countries. Read More
Exchange Uk drivers license by silentnomad
Hi all, I have been told that in order to exchange my UK driving license for a Bulgarian one I have to have been resident here for 6 months. I have only been resident for roughly 2 months now and I am concerned about this Brexit thing. Is this 6 ...
Hi, yes, the start date on your license has to have been issued more than 6 months before your application for the exchange license, and of course as already mentioned you need a permanent residence card and a doctors health certificate. I got mine ... Read More
Exchange Uk drivers license by silentnomad
Hi all, I have been told that in order to exchange my UK driving license for a Bulgarian one I have to have been resident here for 6 months. I have only been resident for roughly 2 months now and I am concerned about this Brexit thing. Is this 6 ...
Hi, Yes 6 months residence is correct. I have just got my license exchanged from UK to Bulgarian. Also you must have a valid from date on your license for more than 6 months. Read More
American moving to Bulgaria in 2020 by Dylanc78
Hello all. I'll be 42 in 2020, and am planning on moving to Bulgaria to homestead and live off of about $1400 a month pension with my wife. We both could work, but would rather focus on building a homestead. We are coming to Bulgaria over ...
Hi, I moved to BG in May this year with my wife, after many visits looking for a house in different areas. I have American friends who live a short distance from where we live and they have lived in BG for many years, so could possibly give very ... Read More
Hoping to 'make that move'........ by GuestPoster33698
Hello to all. Just joined in the hope of gathering as much info as possible. I'm really, really hoping to move there once I retire but feel a little unsure of it all as you can start to talk yourself out of things cant you? My main gripe now is ...
Hi Anna, I left the UK and moved to Bulgaria in May 2018. I have had no problems at all with anything. Got my residence permit in record time, registered at the tax office and national health service and have been seen by a consultant at the ... Read More
uk reg vehicle bg insurance? by jerry/karen
hi all im bringing my uk reg van across the end of sept its fully comp on my traders policy in uk but am intending to export it here is it poss to get bg insurance on it as intending to use it over here i have tried asking the police but they dont ...
HI Jerry, so again, as you know I traveled over by car in late May and since have registered my car here and got all the necessary like insurance. You cannot insure a UK registered vehicle with Bulgarian insurance. If you intend to stay long term, ... Read More
driving uk to burgas via italy/greece ferry any help? by jerry/karen
hi hope im posting in correct place does anyone have the driving route from dover to burgas via the italy/greece ferry coming over in a lwb hi top van uk reg do i need to change the beam pattern on the headlights,what do i need to bring with me (i ...
Hi Jerry, I did this trip late May this year, driving from Dover across to Dunkirk. As we were not in a hurry, we made it in to a sort of holiday. We stayed the first night in Belgium, near the German border. 2nd night we stayed at Karlsruhe. ... Read More
Healthcare in Bulgaria by JimAH1152
My wife and I will be retiring to Europe within the next few years. We love Sofia (wife is Bulgarian, I’m from the United States), but wanted to know how good is healthcare for older retirees in a city like Sofia?
Hi Les, There are a number of various factors that will affect you to live in Bulgaria. Basically as a foreigner in the country you will need healthcare insurance as you are below retirement age. The cost of insurance is quite low, but I ... Read More
Bulgarian Weather by JackieJ10
What are the weather expectations in Bulgarian throughout the year please? The warmest areas are of the most interest. Regards, Jackie
Hi Jackie, well, I have no regrets that I left the UK in May for good. One of my criteria was for the better weather. I am biased in where we live in Bulgaria as I have experienced Sofia in the winter and found the climate in the Plovdiv area to ... Read More
Healthcare in Bulgaria by JimAH1152
My wife and I will be retiring to Europe within the next few years. We love Sofia (wife is Bulgarian, I’m from the United States), but wanted to know how good is healthcare for older retirees in a city like Sofia?
Hi Jim, on the subject of healthcare, I am also retired, but can't give a fair answer to your question as I have several advantages. As a British citizen we have an arrangement with the Bulgarian National Health System and also as a retired ... Read More
Bulgarian Weather by JackieJ10
What are the weather expectations in Bulgarian throughout the year please? The warmest areas are of the most interest. Regards, Jackie
Hi Jackie, I live in a village called Starosel, which is close to Sredna Gora and enjoys a great climate. We have lived here since May this year. Starosel is about 50k from Plovdiv and has a great road there unlike a lot of other places. We have ... Read More
Varna by JimAH1152
Hello: My wife, who is from Sofia, and I live in the USA but are seriously thinking of living in Varna. Our pensions will go much further there than in Chicago. We are going to be in Sofia from May 19-28, 2018. In between, we may explore Varna as a ...
Hi Jim, I am from the UK and my wife is also Bulgarian and from Sofia. We moved to Bulgaria in May this year. Before we moved we made several visits looking for a property, but were looking to live in a village. Eventually we settled for a ... Read More
Long stay residency permit of permanent resident by notreve2
When applying for either one of these does a person have to prove they are employed [by a company] or show proof of self-employment? In other words, can a EU citizen live in Bulgaria for a prolonged period of time ...
Hi, I got my residence by using my EHIC card and as the card was new, i.e. with 5 years validity. My residence was granted for 5 years Read More
Register for more than 3 months by trnrger
Hi everyone. For the benefit of anyone thinking to register in Pleven for the first time, I give you the benefit of my experience this week. Requirements : 1. Application form. Help needed with an English speaking person. 2. Copy of National ...
Just for information, I moved to Bulgaria in May 2018 and to date have all my Bulgarian documentation needed to date, the only thing I have missing so far is my Bulgarian driving license. I have been informed by KAT that I have to live here for 185 ... Read More
Intercultural relationships in Bulgaria by Priscilla
Hello, We invite you to share some fun anecdotes and information regarding intercultural marriages and relationships in Bulgaria. This will provide some insight to current and future expats regarding relationship norms in mixed relationships and ...
Hi everyone, I am getting married to a beautiful Bulgarian lady on 20 March 2018 and am happy to share my experiences of the bureaucracy involved with getting married and moving to Bulgaria. So the thing we discovered last week was that my ... Read More