PlovdivEd
Welsh expat in Bulgaria
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66
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2
About me
Welsh
Registration: 09 January 2022
Does my rental contract have to be notarized by JuilaOui
In order to get the Residence Permit (Certificate) in Sofia, Bulgaria ? I am an EU citizen but my landlord lives overseas.Thanks for your feedback.Julia
@JuilaOui In my experience in Plovdiv, yes it needs to be notarized along with the declaration from your landlord giving permission for you to live there - you can skip that if your landlord comes to the immigration office with when you apply but I ... Read More
No water for over a week by megs44
hi does anyone know who i have to ring ,the village water has been off for over a week, i live in snop
It comes under VIK Dobrich, looks like it was scheduled to be off Tuesday, number to call them will on the site too.https://vikdobrich.bg/Info/BreakDownIndex Read More
Medical providers Burgas by Sleep Near
Hello, I am seeking recommendations for medical providers that speak English and practice in Burgas. I am aware of Superdocs but they don't offer the option to select a language.--General practitioner/Primary care ...
@Sleep Near You can choose a language from the "filter" option once you've searched for your specific specialist. Read More
Cabled internet not WIFI by GuestPoster5763
Hi i'm looking to rent in Bulgaria for 6 months initially, i may buy accommodation after that. I work online and need very reliable internet connection, WIFI is not good enough, and wonder how easy is it to get fibre or cable TV type lined internet ...
@digitalnomad1 They are fake prices, rentola make their money from having you pay to contact their alleged landlords, check them out on trustpilot or just click an ad, you can't see any details without signing up, this should be a big red flag.If ... Read More
Cabled internet not WIFI by GuestPoster5763
Hi i'm looking to rent in Bulgaria for 6 months initially, i may buy accommodation after that. I work online and need very reliable internet connection, WIFI is not good enough, and wonder how easy is it to get fibre or cable TV type lined internet ...
@digitalnomad1 Wifi included is usually just a shorthand way if saying an internet connection is included in the price, complete with your own router you can connect ethernet cables to if you want. The only time I've seen something different was in ... Read More
Primary doctor in Plovdiv by Rstefanova
My daughter and I recently moved to plovdiv and I'm looking for a reallygood English speaking primary doctor
@Rstefanova We are with Dr Tsigarovski he speaks very good English, you can book via Superdoc. https://superdoc.bg/lekar/d-r-georgi-tsigarovski-3011If you are on Facebook there's a group for Expat Parents that will have more child specific ... Read More
Internet / broadband supplier in Yuper recommendations please? by knobworx
Hey all, as per the title, I need some help with broadband supplier to the village of Yuper.Ideally something that I may be able to sort out online whilst still in the UK and finalise when we return to BG in a few weeks. Any help would be greatly ...
@janemulberry See if your village is listed on this site, it shows the available providers. https://kabelna.com/ Read More
Prescription by alanjolly65
Hi.I got a prescription for painkillers from the doctor today. Does anybody have a clue what it says? There must be an international school for Dr prescription writing. ...
Maybe Melbek? Read More
Bulgarian returning permanently to Bulgaria by Reni99
HI all, Is there any web sites in Bulgaria that advise on Bulgarian returning permanently to Bulgaria( health insurance, taxes, if you were retired abroad how to deal with all the institutions etc.)
Here it is: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573592519006 Read More
Bulgarian returning permanently to Bulgaria by Reni99
HI all, Is there any web sites in Bulgaria that advise on Bulgarian returning permanently to Bulgaria( health insurance, taxes, if you were retired abroad how to deal with all the institutions etc.)
I've seen a specific Facebook group exactly for this but I can't find it again right now, I'll send a link once I have it. Read More
Need to renew my passport in the next year or two by Kath948381
So how do I do this ? I live in a village very close to Burgas.
@Kath948381 If I remember correctly they'll ask you for a phone number for the recipient and maybe an email, I just gave the info number, worth noting them down if they ask. Read More
Need to renew my passport in the next year or two by Kath948381
So how do I do this ? I live in a village very close to Burgas.
@Kath948381 As Jim says apply online, it's quite a simple process. You'll need to send you're old one back, I've done it twice for myself and my wife and we used DHL, you can use them from a lot of Econt offices, it's little expensive but paid it ... Read More
Water situation north of VT by Kitty_b
Hello all, I have found a property I like in village near Polski Trambesh. I was going ahead with sale,but a friend sent me this article about the poor water quality and i have heard some villages have quite serious shortages.The place doesn't have ...
@Kitty_bThis map shows places with water issues, take a look and maybe you'll find details of the village. It's always a good idea to Google the name of the village and check "news" ... Read More
Scam phone call? by Kath948381
I've just answered a call from a Bulgarian number on my phone from someone claiming to work for or represent the phone company I use tell in me that I need to go to their shop in Nessabar. WellI didn't get my phone from there, have no idea where ...
I get a few a week these days to my Bulgarian number, just ignore them. If you have Viber it has a good caller id setting so if you get a call from a number flagged as spam it will show an alert as it rings. Read More
Earthquake warning by Kath948381
I've just received an earthquake warning on my Bulgarian mobile then we felt a mild shaking. The actual quake was in the sea just off Turkey and it was felt in Bulgaria, Masadonia Greece and Turkey never felt anything like that before but I'm glad ...
@Kath948381 It's an Android phone feature, I got the alert before we felt it here in Plovdiv. Read More
Plovdiv Neighborhoods by Julio Manu
Hi, my name is Julio, and I'm planning to move to Plovdiv next year. I'm doing some research on rental prices and have found several nice options within our budget.However, we’d like to know if some of the lower prices are due to the location ...
Hi Julio, great choice! Plovdiv is a great place to live. There are only a few areas I wouldn't recommend, Izgrev, Stoliponovo and Sheker Mahala, the area around the main train station isn't great after dark either.Some more southern areas like ... Read More
Do any regions do Bulgarian dance classes? by jeanmandredeix
I know a strange question but I do love dancing and in France I joined local traditional dance troops and we would dance at Fetes and old people homes and wondered if they have anything similar?
I recently saw an ad for a beginers class in Plovdiv. Read More
Pre Brexit Residency Card Renewal by cyberescue1
So, the time has come to renew my 5 year, EU, pre Brexit, residency card and obtain a 10 year permanent residency one.... Well, that's what I thought, but bureaucracy in Bulgaria reigns...I received my existing card in October 2020, but the expiry ...
Thanks Gwyn, couldn't for the life of me find the NHIF portal after it moved, safely bookmarked! Read More
Pre Brexit Residency Card Renewal by cyberescue1
So, the time has come to renew my 5 year, EU, pre Brexit, residency card and obtain a 10 year permanent residency one.... Well, that's what I thought, but bureaucracy in Bulgaria reigns...I received my existing card in October 2020, but the expiry ...
Visiting immigration is definitely my least favourite thing about living in Bulgaria! I find it incredibly frustrating that each office or even person you see has their own interpretation of the rules and what needs to be notarized etc. When I ... Read More
British tv in Bulgaria by selcroft
Hello,We have moved to Bulgaria, love the Country, way of life and people…..BUT…… we can not watch any British tv except BBC I player. We have a VPN installed and there have difficulties watching live tv on a the Amazon fire ...
We have a fire stick and can use all the UK apps for catch up stuff no problem, live doesn't always work but we don't watch anything live anymore.It might just be your VPN provider, we use Nord VPN and it works well, setting the time on your fire ... Read More
Buying property outside Pleven by Bob East London
Hello, I live in London and have made some great Bulgarian friends who are living here. They have been really helpful in helping me with finding a property. I have both a British and Irish passport. Will I be able to live and work in Bulgaria on my ...
Yes, with your Irish passport the process is relatively simple. There's a guide on this site, the insured/self funded info sheet is probably the most relevant for you.https://shorturl.at/TFzVW Read More
Housing prices by D H16
Hello, I just wanted to know if anyone else has noticed how rental prices have increased dramatically over the past few months in Sofia. There is an apartment that has been on the housing market for months, it went from €450 to €750 in ...
It's the same in Plovdiv, asking price rents have gone up a lot, I'm not convinced many people are actually paying 500 euro plus though unless they are medical students.Personally I think it's a lot to do with the price of properties now, if you've ... Read More
Houses in Malomir by andrewturley1
Hi, im reaching out for some advice please! i bought 2 houses in 2006 ,i had a local lady who had POA and looked after them for me. i havnt been over there for 14 years as i went through a messy divorce, got remarried etc .I have been trying to get ...
@andrewturley1 There are some details for the company here, looks like Milena isn't a partner anymore. If you search her name plus expat Bulgaria the company pops up in a couple of business directories so you can see who currently owns ... Read More
Bulgarian online language teacher by Anniewenden
Hi I am looking for a regular ( once or twice a week for 45 minutes) online lessons to learn Bulgarian. Does anyone know of someone suitable who is not charging and arm and a leg lol. I advertised on linked in and people wanted 50-60 euro per hour . ...
@Anniewenden A friend of mine recommended this teacher. It's a BG site so prices are better.https://uchiteli.bg/profile/lilqna/39125 Read More
Gabieli question by TonyFF
Hello, I am trying to understand how this works when I buy things from Amazon.I changed my address to the Germany Gabieli address with my ID number.What is the next step? Will they automatically send me my packages to Bulgaria?The instructions are ...
Ggbg is also a good option, I prefer to use them as you don't have to register your package with them when you order, they deliver direct to Econt offcies, ( Gabieli to Speedy) which works well for us as we live within walking distance to either.My ... Read More
paying with Epay/Wise by TonyFF
Please advise how do you use Wise card on Epay.bgIs it like using a debit card? What is the cheapest way to pay money to someone's account ?Is there any other low cost way to pay bills without a Bulgarian bank account?Thanks!
@janemulberry Have you tried adding a zero to the front to the number? We have 2 accounts and both can be paid on epay, one has 10 digits and the other 11 but both start with a zero. Read More
Navigating administrative procedures in Bulgaria by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Navigating through the administration in Bulgaria can be quite a challenge. With the variety of procedures, their complexity, and the local specifics, many factors need to be considered. Here are some questions worth ...
@gwynj it's been posted in many other country forums too, just a conversation starter by the admin team of the site I reckon. Read More
Obtain a resident visa after owning the house 5 years? by alee246
Hello, I am hoping this is the correct forum for a question like this. I am considering (and have found) a house I would like to buy 20 mins from Burgas. My intention is to buy and continue working in the UK for a couple more years then move out and ...
@janecrrphilae just checking, do you mean to live or just for a visit? You don't need a visa for visits under 90 days. Read More
taxi from near svishtov to levski by Suzi Masterson
my van died on thursday afternoon and is currently at the garage. im hoping its sorted tomorrow. my dads frying into sofia on tuesday mid day. im planning to get the train from my place (near svishtov) to levski train station. then grab a train to ...
I've used True drivers many times and would highly recommend them, you can book online in English through WhatsApp or Messenger or their website.https://truedrivers.net Read More
Passport renewal by charlian99
Hi everyone,Can anyone tell me if I can renew my British passport from here in Bulgaria, or do I have to return to the UK to do it. I have a year long visa which expires in October this year, my passport in September 2025.Any help ...
@charlian99 You can do it from Bulgaria, I did mine a little while back. You complete the process online then send your passport to them, I used DHL to ensure it got there, was a little expensive but worth it for the peace of mind. They'll return ... Read More
Sofia Airport to the center by ButterMyPaws19
Are there regular buses from thr Airport and how long does the journey take from the airport to the city centre? I looked at getting a taxi but they wanted 130€ for the one way, thirteen minute journey 🤦♀️! I don't ...
@ButterMyPaws19 You can pay with your contactless card on the Metro, very easy and inexpensive. Read More
Travel from airports to VT by ButterMyPaws19
I'm trying to find a cheap last minute (ish) flight for the 2 of us (looks like we are going to have to fly to the uk, then fly out from there 🤦♀️) but wondered how easy it is to get by train from any of the airports to VT, ...
@ButterMyPaws19 Have you looked at flights to Bucharest? From what I've seen it's doable to get to VT from there by public transport. Read More
Buying property in villages Vidin or Veliko Tarnovo by GuestPoster5648
Hi folks I'm new to the forum I'm looking to buy a property in Bulgaria later this year with a view to a permanent move early next year. I'm looking for a semi rurall location and the big must is reliable Internet as I will be working full time from ...
As HelenD says, it's very much hit or miss. A lot of villages have small fibre optic providers with great speeds while others have 4g if you're lucky.This site is good, it shows what's available in many towns/villages, use it with Google ... Read More
Wanting to move to Bulgaria as sole proprietor by lisaharkersemail
I am English mum wanting to move to Bulgaria in 2 years time. How would I go about this if I see a property I like before. I hope to be self employed before I move but also have enough money to support myself and child for a few years. My little ...
@lisaharkersemail The first thing to do is see if you meet any of the criteria for a visa as (presuming you have a UK passport only) one is needed to live here long term, having funds is not enough unfortunately. If you also have a passport from an ... Read More
Renewing BG ID card by DSinghDhillon
Hi All, I have a BG ID card that I made in 2018 (pre Brexit). It is due to expire in June this year as it was a 5 year card. I have been fully employed in BG since early 2021 and have contributed towards BG taxes, health, etc. My question is that as ...
@DSinghDhillon You might have an issue if you didn't replace your card with an article 50 one prior to the deadline, hopefully not but something to consider if you still have the old style ... Read More
Amazon Germany by Snowball6
If ordering from above, I often find that delivery costs are double or more than the item cost. Is there any way around this?
@Snowball6 Yes! We use ggbg, you have the item delivered to them in Germany and they bring the goods over in a van and forward it to you via Econt. It's very easy to use and it just adds a little to your delivery time depending on the ... Read More
Evrotrust Account for Non BG Citizens by Kykers
Hi all,Does anyone know how to open Evrotrust account with EGN starting with 100?(Foreigner's EGN)I tried but not accepted.
@Kykers Someone asked about this recently in one of the Sofia Facebook groups, they were advised that it wasn't possible with a foreigners EGN as the number is not your passport number. Not sure how accurate that is but it wouldn't surprise me if ... Read More
Driving from Sofia Airport to Plovdiv by GuestPoster1102
Hi all, Will be in Bulgaria for the very first time in Feb and planning to go from Sofia Airport to Plovdiv (and back) by a rental car - thinks it's the easiest as we have a 1.5 years baby. One question is, how's the driving from Sofia to Plovdiv, ...
I live in Plovdiv and have done this trip a lot with truedrivers (very good option if you decide not to drive yourself). It's motorway all the way, very smooth and in good condition so you should be fine as long as the weather holds. Read More
passport office by geoffreywebb21
hi all good morning as anyone had their passport renewed as they keep sending photos back saying they dont confirm to uk rules and we had them taken in sredets he gave us 4 and a disk no good any help thank you
@geoffreywebb21 My wife and I took and formatted our own for the last renewal, this site can do it for you if you are comfortable doing slightly techy stuff.makepassportphoto.com/ Read More
Company incorporation by awcarly
Hi, I am almost finished paying for my house in Yambol, I still need to find a reputable company that can offer remote company formation, I have been quoted 1400 euros from a lawyer based in Sofia. I am a bit wary of using generic companies as they ...
@awcarly if you click their profile name you'll see an option to message directly. Read More
My Experience of Bulgaria Never go to Bulgaria by GuestPoster357
NEVER go to Bulgaria you have been warned 1. Most EXPENSIVE Country in Europe2. Bulgarian Drivers are Devils 3. Groceries are 40% more expensive than Asda UK4. Weather 45 from May to September5. Dogs The Villages are full of dogs and Bulgarians ...
@bgladybird The person who posted this left the site shortly afterwards, she won't see your comment or reply. Read More
T.V. Viewing and contracts. by Johnstuart
Hi Hope you’re all well.On my recent visit to Bulgaria, I was keen to find out about having internet available in my house. It would appear that most providers require a minimum of two year contract to be set up.I just wondered if the option ...
@Johnstuart We pay 37 Lev a month for a gigabit connection, tv and phone line, internet only is 25 I think. Around that is pretty usual from what I've seen.Your village is on the Kabelna site, Bulsatcom is listed as an available provider, they offer ... Read More
T.V. Viewing and contracts. by Johnstuart
Hi Hope you’re all well.On my recent visit to Bulgaria, I was keen to find out about having internet available in my house. It would appear that most providers require a minimum of two year contract to be set up.I just wondered if the option ...
@Johnstuart Whereabouts is your house? I'm with Coolbox in Plovdiv and it's just a month to month contract, you can cancel anytime. If there are any smaller providers available to you they'd probably be your best bet. This site lists them by ... Read More
Internet stop working yesterday 23 November 2024 in Plovdiv by graceakinjue
Does anyone have an idea why the interest stop working yesterday 23 November 2024 in PlovdivI am with DC Corporation, i have been informed that Tenda is also not working
@graceakinjue There was some kind of legal action taken against them which meant their servers were taken down, the details are here.https://www.plovdiv24.bg/novini/plovdiv/Sled-obiska-ot-GDBOP-dobra-novina-za-klientite-na-DCC-v-Plovdiv-1908044 Read More
House for Sale/Rent? by onethorn1
My wife, son, and I are looking to buy or rent a house in or near Sofia. Perhaps an expat is moving, etc.? Thanks, David
@D H16 when you contact the agent the place will have just been let but they can show you some similar places, they're never available. Our neighbours are selling their place and we've seen that offered for rent on a fake ad.We found the same thing ... Read More
English Bulgarian language barrier by guest1232
Good afternoon, As a native English language speaker the prospect of having to learn a new language with a different alphabet in order to go about effectively living in Bulgaria is somewhat doubly daunting. Even if one does not need Bulgarian ...
There are lots of Bulgarian tutors on iTalki and https://uchiteli.bg/, maybe less expensive on the BG site. Read More
New arrivals mobile phone problems by kaththomas700
Well it would seem that my mobile phone operator won't let me make calls anymore. So I assume I'll have to get a Bulgarian phone and set it up !!!! I'm an old Biddie so I may have to wait until.one of my son's visits , meantime I intend to pay for ...
Here are links to the coverage maps for Viacom and Yettel. If you look up your town/village it will show you the strength of signal you should get, 4g etc do you can make a decision based on ... Read More
Using Revolut a business account? by CarlS1986
Hi all,I'm looking at the possibility of using Revolute business account for a company in Bulgaria, has anyone tried this? Or would I still need a Bulgarian bank account?I know Revolut works in Bulgaria from a recent trip, but just enquiring what ...
@CarlS1986 Icard also offer business accounts if you live in or have a residence permit for Bulgaria or other EEA country. I have a personal account with them so can't vouch for the business side of things though it seems relatively simple to open ... Read More
English Speaking Doctor by kaththomas700
Non driving British old Biddie soon to be living in Bulgaria permanently looking for an English speaking doctor in Kableshkovo or Pomorie all help and advice gratefully received.
I don't have a specific recommendation but this site is useful, you can book online also superdoc.bg. I had a quick look, the nearest I could see who spoke English were in Burgas, you'll need to translate the site.The Haeleeapp is available in ... Read More
Epay service by jimmyjimmy123
as you may have seen from my other threads, I am trying to resolve all my bill issues with by property in sunny beach (namely council tax and water bill). I pay electricity without problem on EVNs website but can’t find a way to do this with ...
If there's a balance to pay it will show and you'll have an option to pay. Here's a direct link to the area where you input the account number:https://www.epay.bg/pay/bills/ Read More
Epay service by jimmyjimmy123
as you may have seen from my other threads, I am trying to resolve all my bill issues with by property in sunny beach (namely council tax and water bill). I pay electricity without problem on EVNs website but can’t find a way to do this with ...
@jimmyjimmy123 Hi, you should be able to pay without setting up an account.On the epay.bg site click 'clients' then 'utility bills', under 'what is required ' there's an option to pay with your card. You just need the account number.With water bills ... Read More
Postal service to Bulgaria by Jules999
Is anybody else having problems receiving post to Bulgaria? When I say problems, I'm mainly talking about the time its taking to arrive from the UK. I was sent a card on the 17th April & I'm still waiting for it! Prior to Brexit, some things ...
We ask friends and family to send anything for us to ggbg's UK address and they then bring it over, it's guaranteed to arrive that way, worth the reasonable fee.Cards take weeks otherwise or just don't arrive. Read More
Village of Elena - Haskovo by MuddyPuddles
Hello,Does anyone have any experience of the village Elena (between Haskovo and Harmanli) I have seen a plot there and have visited the village, it's large but seems quiet and the few people I saw were friendly enough. How can I tell if there's a ...
This site shows you the providers available in your town/village.http://kabelna.com/ Read More
Norwegian moving to Bulgaria by Lars Norberg
Hello everybody! My name is Lars, I'm a 46 year old man from Norway. I am self-employed and earn my money online, through something as untraditional as gaming modifications. I make gaming mods online, and this has become my primary income! I'm going ...
@Lars Norberg Hi Lars, I'm sure you'll love Plovdiv. My wife and I have lived here almost 5 years now. I hate to recommend Facebook but it's used extensively here for arranging events, we found the group 'Expats in Plovdiv ' really useful when we ... Read More
internet Boyanovo by roddos
Hello- Does anyone know who supplies Internet access with prices/speed in Boyanovo please
@roddos Check out this site, it shows the providers in different areas, there are several ... Read More
Month to month phone contract by GuestPoster347
Hi guys, I am looking to get a monthly contract for my sim, something in line with a "pay as you go".Any recomendations?
@Mel1702 I'm pretty sure you can top using epay.bg too Read More
renewal of residency permit by eugiebear
Hello guys, According to the GOV.UK we must apply for a new residency permit before 1 January 2022. Still, some Bulgarian sources say it must be done within this year. Any comments? Tnanks.
Yeah it was an unpleasant surprise when they handed it to us when we first applied. It's on the mvr.bg site, you have to dig around for it, I'm pretty sure the format is different for different regions too just to add to the ... Read More
renewal of residency permit by eugiebear
Hello guys, According to the GOV.UK we must apply for a new residency permit before 1 January 2022. Still, some Bulgarian sources say it must be done within this year. Any comments? Tnanks.
Hi, yes, you need the declaration form too, also notarized but if your landlord goes with you then it's ok not to apparently. You need a notarized copy of your rental agreement as they take it as part of the process. Hope it goes well for you ... Read More
renewal of residency permit by eugiebear
Hello guys, According to the GOV.UK we must apply for a new residency permit before 1 January 2022. Still, some Bulgarian sources say it must be done within this year. Any comments? Tnanks.
In my experience here in Plovdiv, yes, the rental agreement had to be notarized. When renewing, even though I was at the same address and on the same agreement I had to have the previously notarized agreement copied and notarized again. Read More
Residency permit/card. by Peter Vercruysse
hello members, I'm new to Bulgaria, sins 14/dec/'21. I come from Belgium so a Eu member. currently living in Plovdiv. I'm 53 next month 54 years young. (wink) Been working logistics/transportation for 30 years, sins a few year I'm ...
Just to add to the good advice already given, if you're renting a property there's a declaration form that your landlord has to sign to confirm that they are the owners of the property and give permission for you to live there, it needs to ... Read More
Shopping On Amazon by Snowball6
Does anyone know of a way to shop with Amazon for BG?
You can order from some places direct on the German and Spanish versions but delivery can take a while. It's a lot easier to use a transport service like [link under review] or Gabieli, you have things delivered to their offices in Germany, ... Read More
No Impediment To Marriage Certificate - Visa D Scam by Ellie888
Hi, has anyone requested the "No Impediment To Marriage Certificate" from a Canadian Embassy anywhere in the world (such as Canada itself) and successfully submitted it to a Bulgarian town hall where marriages are registered? Apparently, ...
Can't advise specifically unfortunately, but we got married recently, it was easier to elope! Had issues trying to get a certificate from the UK embassy. We went to Gibraltar, it was relatively easy and didn't require a ream of notarized ... Read More