Ian W
@cyberescue1
English expat in Bulgaria
Forum posts
228
Contacts
4
About me
English
Lives in Varna
Speaks English, some French, little Italian, little Bulgarian.
Registration: 01 January 2023
How many houses do you have? by Zooldrool
It seems like a lot of folk here more than one house (or a flat in the city and house in a village etc). If so how many do you have and is it a burden with the upkeep or dream lifestyle.We have one in the city and one on the coast but I am thinking ...
@JimJ We're pretty much following what you've stated in your first paragraph, for the small block we live in.As far as I know though, never been asked by the Municipality or Mayor to produce any proof.As for the Studio in the large block, they ... Read More
How many houses do you have? by Zooldrool
It seems like a lot of folk here more than one house (or a flat in the city and house in a village etc). If so how many do you have and is it a burden with the upkeep or dream lifestyle.We have one in the city and one on the coast but I am thinking ...
@JimJ Interesting.I own an apartment in a two blocks, one small block, one big. The small one has just six apartments. We used to have a management company, to clean the floors, repair lighting (no lift) but we got fed up with their poor standard. ... Read More
How many houses do you have? by Zooldrool
It seems like a lot of folk here more than one house (or a flat in the city and house in a village etc). If so how many do you have and is it a burden with the upkeep or dream lifestyle.We have one in the city and one on the coast but I am thinking ...
@Zooldrool We have two apartments in Varna.One is the one we live in; it's a three bedroom maisonette.The other is a studio apartment, eight minutes walk from home, that we Airbnb.The studio is work, but not too difficult, because it's a small ... Read More
Been extremely ill. Been in hospital for 4 days now by cyberescue1
I was admitted to St Marina Hospital on Thursday night, after walking in to A&E with my wife.This is what I posted on Facebook, as for many, especially those in or near Varna, it will give information on what the medical service is like here ...
@janemulberry I'm very lucky, jane, married to my wife who is a GP and knows many people in the Varna medical world, many she met whilst training.It was a shock to say the least, as it was so sudden and the time it took from arriving at A&E, ... Read More
Been extremely ill. Been in hospital for 4 days now by cyberescue1
I was admitted to St Marina Hospital on Thursday night, after walking in to A&E with my wife.This is what I posted on Facebook, as for many, especially those in or near Varna, it will give information on what the medical service is like here ...
@Snowball6 Well that's an interesting view, because my wife, who had lived in Varna most of her life and who is a doctor herself, is pretty critical of system in Varna.That said, she has a lot of positive words for how we've been treated this time ... Read More
Been extremely ill. Been in hospital for 4 days now
I was admitted to St Marina Hospital on Thursday night, after walking in to A&E with my wife.This is what I posted on Facebook, as for many, especially those in or near Varna, it will give information on what the medical service is like here ... Read More
Cost of owning a cat in Bulgaria by JimJ
Pet food is a bigger cost, more expensive in Bg.... - @janemulberry "Qu'ils mangent de la brioche! " 😁
@JimJ Ours (4) will eat almost anything. We're buying liquid cat snacks in tubed sachets, just tear the top and squeeze a little at a time, for them to take - five in a box, 90 cents. Then their main food is DM own brand pouches, 12 in a box, 4 ... Read More
Cost of owning a cat in Bulgaria by JimJ
Pet food is a bigger cost, more expensive in Bg.... - @janemulberry "Qu'ils mangent de la brioche! " 😁
@janemulberry We buy Turkish or Romanian brands, way cheaper than the mainstream Western European / USA stuff. Read More
Increasing Property Prices by JimJ
Members might be interested/amused to learn that the cost of a GARAGE in the "coloured parking zones" (Blue/Green) in Sofia is now over €3,200/m²! 🤑
@JimJ Foxy Tornado. Soft, good absorbancy, good perforations - consistent. Good size, bigger than most, sheet shape consistent - many are not. Stronger than most, no bits falling off whilst wiping , 250 sheets per roll.freshhome dot bg Read More
Increasing Property Prices by JimJ
Members might be interested/amused to learn that the cost of a GARAGE in the "coloured parking zones" (Blue/Green) in Sofia is now over €3,200/m²! 🤑
As Jane says, the cost of living in Bulgaria has most definitely gone up. I live in the second most expensive city, Varna and my wife says we're getting ripped off in this city. However, I've put in place ways to save money. I shop around - the ... Read More
Is it a requirement to register with GP by jeanmandredeix
It has just occurred to me that now we have our residency is it necessary to register and pay into the health system? Happy to pay, that isn’t my issue, just don’t want to go for checks.We obviously have our private health cover and have ...
It would be worth considering paying into the public system - I certainly do. Reason being, not only will you get treated at public hospitals, but you can often get treated at private ones too, depending on your condition and where you live.If the ... Read More
Increasing Property Prices by JimJ
Members might be interested/amused to learn that the cost of a GARAGE in the "coloured parking zones" (Blue/Green) in Sofia is now over €3,200/m²! 🤑
@JimJ It's getting like that in Varna too. In January, they extended the Blue Zone, and a whole chunk of Varna suddenly became paid parking, both residents and visitors. This had a result of many moving their cars to the areas that are still free, ... Read More
Medical treatment in BG by JimJ
Stand by for more reporting on hospital treatment here in BG fairly soon...I'm going in for a TKR (Total Knee Replacement) on Tuesday and should be out of hospital in about 6 days, following a bit of rehab. First challenge will be getting up those ...
@JimJ Good luck Jim. Hope you mend quickly!I shall need a new hip replacement in around four years time, to replace the exist one. Read More
Congratulations Bulgaria by SimCityAT
Eurovision 2026: Bulgaria beats Israel to win song contest - as UK comes last with one point Bulgaria beats Israel to win song contest - as UK comes last with one point
Living in Varna, where Dara lives, we get to hear it incessantly - no doubt, for the next 12 months. It's all we hear now going into cafés and restaurants.I think I preferred Tommy Cash's Espresso Macchaitto.As for the the British song - "Oh ... Read More
Suggestions for a short break? by jeanmandredeix
Has anyone got a suggestion for an area for a short break on the coast? Somewhere that is quiet and polar opposite to Sunny Beach? Would like to do a short break with the dog before summer arrives. Thanks.
@jeanmandredeix Kavarna, further up from Balchik, has a beautiful beach. The town is small, but has decent enough infrastructure for a short break. You can also visit Cape Kaliakra, about 20 mins drive from Kavarna. If you like mussels, you can ... Read More
Banking with Wise - update by cyberescue1
For those who use Wise and have a Bulgarian UBB Account, transferring money between Wise and UBB just got a whole load better.The last time I transferred money, it took a couple of days. However, I transferred money today and it arrived within 30 ...
@janemulberry Yes, at least we've got that! Got to say, banking as a whole is a lot better than it used to be. I remember the days of putting the phone down on someone who told you "a cheque is in the post" and then working out how long it would ... Read More
Banking with Wise - update
For those who use Wise and have a Bulgarian UBB Account, transferring money between Wise and UBB just got a whole load better.The last time I transferred money, it took a couple of days. However, I transferred money today and it arrived within 30 ... Read More
Current flights to UK? by jeanmandredeix
My husband has to go back to UK to collect his Visa (a very annoying point) and apart from Sofia am I doing something wrong as I can find no direct flights. Luton or Stansted would be best. Varna would have been better as it’s 5.5hrs drive to ...
@jeanmandredeix There are direct flights from Varna to Luton , with Wizz Air, five times a week, on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.If you can fly from Burgas, Wizz Air have six flights a week to Luton, on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, ... Read More
Quality of customer service in Bulgaria by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Customer service can say a lot about everyday life in Bulgaria, and for many expats, it’s something that could take time to get used to. In order to help expats and soon-to-be expats to adjust to local expectations, we ...
@Cheryl Having a Bulgarian wife, I've learnt a lot about attitudes and behaviours towards customers in Bulgaria.Let's start with the whole concept of Customer Service. In Western Europe, especially the UK, most businesses adopt the mantra "the ... Read More
What is the cost of utilities in the new currency? by Mrs Homemaker
Has anyone found a spike in the cost of their electricity or other utility bills?I didnt think there would be any difference in cost charged ie what was once 29.BGN Would still be the same only a conversion from BGN to Euros.Any thoughts?
@Mrs Homemaker Apparently there's a massive protest going on over the exorbitant increases in electricity and water bills. They've been protesting on the streets in Sofia.Our electricity bill during January 2025 was around 200 Leva (€102.50), ... Read More
Post or Courier from UK (Wales) to rural (South East) Bulgaria by Kit2001
Hi, We bought our house a few years ago (sadly just after Brexit due to delays and get out once or twice per year. We are VERY slowly fixing things - we paid for a new roof last year, but are hoping to do a lot of the work ourselves.The house is ...
@SimCityAT Yes, it certainly pays to shop around Europe. I've found all sorts of interesting websites.I avoid buying from the UK now at all costs, with one exception... If there's a book I really can't find anywhere else (there have been a few). Read More
Post or Courier from UK (Wales) to rural (South East) Bulgaria by Kit2001
Hi, We bought our house a few years ago (sadly just after Brexit due to delays and get out once or twice per year. We are VERY slowly fixing things - we paid for a new roof last year, but are hoping to do a lot of the work ourselves.The house is ...
@Kit2001 Whilst getting things from the UK to Bulgaria is certainly achievable, there are a few things you need to know...As the UK is no longer an EU country, anything you send from the UK to Bulgaria, must have a Customs Declaration on it, with a ... 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 ...
@janemulberryI Copied and pasted this, as I'd posted it on another post today, but it's the latest...Didn't have time to go in October / November, so paid three visits to the migration office over the past week..."As Gwyn says, you should have a ten ... Read More
Documents needed to renew residency card. by Melvyn Dawson
Hi, I have lived permanently I Bulgaria for 20 years and still have ask this.i have a bank account ,driving licence,residency permit etc. I can remember most of the documents I submitted for my last 5 year residency card but can someone who has ...
@Melvyn Dawson As Gwyn says, you should have a ten year card by now, if not, you should certainly get one this time around.I, literally, have just come back from the third visit to Varna Immigration Office.I originally, got my first long-term ... 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 ...
All routers have an RJ45 ethernet cable slot. You just need to buy an RJ45 cable to link your computer directly to the router, thereby, avoiding using WiFi.The difference in speed should be significantly more using a cable. Make sure the cable you ... Read More
Managing meals in Bulgaria by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Managing meals day-to-day can sometimes be a real mental challenge, even more so when you land in a new environment, with different schedules, habits or ingredients. How do you manage your meal routine as an expat in Bulgaria? We ...
@Cheryl Because my wife works and I'm retired and I don't really cook, we tend to eat out quite a bit. We are lucky that we have a counter service restaurant bar just 2 minutes walk from our front door, which is half the price of many other ... Read More
Has food cost increaed massively? by jeanmandredeix
Is it me or has food costs increased over past few months? I monitored my food costs on our last 6 week visit and we have only been here two weeks so far and they seem a hell of a lot higher.
@jeanmandredeix Yes, prices have certainly increased. Appears to be in conjunction with the introduction of the Euro in January. Prices had gone up anyway, but even more do now.You can save by picking the stores you shop at wisely and some have a ... Read More
I think many will find this interesting...
Better viewed in the Substack app, but can be viewed in a browser.https://open.substack.com/pub/aislingoloughlin/p/alex-and-george-soros-interference?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1pfyqw Read More
Tax on pensions by gaz1
Hi all, we’re planning on moving out to Bulgaria to take advantage of the lower tax rates on out retirement. we are aware that our uk state pensions will be tax free, we believe but what about drawdown withdrawals we make from our private ...
@gaz1I claim a UK private pension and have been doing so for over four years now.I've also made lump sum draw downs. Firstly, there is an agreement between the UK and Bulgaria of single taxation only, so you can only be taxed once.Secondly, you will ... Read More
Getting older in Bulgaria by Kath948381
Do I have to return to the UK from my Bulgarian village home as I'm getting older ? I miss the peace and quiet when I have to return to the UK now and then so what do I do when I get older and older, I'm 72 , 73 later in the year.
@JimJ Very sorry to hear of your father's situation Jim.You may have already tried and I'm none the wiser, but I wonder whether you could get a transfusion privately, in a private hospital? Or may be they get blood the same way as the public ... Read More
Long Life to Everyone! by JimJ
Well, yesterday was my 76th birthday (I can't believe how quickly those years have passed!) so I've now comfortably exceeded the average male Bulgarian's life expectancy of 71.9 years. Now I have to pass the same milestone for female Bulgarians, ...
@JimJ Many happy returns Jim and may there be many more! Read More
Glass Blocks by Ozzy183a
Hi all,Can anyone recommend or direct me to a shop that sells internal clear and coloured glass blocks as can’t seem to find anything. Thanks Ozzy
@Ozzy183a Also "shop for jilishta dot com fwd slash 122-stakleni-tuhli" Read More
Glass Blocks by Ozzy183a
Hi all,Can anyone recommend or direct me to a shop that sells internal clear and coloured glass blocks as can’t seem to find anything. Thanks Ozzy
@Ozzy183a Try caem dot bgThey have a whole range of colours, shades and designs of glass blocks, from 13 Leva to 40 Leva per block.I searched Google with "стъклени тухли" ... Read More
News in English about Bulgaria by Kath948381
I'm still logging on to English newspaper s and I think it's about time I actually know what's happening in Bulgaria. Can any one recommend a Bulgarian news website to me? I'm more a Guardian reader than a Daily Mail type
novinite dot com. Read More
Managing retirement savings in Bulgaria by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Saving for retirement as an expat in Bulgaria can be challenging. With different options, rules or even taxation, expats have to understand how it works to make informed decisions. We invite you to share your insights in order to ...
@Cheryl I have a UK private pension, invested by a top investment company and administered by one of the best pension administrators.My monthly paid pension is UK taxed at source and PAYE is automatically paid to the HMRC. My pension is paid into a ... Read More
Albania vs Bulgaria for english speakers by savethequeen77
Hi my name's Moe I'll be moving to Albania or BulgariaIm trying to decifer how to market my small businesses in English in either country. Any advice or where the most English speakers are who can see my ads? Thank you
Well, if you're going to market your businesses in English, your only real hope, is in the major cities of Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Burgas, where you'll find the most English spoken.However, as SimCityAT says, unless we know what type of businesses ... Read More
Death certificate needs to be sent to the UK quickly by Kath948381
We live in a village near to Pomorie and Burgas we can get a bus to Burgas and Pomorie . We know there's a speedy office close to the round about Mc Donald's . Is there any where nearer? Also do Easy Pay do this?
@Kath948381 Hi Kath,As far as I know, EasyPay don't do courier work. Also, Speedy, although they're part of the DPD Group, ironically, don't ship to the UK. Yes, as Gwyn says, Econt will send it DHL for you, but it's more expensive than using a DHL ... Read More
Looking forward to move in bulgaria from pakistan
[Post under review] Read More
Managing retirement savings in Bulgaria by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Saving for retirement as an expat in Bulgaria can be challenging. With different options, rules or even taxation, expats have to understand how it works to make informed decisions. We invite you to share your insights in order to ...
@Cheryl Plain truth is, I didn't have retirement savings in Bulgaria. All my savings are in the UK, invested via a UK investment company, who invest, diversely, worldwide.My situation was rather different from most. I didn't have one single pension ... Read More
OMG fires raging across Bulgaria by Mrs Homemaker
https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/wildfires-rage-across-bulgaria-destroying-forests-homes-2025-07-27/Villages have been evacuated, So far no loss of life thank goodness Its just an awful state of affairs. I do hope everyone ...
Here's a thought / idea that might help save our properties and gardens...It is relatively easy to construct irrigation systems for watering agriculture. Merely pipes laid in the ground, with holes in every 20cm or so , to sprinkle water over the ... Read More
Another Pleasure of City Life... by JimJ
We're starting to see the tiniest signs of an end to our current apartment renovation (not that we're counting any chickens, mind you ..😎)The local municipality have come up with another "Cunning Plan" to make themselves some money and ...
@Kath948381 It's why we don't have a car - too expensive to run, with the stresses that go with it, including parking.Instead, here in Varna, we bought two garages and a parking space. The garages are in a block local to us (100 metres away). The ... Read More
OMG fires raging across Bulgaria by Mrs Homemaker
https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/wildfires-rage-across-bulgaria-destroying-forests-homes-2025-07-27/Villages have been evacuated, So far no loss of life thank goodness Its just an awful state of affairs. I do hope everyone ...
@josephsaad44 I'm well aware of all of what you say and know what they all stand for.I do not watch mainstream media, because it's just propaganda in its purist form. Instead I have an extensive list of Alternative media on video platforms, some ... Read More
OMG fires raging across Bulgaria by Mrs Homemaker
https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/wildfires-rage-across-bulgaria-destroying-forests-homes-2025-07-27/Villages have been evacuated, So far no loss of life thank goodness Its just an awful state of affairs. I do hope everyone ...
@JimJ And to sell the land to China, to invest in solar farms, as has happened in Australia. Read More
OMG fires raging across Bulgaria by Mrs Homemaker
https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/wildfires-rage-across-bulgaria-destroying-forests-homes-2025-07-27/Villages have been evacuated, So far no loss of life thank goodness Its just an awful state of affairs. I do hope everyone ...
@Mrs Homemaker I don't believe any of these fires are to do with climate change. We had temperatures like this decades ago, without a problem.Personally, I believe they are political arson.But I'm not going into the detailed politics of why and how ... 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 ...
@SimCityAT There's a clause, that says if you've been married to a Bulgarian citizen for a minimum of three years, you are entitled to either apply for citizenship, or a ten year card. 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 ...
Hi Jim,Here's what's happened to me ...Arrived Aug 2020, before Brexit.Received my first residency card beginning of October 2020 - only valid for 4 years and 3 months.Fast forward Jan 2025....Went to Varna Immigration Office. They couldn't ... Read More
Road safety in Bulgaria by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Navigating roads and experiencing traffic in Bulgaria as an expat can be a learning experience. We invite you to share your insights in order to help other expats and soon-to-be expats stay safe on the road in Bulgaria, whether ...
As Jane pointed out, motorways and cities / towns appear safer than two or three lane trunk roads. I've travelled a lot by car over North East and to Nessebar and Burgas and seen the horrors of impatient driving, mixed with Babushkas at the wheel ... Read More
S1 form husband details have been sent to us . by Kath948381
I've got my S1 but husband's just received his details to be hopefully be added to mine then we can register with a GP. So what do we need to take with us to get him added to my form ? I'm a pensioner he isn't but he does have major heart problems.
@JimJ Couldn't agree more! I had a problem when I updated my residency card, to my current address. They misspelled my name (you'd think a three letter first name would be easy) and that the caused the hospital computers, in the Military Hospital, ... 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 ...
@Kath948381 I would say that's a scam Kath. I get a couple of those calls per month and I either block the number, or add it too my address phone book as "Do Not Answer".If I answer one, I let them speak, then just say "angliiski" to which they ... Read More
New uk expat looking for BG dream by Martin Adams
hi all, new to the forum and its been great to read so far! few questions for anyone who has maybe experienced similar to myself. i'm 32 years old and own a business in the uk that will pay me a passive income which will comfortably meet the BG ...
@Martin Adams Hi Martin, I live in Varna. I've lived here now for four and a half years. I'm married to a Bulgarian lady.Happy to meet with you, for a chat and advise on anything I can.If your income is more than the minimum Bulgarian wage, then ... Read More
D visa times by Suzi Masterson
How long is the waiting period to get an appointment at the embassy at the moment does anyone know please?I'm trying to make sure we don't over stay and make a plan if it's longer than. I need it to be
@joyburtonbewdley Congratulations Joy! You're now well on the way to living in Bulgaria. I really hope everything to come goes smoothly and life in Bulgaria is enjoyable. You're over what is, probably, the most difficult hurdle.Ian Read More
Retirement visa by D H16
Had a quick question from my non EU Bulgarian D visa holders, I recently went to Bulgaria to rent an apartment and start the whole retirement visa process, but because I did not have my Social Security card I could not open a bank account, the ...
@SimCityAT I have mine paid into a UK account, then I transfer it to Wise. I don't transfer it to a bg account, as I use Wise to pay for everything here, as it's so much easier, but then, I arrived in BG prior to Brexit, so I think the rules were ... Read More
Building quality by Irene14199
We are looking into buying a condo in Varna or Burgas. Any ideas how to find quality construction?Thank you!
@Irene14199 We have two apartments in Varna, one is a three bedroom maisonette and the other a studio apartment. Both are relatively new. The maisonette built in 2008 and the studio 2016.We've had no problems with either apartment.However, it's a ... Read More
Taxes for expats in Bulgaria by Cheryl
Hello everyone, When settling in and living in Bulgaria, you will also need to navigate the local tax system. In order to help newcomers and expats ease their tax-related experience, we would like to invite you to share your experience. What ...
It should also be born in mind, that whilst there is a personal allowance in the UK, there is no personal allowance in Bulgaria. So it's swings and roundabouts. Read More
Taxes for expats in Bulgaria by Cheryl
Hello everyone, When settling in and living in Bulgaria, you will also need to navigate the local tax system. In order to help newcomers and expats ease their tax-related experience, we would like to invite you to share your experience. What ...
@jeanmandredeix I have a UK private pension, paid monthly by the pension administrator. It's taxed automatically at source PAYE (Pay As You Earn). Bulgaria and the UK have a double tax agreement, so you can't get taxed twice. Aside that, Bulgaria ... Read More
ENERGO-Pro bils by sammut115
Does anyone know how to go about obtaining itemized electric bills from the Energo -Pro website ? Its simple enough paying online for non residents but the bill they issue comes only with the amount due , without any details of usage .
@sammut115 When we first started our supply from them, we asked them to send the bills by email to us, monthly. We have two properties and each bill is sent as a separate emailnin pdf format, showing exact usage. Read More
Balkan holidays by Kath948381
Gone!!!! I used them several times when I first came to Bulgaria oh dear.
@Kath948381 Further investigation shows, that although Balkan Holidays UK Ltd., were an entirely different company to the Balkan Holidays Services BG, they did in fact charter BH Air aircraft, from the Bulgarian company.I also notice on their ... Read More
Balkan holidays by Kath948381
Gone!!!! I used them several times when I first came to Bulgaria oh dear.
@Kath948381 I guess there are a number of other tour / holiday companies in Bulgaria, as I'm seeing a significant number of flights commencing out of Varna Airport, using the Bulgarian charter airlines... Bul Air, European Air Services BH Air ... Read More
Advice of nice coastal town to live a year round by Raizori
I'm thinking about moving to Bulgaria and have started looking into places that might be a good fit for full-time living. Ideally, I’d love to be near the beach—bonus points if there are some small hills nearby for hiking! I really enjoy ...
@Raizori I can only really speak for Varna and further North. I live in Varna, which, itself, has beautiful beaches, parks, shops and businesses for absolutely everything you could want and it's twenty minutes from rolling hills for ... Read More
Trump's Tariffs impact on Bulgaria by Kath948381
How will Trumps tariffs affect Bulgaria? Any ideas?
@Kath948381 Hi Kath,Well, my private pension pot has lost value, with immediate affect. It's paid in GBP. That's because the entirety of the worldwide stock markets took a huge nose dive. However, as with all these dives, there's nearly always ... Read More
Hi Everyone! Moving to Bulgaria this May by nathandean4
I'm Nathan. Me and my wife Louse are about to embark on our biggest adventure yet. This May we will be moving to Bulgaria to begin our new life. For the past 10 years we have spent more time apart than we have together. This is due to the fact ...
@nathandean4 Congratulations on taking the plunge and disowning the UK! I've been advising people to get out of the UK, for the past couple of years, whether they move to Bulgaria, or another country, the UK really is a horrible country to be in ... Read More
Evening all by Gordonf75
Just thought id say hello on here on behalf of my partner and myselfHoping to relocate to Bulgaria in the next 6-9 months just waiting on the visa process
@Gordonf75 Welcome Gordon! Any questions just ask, we're all here to help.Ian Read More
Cost of living in Bulgaria in 2025 by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Every year, we invite you to share your experiences with the cost of living in in Bulgaria, especially in the region or city you live in. Your insights will greatly help members planning their move to Bulgaria or already living ...
@JimJ Unfortunately, our block wasn't built to accommodate them, what we thought might be a cover for the flu/chimney attachment, turned out merely to be an inspection hole. However, I suppose we could buy an electric simulated petchka - not really ... Read More
Cost of living in Bulgaria in 2025 by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Every year, we invite you to share your experiences with the cost of living in in Bulgaria, especially in the region or city you live in. Your insights will greatly help members planning their move to Bulgaria or already living ...
@JimJ That looks a nice bit of kit, at a reasonable price. Does it just sit on a worktop, or is it permanently seated in a worktop? Presumably, there's a hose to a gas bottle underneath somewhere? Read More
Cost of living in Bulgaria in 2025 by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Every year, we invite you to share your experiences with the cost of living in in Bulgaria, especially in the region or city you live in. Your insights will greatly help members planning their move to Bulgaria or already living ...
@janemulberry Yes, that's certainly a consideration in many villages, electricity and water can be erratic and be off for days. Read More
Cost of living in Bulgaria in 2025 by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Every year, we invite you to share your experiences with the cost of living in in Bulgaria, especially in the region or city you live in. Your insights will greatly help members planning their move to Bulgaria or already living ...
@JimJ. Living in an apartment block, we can't have a petchka, but I'm very familiar with them, as had three in my house, when I lived in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. That said, some of the old panel blocks, here in Varna, have petchkas and it's not ... Read More
Cost of living in Bulgaria in 2025 by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Every year, we invite you to share your experiences with the cost of living in in Bulgaria, especially in the region or city you live in. Your insights will greatly help members planning their move to Bulgaria or already living ...
@janemulberry Yes, Dobrich is significantly a lower cost of living compared to Varna. Indeed, It will be interesting to see what your bills will be, when you live here permanently. We are staying put in Varna for another 5 years or so, as the kids ... Read More
Cost of living in Bulgaria in 2025 by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Every year, we invite you to share your experiences with the cost of living in in Bulgaria, especially in the region or city you live in. Your insights will greatly help members planning their move to Bulgaria or already living ...
@JimJLike us, It sounds like electricity and cats are a fair chunk of your monthly expenditure. Our cats are indoors too, (although two love staying out on our lounge balcony, protected by netting, so they don't fall) I hadn't thought of using wood ... Read More
Cost of living in Bulgaria in 2025 by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Every year, we invite you to share your experiences with the cost of living in in Bulgaria, especially in the region or city you live in. Your insights will greatly help members planning their move to Bulgaria or already living ...
@gwynj We can go together 😁 Read More
Cost of living in Bulgaria in 2025 by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Every year, we invite you to share your experiences with the cost of living in in Bulgaria, especially in the region or city you live in. Your insights will greatly help members planning their move to Bulgaria or already living ...
@JimJ It was interesting.... We were with A1 originally, but we were paying stupid money for, what was supposed to be an offer, which included a Samsung 43" TV which we have. The contract came to an end and because we were paying ... Read More
Cost of living in Bulgaria in 2025 by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Every year, we invite you to share your experiences with the cost of living in in Bulgaria, especially in the region or city you live in. Your insights will greatly help members planning their move to Bulgaria or already living ...
Here is my family's cost of living for January 2025, along with property rentals and purchases analysis for Varna.We are two adults, two children and six cats. We live in a suburb of Varna, 12 mins by taxi from the centre, in a maisonette of ... 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 ...
@cyberescue1 Latest update...Went to the Immigration Office last Friday. Application for new temporary card accepted. Got put in the pvc booth for photo and fingerprints... Had a job getting the fingerprints... Either the glass plate that you put ... 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 ...
@cyberescue1 UPDATE...Went to the Immigration Office today with the form completed and the following documents...1. Your existing id card.2. Passport3. Marriage certificate4. Public Health document, stating I'm paying into the system.5. Declaration, ... 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 ...
@gwynj Went to the Notary today, with my translator. She is closely connected to a solicitor and knows all the rules, which is a bonus. She told me they no longer accept banks statements as proof of income, as the EU's GDPR regulations do not allow ... 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 ...
@PlovdivEd Went to the Notary today, with my translator. She is closely connected to a solicitor and knows all the rules, which is a bonus. She told me they no longer accept banks statements as proof of income, as the EU's GDPR regulations do not ... 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 ...
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 ...
@janemulberry Thank you Jane! Read More
Pre Brexit Residency Card Renewal
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 ... Read More
Brits in or near Shvistov by charlian99
Hi everybody,My name is Ian, a retired 74 year old Geordie from Newcastle. Moved to small village, Balgarsko Slivovo, with Bulgarian wife, Liliya and mother in August this year. House being renovated. Feeling a bit isolated tbh so would love to ...
@exports17 I haven't had any surgery - yet - but have advanced osteo-chondrosis, which is causing daily/nightly pain, in the neck and back. Discovered from an x-ray in City Clinic, Varna and, again, another failing of the NHS to diagnose correctly ... Read More
Cost of living index by janemulberry
Interesting to see where the main Bulgarian cities are on the new Numbeo cost of living index: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/rankings.jspThe numbers do need to be taken with a pinch of salt as they are based on information provided by site ...
@janemulberry I used Numbeo often. I'm using it to assess other countries too, in case I have to move, including Georgia, Armenia, Serbia, Russia, Romania, Hungary and Turkey.I also keep an eye on the Global Peace Index. Read More
Full Schengen is Coming Soon? (fingers crossed) by VillageLife
Austria lifts long-held veto on the Schengen accession of Romania and Bulgaria!I am super excited for this, it will be great to travel to Greece without having to stop. Presume a lot of the village roads will be extended to connect up across the ...
@VillageLife Indeed, except that the migrants the EU are going to, allegedly, pay for, will merely walk in, without the need of formalities, such as D Visas. Read More
Full Schengen is Coming Soon? (fingers crossed) by VillageLife
Austria lifts long-held veto on the Schengen accession of Romania and Bulgaria!I am super excited for this, it will be great to travel to Greece without having to stop. Presume a lot of the village roads will be extended to connect up across the ...
From what I've heard, the EU can't wait for Schengen to be fully implemented in Romania and Bulgaria, so that they can start sending migrants from the Western Europe. Apparently the EU are intending to pay for this. But we all know where the money ... 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 ...
@mccallum Same in Varna. Back in 2022, we bought the maisonette apartment we're in now. We left a rented apartment, in the Chaika area of Varna, having been paying a rent of 550 Leva per month (large 2 bedroom apartment 4th floor, in poor ... Read More
Preventive care in Bulgaria by Cheryl
Hello everyone, As an expat in Bulgaria, taking care of your health would be one of your main priorities. Preventive healthcare plays a crucial role in keeping fit and healthy. We therefore would like to invite you to share your insights on ...
@gwynjSorry to hear of your fall Gwyn. Hope you mend fast! I can empathise, as I had a work accident in November 2018, which after two operations, left me with a left hip replacement. Falls can.have a lasting effect and I can't say I'm what I was ... Read More
Some tips for future/new expats in Bulgaria by DutchExpatVarna
Hello,My name is Erwin, originally from the Netherlands, but a Varna resident for almost 23 years (and counting).I have been mostly lurking on this forum, however I see on a regular basis posts from people who are planning to move to Bulgaria or ...
@gwynj Couldn't agree more Gwyn. Loving it here in Varna. When I see where the UK is and is destined for, I feel very lucky I escaped when I did. What scares me even more, is that the UK cost of living, could have landed me homeless. Read More
Private / personal pensions by cyberescue1
I'm sure I'm not the only Brit in Bulgaria, drawing from a personal UK pension and I'm equally sure, I'm not the only person concerned at the possibility of market or banking crashes, that could wipe huge amounts from pension pots. If this were to ...
@gwynj After the UK Budget, I'm okay with continuing my pension. As per usual, the mainstream media hyped up what the Budget could contain, which, a lot of what they forecast, didn't happen. As for the Bulgarian property market, I'm happy with my ... Read More
Private / personal pensions by cyberescue1
I'm sure I'm not the only Brit in Bulgaria, drawing from a personal UK pension and I'm equally sure, I'm not the only person concerned at the possibility of market or banking crashes, that could wipe huge amounts from pension pots. If this were to ...
@janemulberry Yes, the buys have certainly been great for us and I have to say, it was more luck in the timing of when we bought them, as I was relying on the payouts from my compensation claim (which took three years) and an.inheritance payout, ... Read More
Private / personal pensions by cyberescue1
I'm sure I'm not the only Brit in Bulgaria, drawing from a personal UK pension and I'm equally sure, I'm not the only person concerned at the possibility of market or banking crashes, that could wipe huge amounts from pension pots. If this were to ...
@janemulberry My brother and I use A J Bell, who are highly regarded. When my brother (who lives in London) first told me about them, I have to admit, I was skepitical, as there are so many scams in the UK and I honestly hadn't heard of them. I ... Read More
Money transfer by Pumarosa200
Hi I’m looking to transfer money from the uk to Bulgaria to reserve a property i have seen could anyone recommend reliable cheap money transfer place I could use thanks in advance
@Pumarosa200 I endorse what Jane has said. Wise is great.I bought properties outright. I transfered funds from.my UK account to Wise in tranches of just under £10,000 per transfer, as this prevents banks from notifying the inland revenue - ... Read More
Private / personal pensions by cyberescue1
I'm sure I'm not the only Brit in Bulgaria, drawing from a personal UK pension and I'm equally sure, I'm not the only person concerned at the possibility of market or banking crashes, that could wipe huge amounts from pension pots. If this were to ...
@janemulberry Sorry for my belated reply, had my hands full the past few days. I've read with great interest everyone's thoughts and comments. Whilst I'm still worried about the plight of my private pension pot, my thoughts are to stick with it for ... Read More
Private / personal pensions
I'm sure I'm not the only Brit in Bulgaria, drawing from a personal UK pension and I'm equally sure, I'm not the only person concerned at the possibility of market or banking crashes, that could wipe huge amounts from pension pots. If this were to ... Read More
Real estate investment in Bulgaria by Boris-Gleb
My partner and I are now living part time in Varna for almost 3 years. We are looking for regular income on top of our pension. It could be wise if anyone had experienced local market. Purpose is to buy one or two flats and rent it. One of the main ...
@janemulberry It was a very interesting experience, thankfully, helped by my wife's cousin, who's a freelance estate agent and knows Varna well. Buying our home, required either finding a large 4 bed apartment, or 3 bed maisonette, both very rare ... Read More
Real estate investment in Bulgaria by Boris-Gleb
My partner and I are now living part time in Varna for almost 3 years. We are looking for regular income on top of our pension. It could be wise if anyone had experienced local market. Purpose is to buy one or two flats and rent it. One of the main ...
@janemulberry we bought two apartments in Varna in April and May 2022. The one we live in was €148,000 and our studio was €55,000. Our apartment is now valued at €215,000 and the studio at €72,000. We also bought two garages ... Read More
Real estate investment in Bulgaria by Boris-Gleb
My partner and I are now living part time in Varna for almost 3 years. We are looking for regular income on top of our pension. It could be wise if anyone had experienced local market. Purpose is to buy one or two flats and rent it. One of the main ...
@gwynj we're making around 8.9% on our studio apartment yearly. That said, we don't let it longterm, instead, it's on Airbnb. We bought it for €55,000 in May 2022 and our turnover is around €4900 per year. The apartment would now sell ... Read More
Cutting down trees in your garden by Yorkie57
Hi EveryoneWe purchased a property in Bulgaria that had a conifer growing very close to the house and is twice the height of the building .We would like to get it atleast trimmed down preferably removed .Do we need to consult the mayor or can we ...
@gwynj I empathise with the Stinky Bugs! The area in Varna we live in, has a plethora of fruit trees - cherries, plums, hazelnuts, apples, pears, apricots. This came about in Communist times, when everyone lived in houses, each, with a small amount ... Read More
Just a bit of light reading... by JimJ
...for those who think that BG is a quaint bucolic backwater where everything in the garden is rosy....😎tinyurl(dot)com/mwzv8je
@JimJ very interesting read! Read More
Just a bit of light reading... by JimJ
...for those who think that BG is a quaint bucolic backwater where everything in the garden is rosy....😎tinyurl(dot)com/mwzv8je
@janemulberry I got it to work, just replaced the "dot" with a "." Changed my VPN to Romania, from Serbia. Read More
90 day rule - what haven't I thought of? by janemulberry
Hubby is getting increasingly impatient with the wait for us to legally move to Bulgaria once I get my state pension and can qualify for the D visa. Now TRO is more difficult, and we haven't magicked up enough cash to get in on property investment, ...
@janemulberry Also consider Serbia, Jane. It's a good country. Yes it has its problems, but it's not dissimilar to Bulgaria. My wife and I spent a week in Belgrade and we were very impressed - not only is the city fantastic but the people are ... Read More
Cash or card by H Williams
In general, do Bulgarian shops prefer to use cash or card? What about tradesmen and the like?I see most western countries are trying to remove cash all together, so was just wondering what is best to use over there in my research.
Yes, cards are accepted in all the big stores and businesses, but smaller businesses often prefer cash. I always carry enough cash for something, if I'm going to a small store, in case they don't take cards. Also, often I experience the line "The ... Read More
Postal service in Bulgaria by RH Canning
Hi all,I'm new to the forum and thought I'd say hello. I'm from Northern Ireland but currently living in Scotland. I'm considering moving to Bulgaria at the beginning of next year and hope to use the forums to find out more details as I've no idea ...
@janemulberry very valid point! It's what I do too, as we have a speedy, literally across the road from our doorstep and an Econt 150 metres away. So easy. Read More