Moving to Bulgaria from UK in 2024

If you are planning on Moving to Bulgaria from UK in 2024. Then you can use Advance moves to quickly find you a house removal company, and give you an instant online quotation for Moving to Bulgaria from UK . Advance moves can save you a lot of time and money when finding a removal company for Moving to Bulgaria from UK.

Get an instant online quote in just 30 seconds for a removal to Bulgaria from the United Kingdom. Click on the link now to save up to 40% on removal costs by comparing prices between the best removal companies for your move to Bulgaria.

Advance moves is a removals comparison and referral site that allows you to enter some basic details about your removal to Bulgaria , and then get up to 5 or 6 quotes from professional removal companies selected to match your own specific removal requirements.

If you would like an instant online quote in just 30 seconds for a house removal to Bulgaria then click on the link and start the Quick quote process.

Save time Moving to Bulgaria from UK with Advance moves.

Save money Moving to Bulgaria from UK with Advance moves.

Use advance moves Quick quote to find a mover quickly for Moving to Bulgaria from UK.

A Guide on Moving to Bulgaria

Moving to Bulgaria can be an enriching experience, offering a blend of beautiful landscapes, rich history, and a low cost of living. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the process of relocating to Bulgaria.

1. Research and Planning

Choose Your Destination

  • Research different cities and regions in Bulgaria to find the best fit for your lifestyle and needs. Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, and Burgas are popular choices, each offering unique advantages.
  • Consider factors such as cost of living, climate, job opportunities, and local amenities.

Visit Bulgaria (If Possible)

  • If you have the opportunity, visit your chosen destination to get a feel for the area, look at housing options, and understand the local culture.

2. Legal Requirements

Visa and Residency

  • EU/EEA/Swiss citizens can stay in Bulgaria for up to 90 days without a visa. For longer stays, you need to register for residency.
  • Non-EU citizens will need a long-term visa (D visa) to stay for more than 90 days.
  • Applying for a Residence Permit:
  • EU citizens: Register at the Migration Directorate within three months of arrival.
  • Non-EU citizens: Apply for a residence permit after entering on a long-term visa.

Required Documents

  • Valid passport
  • Proof of health insurance
  • Proof of sufficient funds
  • Proof of accommodation (rental contract or property deed)
  • Completed application forms

3. Financial Preparations

Bank Account

  • Open a Bulgarian bank account to manage your finances.
  • Required documents: Passport, residence permit (or registration certificate for EU citizens), proof of address, and proof of income or employment.

Budgeting

  • Create a budget covering initial moving expenses, housing, transportation, and daily living costs.

4. Finding Accommodation

Temporary Accommodation

  • Book temporary accommodation for your first few weeks (e.g., Airbnb, hotels, short-term rentals).

Long-Term Housing

  • Start looking for long-term housing either through online platforms (e.g., Imoti.net, OLX.bg) or local real estate agents.
  • Consider renting before buying to get to know the area better.

5. Moving Your Belongings

Hiring a Removal Company

  • Research and compare removal companies.
  • Obtain multiple quotes and check reviews.
  • Remember: Advance moves can save you money when finding a removal company. Book early to get better rates and availability.

Packing

  • Declutter and decide what to take, sell, or donate.
  • Pack systematically, labeling boxes with contents and destination rooms.

Customs and Transportation

  • As Bulgaria is part of the EU, there are no customs duties for personal belongings for EU citizens. Non-EU citizens should check specific customs regulations.

6. Healthcare

Health Insurance

  • Health insurance is mandatory in Bulgaria.
  • EU citizens can use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for temporary stays. For long-term stays, register with the Bulgarian National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
  • Non-EU citizens need private health insurance until they can join the NHIF.

Registering with a GP

  • Register with a local general practitioner (GP) once you have your residence permit.

7. Employment and Income

Job Search

  • If you don’t have a job lined up, start your job search early.
  • Use online job portals (e.g., Jobs.bg, Indeed, LinkedIn), local recruitment agencies, and networking opportunities.

Taxes

  • Register with the Bulgarian tax authorities (National Revenue Agency).
  • Obtain a tax ID number after registering your address.
  • Understand your tax obligations in both your home country and Bulgaria.

8. Education

Schools

  • If moving with children, research and apply to schools in advance.
  • Bulgaria offers public, private, and international schools.

Language Courses

  • Consider taking Bulgarian language courses to ease your integration and improve your job prospects.

9. Cultural Adaptation

Learn Bulgarian

  • While many Bulgarians speak English, learning Bulgarian will help you integrate and navigate daily life more easily.

Embrace the Culture

  • Engage with the local community, participate in cultural events, and explore Bulgarian traditions and cuisine.

10. Final Preparations

Notify Authorities

  • Inform authorities in your home country of your move and update your address.
  • Cancel or transfer subscriptions, utilities, and services.

Say Goodbye

  • Organize farewells with friends and family.

11. Moving Day

Checklist

  • Ensure you have all important documents: passport, visa, rental contracts, bank details, etc.
  • Keep essentials (e.g., clothes, toiletries, important documents) easily accessible.

12. Upon Arrival

Settle In

  • Move into your new home and unpack.
  • Register with local authorities if not done earlier.
  • Set up utilities and internet.

Explore Your New Area

  • Familiarize yourself with your neighborhood.
  • Meet neighbors and start building your social network.

Conclusion

By following this step-by-step guide, you can smoothly transition to your new life in Bulgaria. Careful planning, early preparations, and understanding the legal and logistical requirements will ensure a successful and stress-free move. Enjoy your new adventure in Bulgaria!

Visas and residency when moving to Bulgaria from the UK.

Check the entry requirements for Bulgaria.

If you move to Bulgaria, you may need a visa. Read the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ guidance on visas.

Read the [Ministry of Interior information] (https://www.mvr.bg/migration/en/administrative-services/administrative-servces/issue-of-residence-permits-to-third-country-nationals) about which documents you need for different kinds of residence permits.

Once you have been resident in Bulgaria for 5 consecutive years, you can apply to the Migration Directorate for a permanent residency permit.

Applying for Bulgarian citizenship

When you have held a permanent residence permit in Bulgaria for 5 years, you can apply for Bulgarian citizenship (in Bulgarian).

You may need to renounce your UK citizenship, depending on your personal circumstances (for example, if you are not married to a Bulgarian citizen).

For your Bulgarian citizenship application, you may need to order a birth, marriage or death certificate from the UK. You may also need a UK criminal records certificate.

You may need to have these and other UK documents officially translated. We have provided a list of translators. You may also have to get your documents legalised (apostilled).

Visas and residency if you were living in Bulgaria before 1 January 2021

If you have lived in Bulgaria since before 1 January 2021, you and your family members have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

You should request a new residence card (документ за пребиваване) which will show that you have these rights. It will also show your right to enter Bulgaria, and exempt you from the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) and visa requirements.

The deadline for applying for the new residence card was 31 December 2021. You may need to pay a fine if you apply after this date.

Your close family members continue to be able to join you and settle in Bulgaria at any time in the future. Read more information on who this applies to in the Living in Europe guidance. They must travel to Bulgaria and then apply as your family member.

Nationals of certain non-EU countries may need a visa before travel. The Bulgarian authorities should issue family reunion visas free of charge.

Read the Advice on Individual Rights in Europe (AIRE) Centre’s guidance on residency in Bulgaria if you moved to Bulgaria before 1 January 2021.

Passports and travel and Moving to Bulgaria from UK

You can apply for or renew your British passport from Bulgaria.

Check the Bulgaria travel advice for passport validity requirements.

Always carry your passport when travelling to other EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries. If you have citizenship of an EU or EFTA country, in addition to your British citizenship, you should enter and leave Bulgaria using your EU or EFTA passport.

Bulgaria is not part of the Schengen area. If you stay in Bulgaria with a Bulgarian residence permit or long stay visa, this time does not count towards your 90-day in 180 days visa-free limit in Bulgaria or for the Schengen area.

If you visit countries in the Schengen area, make sure you do not exceed the visa-free 90 days in any 180-day period. You are responsible for counting how long you stay under the Schengen visa waiver, and you must comply with its conditions.

Different rules apply if you are travelling to other EU and Schengen countries as a resident of Bulgaria. Check each country’s travel advice page for information on entry requirements.

If you were living in Bulgaria before 1 January 2021

When you travel, you should carry your residence document (Документ за пребиваване) or frontier worker permit issued under the Withdrawal Agreement, in addition to your valid passport.

You must proactively show your residence document, or other evidence of residence status, if you are asked to show your passport at border control. Other evidence may be your tenancy agreement or a utility bill in your name, dating from 2020. If you have applied for, but not yet received, your residence document, show your certificate of registration.

If you cannot prove that you are a resident in Bulgaria, you may be asked additional questions at the border to enter the EU. Your passport may be stamped on entry and exit. This will not affect your rights in the country or countries where you live or work. If a passport is stamped, the stamp is considered null and void when you can show evidence of lawful residence.

If you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement, you can enter and exit Bulgaria with a valid passport. You do not need any additional validity on your passport beyond the dates on which you are travelling.

How to move to Bulgaria.

To get an instant online quote in just 30 seconds for moving to Bulgaria, just click on the link to start the quick quote process.

Once in the Quick quote process you must firstly enter the countries that you are moving from and too. This allows the Quick quote to establish the Collection and delivery locations.

Then you will need to select an icon that best describes the size of your removal to Slovakia. You can choose from House size, Truck size, or just enter the volume of your furniture and effects if you know it. For smaller moves you can just select the number of boxes you want to move……………The important thing here is to give the best indicator of the size of your removal, to establish roughly how much stuff you are taking.

You don’t have to be too accurate on move size.

When selecting the icon that best describes the size of you move. it is only to establish the most accurate representation of the size of your move. You don’t have to be too accurate. it is just a guide. But the Quick quote is worked out on it so the more accurate the better.

Then enter some basic address and contact details and if you want to, you can enter some additional information into the comments box. If you have a list items to move, or more details about your move then enter them here, the more info the better.

However this will not effect the Quick quote price given, but it will be handy information for the removal companies selected to further quote on your move to Bulgaria. (see below)

You will need to select an approximate moving date for your move to Bulgaria. Again this is just a guide. Please be aware that a removal date too far into the future will not be passed onto our removals agents to quote upon as any quote will be too far in the future to be accurate. Therefore only a Quick quote will be generated.

Now hit the submit button and 30 seconds later you will have a Quick quote emailed to you.

What is the Quick quote?

The Quick quote will give you a price range and volume range for your house removal to Bulgaria. The price is a rough guide for your own budgeting. The price range is just the basic removal price range.

Further charges may apply for taxes, duties, wrapping, packing, access, storage and insurance.

Multiple quotes for moving to Bulgaria from UK in 2024.

Once you have received your Quick quote you will then start to receive up to 5 or 6 more accurate quotes from independent professional removal companies. These removal companies have been selected from the list of Advance moves agents.

They have been selected as the best matches from your own removal requirements that you entered into the Quick quote.

Advance moves selects the movers that are best suited to undertake your removal to Bulgaria.

Not all removal companies are as competitive as others, when it come to moving to Bulgaria from UK. Advance moves selects the movers most likely to offer the best levels of service and the most competitive prices for your move to Bulgaria.

You can then compare quotes. Looking at levels of services and price.

Remember that not all quotes include the same services. The best price might only be because another quote includes more. Also make sure that the mover you choose, is available for the moving dates that you require before you book.

Advance moves makes moving to Bulgaria from UK a lot easier for you. You can save time and money when finding a suitable moving company for any international move with Advance moves.

Saving money on International removals.

You can save money when moving internationally by working on reducing the volume of your consignment. Most international removals are based on a price per cubic metre.

By reducing your volume you should be able to reduce your removal costs.

Firstly really analyze what you are taking. If its cheap, big and bulky maybe its not worth taking? After that then flat pack down any furniture that you can and dismantle items to make them as compact as possible. The smaller the better. Maybe tape bits together or box them to make things easier to move and stack.

When packing boxes use clothes and bedding as padding rather than bubble wrap to further reduce your volume.

Remember not to pack boxes too heavy, make sure you can still lift it yourself. max box weight should really be 15 to 20 Kgs or the removal men will struggle and crushing may occur in the box or within the load on the truck.

More info on Moving to Bulgaria.

The UK government has an information page all about moving to Bulgaria from UK. Check it out for more details on all aspects of moving to Bulgaria from UK and then being able to live in Bulgaria legally.

Moving to the UK from Bulgaria.

If you are moving to the UK from Bulgaria, then Advance moves can help you find a mover. Use the Quick quote to get an instant online quote for Moving to the UK from Bulgaria, and then get up to 5 or 6 quotes from movers competing for your removal to the UK from Bulgaria.

Save money on removals to the UK from Bulgaria with help from advance moves.

Save time moving to the UK from Bulgaria with advance moves help.

Use advance moves to find you a mover today, wherever you are moving.

Racing in Europe.

Advance moves sponsors the Supermotoland Husqvarna race team. Follow them on the link as they race in the Spanish, European and World supermoto championships.

Read more of the Advance moves blogs on moving house overseas.

Scroll to Top