Emigrating to Bulgaria: our experiences

Emigrating is an exciting affair. You have to think about many things. Registering with the municipality, applying for a residence permit, earning money, the tax system, transferring your car and what about your children, for example?

It's difficult to figure everything out yourself if you don't speak the language, no matter how much you enjoy it. Many people also do not speak English in government institutions and that poses many challenges.
It is important to hire someone who knows the rules of the country and speaks the language. Someone who is really willing to help you and make your dreams come true. Because you naturally want everything to be arranged properly at once, so that you don't run into problems later.
We therefore hired a lawyer in Razlog who helped us with applying for our residence permits, transferring the car and the rules in Bulgaria.

It is important to arrange everything with someone you trust. We would like to put you in touch with the people who helped us. This saves a lot of stress and time, so you can focus on your work, learning the language, and enjoying nature, on the skis or on the golf course?

Everything is possible in Bansko!

The cultural differences: some useful tips

Bulgarian culture is quite different from other cultures. Therefore, here are some tips to make things a bit easier for you and avoid misunderstandings.

First, the yes nod and no shake. Bulgarians shake their heads when they mean yes and nod when they mean no. This is the opposite of what we are used to. So the opposite of what we are used to.
Make it easy on yourself and say 'Da' (yes) or 'Ne' (no). This can avoid major misunderstandings.

If you come to live in Bulgaria, you will soon find that Bulgarians are very friendly and hospitable people. They will welcome you with gifts (such as a bottle of wine or homemade delicacies) and they find it important that you feel welcome and participate in society from the very first moment.
We tip you to also give them something in return, such as a souvenir, as Bulgarians enjoy showing this to family and friends.

Finally, of course, the language and the alphabet. Bulgarian is a difficult language to learn, as it does not resemble English in any way and a different alphabet is used: Cyrillic. Reading is therefore also difficult and at first it will be something of a puzzle to be able to read a word.
In addition, a large part of the Bulgarian population does not speak English, even at government offices. So it is definitely not an unnecessary luxury to hire a lawyer or translator if you are going to apply for your residence permit, for instance.

And oh yes, one more thing: the people behind the counter can come across as rather grumpy. In addition, these kinds of processes can take a very long time, as Bulgarians like to take their time and do not rush. So stay patient and try to apply a little pressure now and then.

What should you consider when you emigrate?

But before you start living your best life in your new home country, you will have to arrange a lot of things before you become a Bulgarian.
Of course, there is a lot to consider when emigrating. You will largely have to arrange this yourself and it can be quite overwhelming.
Fortunately, emigrating to Bulgaria is not that difficult. After all, it is located in Europe and is part of the EU, which means that many rules and regulations are the same as in, for example, the Netherlands and Germany.

Registering in another EU country is actually very simple. The only thing you have to take into account is that civil servants often do not speak English.

But what should you actually think about when you emigrate? This is how we did it in the Netherlands.

Deregister from your municipality

If you want to leave your country permanently, you will have to deregister with the municipality where you live. To do this, you must go to your municipality's website and go to the 'Unsubscribe' page. This is different on every website, so unfortunately we cannot give you a comprehensive manual on how to do this.
Are you stuck? Then you can always call or visit the town hall. They will be happy to help you there.

We also had to do this at the municipality of Hollands Kroon in North Holland, the Netherlands.

Do you already have a new address in your new country? Please pass this on to the municipality.

Passing and transferring data

Before you leave for Bulgaria, there are a number of things you need to arrange.
For example, are you bringing your own car? Then take a good look at what you need to arrange to transfer it to a Bulgarian license plate. There may be quite a few rules and conditions attached to this.
Once you have received your Bulgarian ID documents, you can transfer your car to a Bulgarian license plate.

And then you also have your bank account. You can keep this, but it is advisable to also open a Bulgarian account. You will also have to report your new address to the bank where your account is held and to the government.
At the bank you do this via the app, website or call customer service.

Once you have arrived in Bulgaria, you have to arrange this

Have you finally arrived in Bulgaria after months of preparation? Whether you arrive at Sofia Airport or by car, you may first want to relax.

But then you will really have to get back to work arranging everything at your new living location. Applying for a residence permit, transferring the car and opening a bank account. We'll explain it all to you below.

Register as a resident

One of the first things you do when you arrive in Bulgaria is register as a resident of the country. This is mandatory if you stay in Bulgaria for more than 90 days and you must do this at the immigration office in the province where you will live. Bansko is Blagoevgrad province.
If you are going to live in Bansko, you will have to drive to the city of Blagoevgrad for all important documents, which is about 50 minutes by car from Bansko.

You can apply for your residence permit at the immigration service. It is useful to do this together with a lawyer or an interpreter who speaks Bulgarian, because the officials hardly speak English. In addition, they naturally know the rules better and know exactly what is needed.

To apply for a 5-year residence permit, you actually have to spend most of the day. First you go to the office to request the IDs. Here you will have to sign your signatures, etc. and hand over your passport.

Then you have time to go into town for some shopping and something to eat, since you have to wait for the photo moment.
Then, after a few hours, you will have to go back to the office to take the photos. This is done with a modern device, which you have to stand in front of and which gives you instructions in English on how to stand.
After this has been done, you will receive a white card with your details that you must keep safe.

That's how it's done in Blagoevgrad. It will not be much different in other regions, but keep in mind that this is quite different than you are used to.

Later (after about a week) you will have to collect your ID at the same location. Take your passport with you again for this. This is a 5-year residence permit that you can later extend for a 'real' ID card.
But that is for later concern. You have now been a legal resident of Bulgaria for at least five years!

Open a Bulgarian bank account

If you want to live and work in Bulgaria - whether permanently or temporarily - you will of course need a bank account. You can keep your own account when you emigrate, but it is of course useful if you also open a Bulgarian account.

To do this, go to the local bank of your choice. There are many different banks in Bansko, such as United Bulgarian Bank (UBB), Fibank, Unicredit Bulbank, Postbank and DSK Bank. But there are more. So plenty of choice!
Please note that not everyone here speaks English equally well. But fortunately, Google Translate can always be a useful tool and the employees will help you on your way.

To open an account you will need your Bulgarian ID that you picked up at the immigration office. You will need this together with your passport, otherwise it will not be possible to open an account.

You will then be given all kinds of forms that you can complete on the spot or at home. Go through the entire form and hand it in to the employee. That person will then guide you further through the process, because there is much more.

They will then need your mother's surname, your temporary and permanent address in Bulgaria and possibly in another country and you will have to sign your full name and signature several times.

You then download the app from the relevant bank and receive a login code. Finally, you will often have to pay a small amount to have the account permanently opened. This amount is negligibly small and is often only one euro.

What is also very useful is a credit card. You can also request this from the bank.

After a week to two weeks you will have to collect your bank card(s) from the bank.
Now you can finally go to work or start your own business!

Find health insurance

Taking out health insurance in Bulgaria does not have to be difficult. In many cases this is arranged through the employer, but there are also companies where this is not the case.
You can of course also start your own business, so this is not the case. Then you will really have to arrange it yourself, because working without insurance is of course not really convenient, although you will not be the only one. In Bulgaria people insure themselves much less than in Western Europe
Many people are not insured at all!

If you do this anyway, you will be amazed at the low premiums. Health insurance will not cost much more than €140 per year (!), where you pay an even higher amount per month in the Netherlands, for example!

Transfer or buy a car

Do you have your Bulgarian ID, health insurance and possibly an income? Then it's time to transfer the car. This doesn't have to be difficult if it goes right the first time. And that's where we went wrong.

We hired a lawyer from Razlog who helped us, but he did not know how to obtain a registration certificate part 2 in the Netherlands. And we didn't know that either.
Unfortunately, we only found out when we were at the Traffic Police in Blagoevgrad and called the RDW (Dutch Road Traffic Agency) for help.

Unfortunately, we drove for months with an expired and therefore illegal Dutch license plate. Fortunately, we later received that beautiful white Bulgarian license plate!

You can also buy a brand new or second-hand car in Bulgaria. Keep in mind that the mileage can still be tampered with.
It is therefore advisable to buy a new car or import a car from Germany or the Netherlands.

Why emigrate to Bansko? 4 reasons why Bansko is the ideal place

Bansko is a real pearl in Bulgaria. Unfortunately, it does not yet receive the appreciation and fame from foreigners that it deserves. We would like to change that!
Yet Bansko has been very popular for years among digital nomads and, for example, English people who want to live here temporarily or permanently.

These are four reasons why Bansko is the ideal place for you to live and work!

1. Many opportunities to make your dreams come true

Bulgaria is one of the cheapest countries in Europe. And unfortunately also one of the poorest countries. But this also provides a lot of possibilities.
Because some aspects in Bansko are less developed than in Western Europe, there are many opportunities to develop this further.
There are several examples of this, such as that many company websites are of such low quality that they are barely findable and are not valuable at all. Many (large) companies don't even have a website!

And there are many more points that you will gradually experience as you live in Bansko.

But the costs of living are also a lot lower than in the west. Think of taxes, premiums and eating out.
So are house prices. You can still buy a house in (the Bansko region) for less than €100,000!
And how about a guest house in a tourist ski and golf resort? The possibilities are endless in Bansko!

2. There is a lot to do, see and experience

Bansko is known as the largest and best ski resort in Bulgaria. But there is so much more!
Bulgaria's first golf resort, many spas, spring water, mountain lakes, museums, fairytale forests, mountains, hiking and mountain bike trails and of course ski resorts. You'll find it all in Bansko!

In addition, there is also the Rila Fun Park (a kind of amusement park/playground with a toboggan run) and a bear park, where you can see former dancing bears who are offered a new and free life after living on a chain for human entertainment.
And then you can also spot wild bears in nature!

There are also many spas in the surrounding villages (Banya, Dobrinishte and Eleshnitsa) where you can immerse yourself in hot spring water from the ground of up to 40 ˙C!

And that alone: the many water sources are very healthy for your body. Consider, for example, the iron water at Dobrinishte, which is said to be good for your eyes.

If you live here, there are plenty of opportunities for recreation. And that is of course also important to relax after, for example, renovating your house or running a guest house!

Hot water swimming pool in Dobrinishte

3. Unparalleled natural beauty

The nature in Bansko - and actually in the whole of Bulgaria - is magically beautiful. There are different types of forests, mainly coniferous forests. There are many hiking and mountain bike trails that let you see and experience this beautiful nature.

There are also campsites in the mountains and in winter you can ski and snowboard in peace and quiet in the middle of nature.

In Bansko you are in the middle of three mountain areas; Rila, Pirin and Rhodopes. These are also beautiful nature reserves where many beautiful animals live, such as bears, birds of prey and wolves.

Wherever you live in the region, when you step out the door you walk straight into the forest.
So do you like nature and tranquility? Then Bansko is a good place for you!

Pirin National Park

4. Good facilities, accessibility and internet connection

The facilities in Bansko are good. The roads are well maintained, the internet connection is excellent and there are many restaurants, shops, supermarkets, pharmacies, a train and bus station and a hospital. There are also many co-working spaces where you can work together with like-minded people around you and exchange ideas.

Unlike other parts of Bulgaria, the roads in and around Bansko are of relatively good quality. Within an hour you can be on the A3 highway, which leads to Sofia in the north and to Thessaloniki in Greece in the south.
In addition, buses and trains run from the cities of Blagoevgrad, Sofia and Plovdiv to Bansko.

Bansko is very easy to reach, it is cheap, it has good facilities and you can relax everywhere in nature and many spas!

What is life like in the Bansko region?

Living and working in the Bansko region of Bulgaria offers a unique life experience amid breathtaking natural beauty and a rich cultural environment. Here, the majestic Pirin Mountains meet picturesque towns like Bansko and Dobrinishte, and this area has much to offer both nature lovers and adventure seekers.

Bansko is known as a popular winter sports destination, where you can enjoy challenging ski slopes and a vibrant winter season.

In the summer months, the area transforms into a paradise for spa enthusiasts, hikers, mountain bikers and lovers of other outdoor activities like horse riding, rafting, Jeep safari, and more.
The old town of Bansko, with its cobbled streets and traditional architecture, also offers a charming setting to explore.

Dobrinishte, a neighbouring village, is known for its thermal baths, which offer a soothing and healing experience.
Here you can relax amid the natural hot springs, surrounded by green hills and forests.
Dobrinishte is the only place in the world known as a ski resort and spa at the same time. There is a ski resort with 5 km of slopes with 4 lifts and as many as 13 water springs!

The combination of Bansko and Dobrinishte makes the region attractive for a diverse range of activities throughout the year.
Bansko is not recognised as an All Season Resort for nothing!

When it comes to living, the Bansko region offers several options, ranging from traditional houses in the city to modern accommodation on the edge of the mountains. The cost of living is generally lower than in many Western European countries, making it attractive for people looking for an affordable yet quality lifestyle.

In terms of work, there are opportunities for people from different backgrounds. Growing tourism in the region is creating opportunities in the hospitality, tourist services and leisure industries.
In addition, the rise of digital nomads has led to a growing community of people working remotely from this picturesque part of Bulgaria.

Whether you are looking for an active outdoor life, cultural discoveries, or just a quiet place to live and work, the Bansko region offers a diverse and attractive lifestyle.

It is an area where the beauty of nature goes hand in hand with opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Living, working and lifestyle

Living and working in the Bansko region is a treat for lovers of mountains and mountain sports. Many self-employed people work in this region, many of whom work as digital nomads. In fact, Bansko is one of the best places in the world to work location-independently and there are many facilities specially set up for this target group, such as co-working spaces.
That's because life is relatively cheap here, the internet connection is fast and stable and you can ski, hike, play golf or go to a spa in the afternoon after work. Everything is within easy reach here, within 10 kilometres, so basically within cycling distance. This is unique in the world.

Not surprisingly, Bansko is becoming increasingly popular with digital nomads and the city is attracting the attention of more and more tourists and investors.

And you want a break from mountains and head to the sea? Within 2 hours, you'll be on the Greek coast enjoying the Mediterranean in, say, Thessaloniki or Kavala!

What work can be found in the region?

You don't just go to a foreign country to live and work. You have to love adventure, want to work hard and love Bulgarian culture.

In Bulgaria, there are many jobs for Dutch or German speakers who want to work as, for example, customer service agents. You can then work from your home or flat and, depending on your language, serve Dutch, German or other markets.

Both local and national economies are growing.
In addition, Bansko is of course a large winter sports area, so there are plenty of hospitality, events and recreational opportunities. This means there are plenty of opportunities and jobs available in various sectors. Staff are needed in many restaurants, for example, and hotels also face shortages at times.

But of course, you can also start your own business, rent out rooms or work as a self-employed person!

What we can help you with

Emigrating is a lot of hassle. We are therefore happy to relieve you of the following:

• Helping you find a job with an employer
• Help finding a house to rent or buy through our contacts with estate agents
• Advise you on how to get started in Bulgaria as a self-employed person through our contacts' expertise
• Taking care of insurance, residence permits and other matters

Conclusion: Bansko is the place for you

Emigrating to Bulgaria, specifically Bansko, offers a unique combination of affordability, natural beauty and cultural richness. This picturesque mountain town is attracting more and more international residents thanks to its low cost of living, favourable tax climate and excellent facilities for winter sports and summer activities.

Bansko offers a high quality of life at a peaceful pace, surrounded by beautiful nature and historical sights. The hospitable community of locals and expats ensures that newcomers quickly feel at home. The good infrastructure and proximity to larger cities such as Sofia also make it easy to stay connected to the rest of Europe.

For those looking for a fresh start in quiet surroundings with plenty of opportunities for rest and relaxation, Bansko is an excellent choice. It offers not only a healthy balance between work and leisure, but also the chance to be part of an emerging expat community in one of Europe's best-kept secrets.

Would you like more information or an introduction to us?