Location :
Home > Lifestyle & Living
| It is estimated that around 58,000 foreigners now live in Bulgaria, where all the major towns and cities have a sizeable expat community and virtually every village has its cohort of resident British families. This number is set to increase further through 2010 as more and more people adopt the country as their new home. With rising costs of living, falling house prices, lack of mortgage lending and increasing social and economic tensions abroad, many people are considering a permanent move to Bulgaria .. and few will regret their decision. The benefits of a Bulgarian life: the climate, the beaches, the mountains and the beautiful countryside, the relaxed lifestyle, friendly neighbours and family values, the low prices, the stable economy and increasing employment opportunities all combine to outweigh the inevitable differences and disadvantages. And for those in the process of decision-making, here's a brief overview to a number of the key components that underpin the change to a new life in Bulgaria. |
|
Bulgaria has been a full member of the EU since January 2007 which means that, if you come here from another EU country, you automatically have the same EU-wide rights of citizenship that you will be used to. In practical terms this means that, subject to local legislation, you can live here for as long as you wish, you can own property, you can open bank accounts, you can work, your children can be educated at local schools, you can set up a business, you can access state and private medical services - and you can vote and stand as a candidate in all local, municipal and EU elections. |
|
There are no visa requirements for EU citizens or Australian, Canadian and USA nationals to visit Bulgaria for a period of up to 90 days, although a passport valid for at least three months beyond the planned length of stay is needed for travel purposes. For non-EU citizens, possession of a return ticket and sufficient funds for the length of stay may also be required. If your stay exceeds 90 days, you need to register with the local police and obtain an appropriate permit. Alternatively, if you are planning to stay for an extended period, you can apply for a Long Stay Residency Certificate for up to 5 years. For people from EU member countries, this is pretty much a formality and can usually be arranged within 24 hours through the police immigration office in the city or town where you are staying. The criteria are that you are either: employed or self-employed in Bulgaria, following a recognised educational programme, or you have sufficient income or funds to support yourself and your family. Long Stay Certificates can be renewed as required - or, after five years, you may apply for Bulgarian Citizenship |
|
Possibly the most important advice to note if you are considering a long-term move to Bulgaria is to ensure that you have a regular source of income in place. This might be from employment, self-employment, equity from property, investments or pension payments. The source does not really matter - but the income does, particularly if you are moving here with your family. Within your financial planning, you should be aware that any benefit payments that you may have received in the UK (eg: tax credits or child benefit) will not be paid in Bulgaria. Under some circumstances, you may be entitled to other, personal benefits such as Disability Living or Carer's Allowances but you should seek advice about your entitlements from the relevant government department. Pensions, on the other hand, are paid as a matter of right. If you are already retired and in receipt of your pension, very little changes when you move to Bulgaria. Your pension will be inflation linked and will normally be paid into a specified bank account in the UK, from where you can make regular currency transfers as you choose. Following a rule change in October 2009, though, you may now have your pension paid directly into any Bulgarian bank in BGN (Leva). While this might seem to be an attractive option, the key factor is, of course, the exchange rate that will be used by the pension authorities when making the transfer payment. Unfortunately, it is proving to be somewhat difficult to pin down any helpful information on this and, currently, the only data available is a statment on the pension service website that says .."based on the current rate at the time of transfer" |
|
A city apartment, a house in the suburbs, a new-build in one of the beach or ski resorts, a villa on a golf course or a rambling old rural home in the countryside. The choices are extensive, the options are available and the decision is yours. So, whether you're looking for cosmopolitan city chic - or a more laid-back village lifestyle, it's worth noting that virtually everybody in Bulgaria has direct access to telephone services, mobile phone coverage, high speed internet and cable or satellite TV with local and international channels. Most villages have a post office, local shops, restaurants, petrol stations, a church and a health service or chemist plus easy and regular transport to the bigger, regional towns with a wider range of amenities such as: supermarkets, shopping centres, internet cafes, cinemas, theatres, bus and train stations, local authority offices, hospitals and schools. |
|
Bulgaria is probably best known for its low property prices but what may be less widely appreciated is that the cost of living here is less than half of that in the UK. While some items, such as petrol at around 1.95 BGN (Bulgarian Leva) or £0.95 a litre, are more expensive, direct price comparisons of non-imported food, clothing, electrical goods and furniture reflect around 40 to 45% of UK costs, with utility bills and municipal tax (council tax) at an even lower level. No matter how attractive the cost of living might be, though, it's not a good idea to come to Bulgaria without a source of income but, having said that, the fact is that many expats are pleasantly surprised at just how easy it is to live comfortably on a British pension or to find ways of generating an income to fund their new lifestyle. And in terms of accumulating cash rather than spending it, the banks offer a wide array of attractive savings account options. A typical fixed term account, for instance, would generate a return of around 8 to 9% a year on cash invested for two years, with even higher rates for longer term commitments.  |
|
Whilst some people are able to live off equity that they have made in the UK or earn an income from renting out their UK properties, in many cases the only way to continue a permanent life out here is to find work. Many expats set up their own companies to run restaurants, bars, hotels and B & B's, while others create viable businesses providing services aimed directly at the expat community. Local newspaper publishing, shops selling staple food items not otherwise available here, building renovation and home maintenance services provide just a few examples of well established and successful expat enterprises. And these ventures sit comfortably alongside the host of new opportunities and gaps in the market, which are becoming easier and easier to identify given that the retail, tourism, service and entertainment industries are continuing to expand. On the other hand, some people prefer a more traditional working pattern as an employee with an established organisation, while professionals can now bring their existing skills and experience into the burgeoning IT, banking and business management sectors. The key point to note is that, as a citizen of a country within the European Economic Area (EEA), you are free to work in any other EU or EEA country without a work permit as either a salaried employee or a self-employed individual. You will, of course, be required to pay national insurance contributions, either directly through your business accounts or deducted at source along with your income tax if you are employed. The good news is that these contributions (referred to as NOI) are much lower than in the UK (currently around 15 BGN per month for an employee) and income tax is a flat rate of 10% regardless of the amount you earn over and above the non-taxable income threshold (currently 2400 BGN or £1120 per year) |
|
For many people, coming from a typically stressful working environment in the UK means that one of the biggest attractions of Bulgaria is that it offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy the better things of life: the beach in summer, skiing in the winter, golf, walking in the mountains, horse-riding, fishing, football; painting, photography, bird-watching; opera, theatre, music; clubs, concerts, cinema - it's all here. On the other hand, you could spend your days pottering around the garden and your evenings outside watching the sun go down over a glass of home-made wine, just like your neighbours. Wherever you are in Bulgaria, there is a distinct touch of the old world living alongside the new. Horses (or donkeys) and carts are still a widely used mode of transport - and you'll see them everywhere, alongside the gleaming top of the range Mercedes, Audis and BMWs, the hard-core 4x4s and the ubiquitous Ladas. Sheep and goats roam freely around the unfenced fields and many people grow their own produce at home. Self sufficiency is a respected standard - but, if you prefer, you can also buy everything you need for a completely modern lifestyle from any of the big supermarkets or shopping malls that are now open for business across the country. |
|
The Bulgarian constitution states that: everyone - including citizens from EU and EEA countries who are living and working in the country - shall have the right to education; school attendance up to the age of 16 is compulsory; and both primary and secondary education in state and municipal schools is free. This means that the only costs for which parents are asked to pay for their children's schooling in Bulgaria are textbooks, stationery and school field trips. The school year starts on September 15 and comprises two terms, finishing in May or June The structure of education in Bulgaria comprises the following levels: pre-school education, basic and secondary education and higher education. Pre-school education includes children from age 3 to 6/7 and is optional. Basic education provision comprises primary school (grades 1 to 4), pre-secondary school (grades 5 to 8) and secondary or vocational schools (grades 9 to 12/13). All Bulgarian schools follow the same curriculum progressively from grades 1 to 12/13. Subjects include mathematics, literature (Bulgarian and foreign), foreign languages, history, geography, physics, biology, chemistry, computer sciences, psychology, ethics and law, philosophy, music, arts, vocational training and physical education. The grading system for all schools is based on a six-point scale, from fair to excellent but students are not ranked against their peers. While private and international fee paying schools remain popular, the majority of expat families opt for the state system, usually with additional private tuition during the first few months until their children become comfortable with the language. |
|
Bulgaria's doctors and nurses are extremely well trained and deliver first class medical care despite the poor standard of their facilities. The National Health Service is available to all and is administered across the country by Regional Health Centres. Everybody who works in Bulgaria, including expats, is required to pay health insurance contributions (NOI) and can register with the doctor of their choice, so most people opt for a GP close to home or one that speaks their language. In Bulgaria the doctor's role is to diagnose, treat, prescribe and refer patients to other institutions or professionals within the system. Bulgaria's private health system is often staffed by doctors from the state sector and whilst private clinics and hospitals offer more modern and pleasant environments, they do not necessarily offer better quality care. Private medical fees are high in comparison to the cost of contributions for state medical treatment but notably low in terms of comparable fees in the UK and Europe. |
|
Bulgaria boasts one of the healthiest economies in South East Europe and is considered in a positive and favourable light by the international community. The country has experienced strong economic growth over the last seven years, with an annual GDP increase averaging around 6% and high levels of foreign direct investment. There has been a lot of recent media coverage of the EU's harsh line in withholding funds because of Bulgaria's poor housekeeping and lack of transparency in the spending of EU grants. While the EU's accusations of corruption and fraud in this area are valid, the country is making great efforts to improve and, to overcome this legacy of Communism, the administration has recently instituted a raft of new monitoring programmes in conjunction with Brussels, which now account for every Euro spent. The EU is playing a significant role in shaping Bulgaria's political and judicial systems to ensure that the ordinary citizens of the country benefit fully from EU membership and significant progress is being made, albeit at a somewhat slower pace than it should be. Bulgaria is set to adopt the Euro in 2012 or 2013 and will also become part of the Schengen zone around this time, which will lead to even easier access for all EU citizens. The average Bulgarian wage is currently 684 BGN (around £320) per month but many families take home much less than this and subsequently have little to spend on luxuries. Generally, this shortage of money and possessions has a positive effect. Children learn the value of money and respect for what they and others have. It's also important to note that the majority of people own their homes outright, few have mortgages and, as indicated above, the cost of living is relatively low. Overall, standards of living are now improving, wages are rising, consumer choices are expanding and there is a greater availability of credit and financial services. For evidence of these changes, we can usefully consider the benchmark for living standards across the EU, namely: Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita. In Bulgaria, this has risen by around 14% since 2002 (with 9% of this rise since Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007) compared with a 1% rise in UK, France, Spain and Austria and either a static figure or a decline over the same period in Denmark, Germany, Italy and Portugal. |
|
Bulgaria does have a reputation for being plagued by corruption and, unfortunately, this is an issue of concern, especially as the country is modernising its property, tourism, business and financial sectors. Also, you will probably hear tales about the mafia or mutri but, in practical terms, it is highly unlikely that you will ever come into contact with the 'men in black' unless, for example, you operate a thriving business that impinges on their territory. Now that Bulgaria is a member of the EU, political and financial pressures are being put on the government to resolve these problems. And they are starting to make headway. Violent crimes, burglaries and crimes against the person are around 9% down since 2007 and Bulgarian law enforcement authorities have made headlines in recent months with a number of high-profile operations such as that code-named 'Octopus' against an organised crime group with alleged links to security and police figures. Administrative loopholes are also being closed with tighter laws for property transactions, new VAT regulations and increased investigative powers to combat fraud. Which brings us to what is probably the most widely reported area of 'crime' in Bulgaria - namely, real estate. The media regularly churns out tales of yet another devious and complex property scam but if you take away the sensationalist headlines the reality is usually much more straightforward. Yes, there are unlicenced, unprofessional and unscrupulous agents. Yes, there are many known tax and VAT avoidance schemes in operation. Yes, there are wildly exaggerated property listings, worthless guarantees of massive returns on investment and highly speculative promises for property and infrastructure completion at some point in the future. But there are also people foolish enough to believe everything that they are told; people who do no prior research and know nothing about the country; people who sign contracts that they have not read or do not understand; people who believe that they can cheat the system because an agent told them its OK to do so, and people who, in the astute words of one agent, 'leave their brains on the aircraft'. Make sure that you avoid any of these issues by checking out our About Property section and contacting us for your free copy of our Buyers Guide before you make your purchasing decisions. While there will always be a certain amount of petty crime and pick-pocketing, particularly in the resorts and tourist centres, the figures for opportunistic and street crime in Bulgaria are, in fact, relatively low compared with Western Europe, but this does not mean you can let your guard down. The message is simple - make sure you take just the same kind of precautions that you would at home; learn to speak at least some of the language and, meanwhile, get to know someone who does, and be aware that, in comparison with most Bulgarians, you will be a rich foreigner, so be sensible and do not flaunt your wealth. Above all, do not become obsessed with crime. The common experience is that foreigners living in the cities, towns and villages of Bulgaria will tell you that, day-by-day, they feel safer and more comfortable here than in their home country. |
|
Life in Bulgaria is not the same as life in the UK and there is little value in drawing comparisons with any of the thousand and one things that you may have become used to and take for granted in Britain. Things happen differently in Bulgaria. Broken pavements and potholes in the roads have to be accepted. With some notable exceptions, standards of customer service are still in their infancy. And, in order to cope with the paper trail for everyday activities such as renewing your home and contents insurance or registering a change of car ownership, it's best to write off the whole day. While Bulgarians are noted for being open and friendly people, you will not be given any special treatment here just because you are a foreigner, so don't expect all the various documents that you will need to be available in English … or to be exempt from complying with local administrative issues and bye-laws. That said, there is a deep social and cultural core to life in Bulgaria that embraces religion, family, tradition and heritage and is reflected with pride in everything from song and dance to holidays and festivals to food and drink to national dress and jewellery. Many people living in Bulgaria today often say that they are reminded of Britain in the fifties, when children were safe, life was straightforward and neighbours helped neighbours. While this may be something of a rose-tinted view, it is true to say that just about every expat would acknowledge that they have benefited greatly from a neighbours' assistance. It's also true that there is none of the pervasive nanny-state interference that a lot of expats actually want to leave behind - and this is just one of the things that adds to Bulgaria's appeal. |
| Any other questions .. just ask here |  |
Send for your copy of our Buyers Guide | 
|
|
Quick Links ...
Home :
Profile :
Facts & Figures :
Search :
Lifestyle & Living :
About Property :
Q & A :
Contact :
Community
Partner Links ...
Property Partners BG :
Bulgaria Gateway :
MovetoBG Blog :
Bulgarian Properties :
Premium Properties BG
Visit our Book Store ...
Around & About in Bulgaria :
Life & Living in Bulgaria :
Your Property in Bulgaria :
Background to Bulgaria
|
