Move to Bulgaria from the UK — Everything You Actually Need to Know
Can Brits move to Bulgaria? Yes. Here is what it actually involves — visa routes, buying a home, healthcare, banking and what daily life looks like.
We still live partly in the UK. We also own a home in rural Bulgaria — a stone house that cost less than a used car, in a full EU and Eurozone country. We know both sides of this question.
Moving to Bulgaria from the UK is genuinely possible, legally straightforward for those who do their homework, and increasingly popular. Here is the honest picture.
The 90-Day Rule — Your Starting Point
British citizens can enter Bulgaria without a visa and stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period since Brexit. This is enough for many people who want a second home or extended visits — three months twice a year, covering a full summer and a winter stay. No paperwork required. Just arrive.
For longer stays — living there most of the year or permanently — a residence permit is required. This is where most people need professional help.
Visa Routes to Bulgarian Residency
The most common route for retirees and those with passive income. You demonstrate adequate financial means to support yourself without working — typically a pension, investment income or savings above a threshold set by Bulgarian immigration authorities. Requires a registered Bulgarian address, health insurance and proof of income. A Bulgarian immigration solicitor handles the application.
If you have already bought property through a Bulgarian company (which UK buyers typically do for houses with land), you may be able to apply for residency as the company director. This is the route many property buyers use and is handled by your solicitor.
Bulgaria does not yet have a formal digital nomad visa as of 2026. Remote workers typically use the sufficient means or EOOD director route. Worth monitoring as this may change.
Working for a Bulgarian employer requires a work permit. Working remotely for a UK or foreign employer while living in Bulgaria requires residency through one of the other routes.
Buying Property as Part of Moving
Most UK people who move to Bulgaria buy a property there — it makes the residency process simpler and the economics of living there significantly better. With a paid-off home, monthly costs drop dramatically. The buying process is covered in our full buying guide — but in short: solicitor, EOOD company setup, notary appointment. Straightforward with the right help.
Healthcare
Once registered as a Bulgarian resident, you can join the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) by making monthly contributions — currently very affordable by UK standards. This gives access to the Bulgarian public health system. Private consultations cost approximately £15–30 per visit. Many expats also maintain UK or international private health insurance, especially in the first year or two.
The key consideration: choose your region with the nearest hospital in mind. Veliko Tarnovo has MHAT Veliko Tarnovo nearby (10–30km from most villages). Northwest Bulgaria is 40–80km from MHAT Vratsa. For serious or specialist care, Sofia is the main destination.
Banking
Opening a Bulgarian bank account as a foreign national requires your residence permit. Until you have residency, a Wise multi-currency account is the practical solution — works well for transactions in Bulgaria and avoids foreign transaction fees. Several Bulgarian banks accept foreign residents once you have your permit — UniCredit, DSK and First Investment Bank are commonly used by expats.
What Daily Life Is Actually Like
The adjustment takes time. Bulgarian is not an easy language and English is not universally spoken in rural areas. Bureaucracy takes longer. Things break and get fixed on a different timeline. The pace of life is genuinely slower — not in a romantic sense, in a practical sense.
Most people who move to rural Bulgaria say the adjustment takes 6–12 months. Those who visit first, in different seasons, and go with honest expectations tend to settle well and love it. Those who move on impulse because of a viral reel about £16,000 houses tend to struggle.
Visit before you move. Spend at least two weeks there in different seasons. Talk to people who already live there.
The Complete Moving to Bulgaria Guide
The Buyer's Bible covers the full process for UK, US, Canadian and Australian buyers — legal process, residency routes, buying property, renovation and the practical reality of life in rural Bulgaria.
Get the Complete Bundle — £27Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. British citizens can visit Bulgaria visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. For longer stays and permanent residence, a Bulgarian residence permit is required. The most common routes are the sufficient means route (showing adequate income) or company director residency through a Bulgarian EOOD company (often already set up to purchase property). An immigration solicitor advises on the right route for your situation.
The legal process is manageable with the right professional help. The practical realities of daily life take more adjustment — language, bureaucracy, different pace and systems. Most people who move to rural Bulgaria say the adjustment takes 6–12 months. Those who visit first, spend time in different seasons, and go with realistic expectations tend to thrive. Those who move on impulse without research tend to struggle.
For the sufficient means residency route, you typically need to demonstrate income adequate to support yourself without working in Bulgaria — approximately €500–700 per month as a minimum, though requirements vary. In practice, most UK movers have either a pension, rental income, remote work income or savings. With a paid-off property, monthly living costs in rural Bulgaria can be £500–900 for a couple.
Yes. US and Canadian citizens can visit visa-free for up to 90 days. The residency routes are similar to UK citizens — sufficient means, company directorship or other qualifying grounds. Both nationalities regularly purchase property and establish residency in Bulgaria. The process requires a qualified Bulgarian immigration solicitor.